The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-04-20
AMERICAS BIG SHOW.
Modei Of National WOndeTs-An Exit
DihOh POst-otfiee-Tbe English Build =
mSs-The Egyptian Display.


A Model OF National VYondeTs-An Exit.
bihOn POst-Offiee-The English Build.
ihss-Ihe Egyptian Display.
PHILADELPHIA, April 10.
MAJOR POWELL S TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP
For some time past Major j. w. Pow.
ell, Chief of the Second Division of the
theological Survey of the Territories, >
mas been engaged in modelling in clay
a rel'et map which he intends to cast in
pdpaer-naache or plaster of Paris for ex-
blbltlon at the Centennial display at
Philadelphia. From the negative cast
Will be made the map which is to go to
Philadelphia, and also such other cop
les OF it as may be needed Major Pow
ellis excellent map brings together for
comparison the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado, the Yosemite Valley, and the
Niagara Gorge. We at the East are
used to thinking of Niagara as the su-
perlative of natural wonders, but a
glance at this relief map will forever
cure one of any such feeling. The en-
tire gorge occupies on it a space
81 inches in length by one
zach in breadth The Yosemite
Valley occupies Z! inches in length by
g inches in breadth, while the Grand
Canyon of the Colorado occupies space
of square feet. The scale is one-half
an inch to the mile. We find therefore
that Niagara Gorge is miles in length
by miles in width; the Yosemite Val
ley is ID miles in length by L miles in
breadth; while the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado is IA miles each way. Furth-
er, the greatest depth of Niagara Gorge
is 26O feet; the. greatest depth of the
Yosemite Valley is little more than
1000 feet, while the depth of the Grand
Canyon ofthe Colorado varies from 4, 900
feet to more than 5000 feet. All these
points are presented to the eye at g
glance. Their relative sizes are matters
Of immediate observation, and not of
abstruse calculation. This instructive
map will be one of the curiosities of our
great Exhibition. Comparative reliet
maps of this kind should become popu-
lar aids in the teaching of topography.
A WORKING POsT-OFFICE.
The United States Government build
ing and its contents will form an ex-
tremely interesting portion of the Cen
tennial Exposition. 1t is situated on
Belmont Avenue, opposite the Women's
Pavilion. At present the POst-of1ice is
the most advanced portion of the Gov
ernment buildings interior, and is sit
Uated in the southeast corner of the ed
ifice. 1t is intended to show the COM
plete workings of an American Post
office, and practically illustrate them by
mail cOnvenienceS to the Cen
tennial public. The Office comprises
and registration depart
ments, letter-drops, boxes, ETC., and the
mail will be collected every hour for all
parts of the world. These boxes are
distributed throughout the entire
grounds and other buildings, and are
decidedly ornamental. They bear the
picture of a letter sealed and the words
"Mail collections hourly" in the Eng
lish, Spanish, French, Italian, German,
Russian, and Chinese languages. Boxes
will be rented TO the general public at
the Post-Oflice. Above the space which
these occupy is the American shield.
Below are eagles heads upholding a
scroll upon which are the words 'Cen-
tenniai Branch POst-ot1ice, and on
either side are designed carrier-doves
holding letters in their bills.
THE ENGLISH BUILDINGS.
The English buildings promise to be
among the largest, and in themselves
the most interesting, at the Exhibition.
They compose a group of three build
lngs, the largest one being intended for
the Commissioners offices, while the
others are to be used, one as kitchen,
the other for the police force. They are
structures, their ephe- |
neral character being shown by the |
filling that is used, which is neither |
brick nor of stone, but simply of Iaths !
and plaster. The facade of the large !
building is occupied by three large ga
bles, which express their construction |
with ali possible frankness, and have
that air of picturesquenesS which is |
found in the old half-timbered houses
Of Chester and other parts of England |
The body of the building seems TO be
all window: for the easements of !
the rooms and corridors in the
two stories are connected, and
form an uninterrupted line of windows |
The interior is attractively finished, !
great attention having been paid
to the mantelpieccs, which are of sculp-
tured hard wood, tireplaces, stairway
and furniture. As might he expected,
free use has been made of tiles-painted
tiles for the fireplace jambs, enameled
tiles for the hearths, encaustic tiles for
the floors. There are two halls; one Il
kind of interior porch; the other a
larger and more handsomely finished
room, having at one end large black
walnut mantelpiece, and from which
the grand stairway ascends to the upper
floor. A long corridor opens right and
left from this hall, giving access to the
various offices of the commissioners. In
the upper story there are other offices
for the commissioners, and variety of
smaller rooms appropriated to the use
of the housekeeper and dOmestics.
THE EGYPTIAN DISPLAY.
think the Egyptian is the farthest
advanced toward completion of any ma
tional display. The entire enclosure is
up, uulouCu Win Gut 6ACtpllOu VI IlG
paintings. Their goods are
all within the inclosure and some of
their cases have already been opened.
| saw there yesterday some specimens
of their building stones. The pale
cream cOlored stone peculiar to Egypt
is really as fine as marble for building
purposes. Each block is beautifully
cut and polished and labeled. Their
exhibit consists of all the modern arms,
many interesting antiquities, papyrus,
and carved stones, ancient and modern
jewelry, embroideries, inlaid furniture,
including two inlaid cabinets the equal
OF which in point of elegance of design
and workmanship does not exist, and
specimens of the mineral and agricul-
tural wealth of the country. The silk
interest will be fully represented, as
well as ali other industries.
No country, except it be America,
can show such abundance of species of
agricultural products as Egypt. No
country made SO good a display as
Egypt in the Exposition of Vienna, as
regards perfection of classification, me-
thodical and tasteful arrangement and
excellence and beauty of all articles.