The Columbus journal., 1879-01-01
The Quaker City, as Viewed
by "A Correspondence.

nine hundred thousand, and when
considering the amount of ground
it occupies (the whole OF Philadel-
phia county, it is the largest city in
the United States; also in The opin-
ion of your correspondent, the
healthiest, neatest and most mag
nificeDt The facilities for sight
seeing and amusement afforded Wis
itors and citiZeLs could hardly be
excelled. At Fairmount Park is a
large tower, and by the aid of an
elevator you are drawn TO the top,
when by looking through a large
telescope which is stationary at the
top, surrounded by large platform,
the whole of the city, the Delaware
river and Camden, n. j., are brought
within range Of the vision. The
park contains sixty acres Of ground
with the Catskill river running
through il, affording delightful
pleasure boat-riding and excursions
in the summer time, and a splendid
skating rink i'm the winter.
Northwest OF the park boundary
are the immense Centennial build
ings. A photograph of these build
lngs can convey but faint idea Of
the magnificence of these buildings.
The main building encloses twentyl
one acres of ground, and with ita
exhibits in the departments of Sci
ence, Art, Education, Agriculture.
Mechanics, it is a permanent inter-
national exhibition. The diorama
of Washington at Yorktown is
among the many interesting sights
at the building. The State Houso
or City Hall will be a palace of
marvellous wonder when finisbedN
Work upon this building has been
IN progress for four years, and five
million dollars have been expended
upon it; it is expected that the
building will cost fourteen million
when complete; il encloses one and
a half blocks, will be five stories
high and is all built of gray and
white marble; through the entire
building are four arches and every
entry has different scenery-in fact
the architecture and work compris-
es a rare accumulation of scientific
art Of marvellous mystery and won
der as a work of man.
L have also been in the European
Museum of Mystery, Hidden Won
ders of the World and Beauties of
Nature. No person visiting the
city should fail 10 spend a portion
of their time in this magnificent
building or temple. Ordinary plac
es of amusement afford but tenn
porary enjoyment, but the impress
ions produced in the museum are
lasting, and are as interesting as
they are instructive. Lessons are
here conveyed to the mind that
cannot be easily oblitersted. Here
you will find food for future study
and reflection.
On December the 5th, at the
wharf of Cramp & Sons, the great.
iron ship, "California," was launch
ed. This structure is three hundred
and twenty feet long, width, thirty
seven feet; depth, twenty-six feet.
and all built of five-eighths iron
the most durable and costly packet
ever built; it has the capacity for
accommodating two hundred and
fifty first-class passengers, and also
room for regiment OF soldiers. 1t
is owned and was built by the Pa
cific Coast Steam Navigation Com
psny. The ship was launched by
one signal, aud when all was in
readiness, hundreds of hammers
made simultaneous blows on the
wedges, aud the ship darted off like
an arrow, running over a half mile
on the river. 1t took two tugs to
draw her into the second wharf,
where il will be finished. At the
wharf, to witness the launching,
were over a thousand people, some
thing over three hundred being in
the boat when it went its course
iatc the river. AT the same wharf,