Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-06-08
Pennsylvania's Approaching BIZ
Centennial Celebration,

The year 1882 will complete the second
century since the founding of our Common.
wealth by William Penn; and it being de-
slrable to adopt measures at once to secure
proper celebration of this event, an Asso-
citation has been organized for this purpose
nnder the title of
THE BI-CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION
OF PENNS SYLVANIA,
And citizens of every part of the Common
wealth are cordially invited to become men,
bers of it, and to aid in the effort 10 show
to the whole country what Pennsylvania
and Philadelphia now are, and the progress
which they have made IN the two centuries
OF their existence.
IN days past, all public demonstrations
Intended to commemorate great events in
the history of a community were of a mill
tary or religious character; more recently
ii has been deemed becoming to exhibit the
progress which has been made in those arts
which tend to promote the intelligence, con-
senience, comfort and refinement of the
people; and such an exhibition is most ap-
propriste when the observance is intended
10 honor the memory of those who COM
posed the little colony which, .by deeds of
peace" laid the foundation of prosperous
Commonwealth, and established, for the
first time in the worlds history, real free.
dom of opinion and worship; not the toier-
ation which, in former times, as a favor,
permitted men to enjoy their views and
faith, but the right to freedom of thought
and religious ceremonies, as a civil princi-
pie.
II is the purpose of the Bi-Centennial
Association to show what has been eccom-
plished in Pennsylvania during The two
hundred years which have elapsed since
William Penn landed on the shores of the
Delaware the gradual progress of the arts
which promote the comfort, happiness and
elevation of hien, in the earlier part of this
period, and the astonishing advancement of
later years in the cultivation of the sciences
nnd the polite arts, and in mechanical in
ventions.
1t is proposed to show
/. The splendid progress made in marine
architecture upon the Delaware river, from
the little ship Welcome, of William Penn,
among the Indian canoes, to the armored
war ships, and magnificent merchant steam
ers, launched from our ship-yards.
2. The means of land transportation and
travel, from the days of the pack-horse and
foot peddIer, to the present, when comfort
able trains, with luxurious parlor cars, move
with the velocity of the wind over the iron
rails.
3. The improvements in railroad con-
struction and in locomotives, from the
.sSwitch-back" at Mauch Chunk-the first
American railway - to the steel tracks
whfch mark the rugged mountain heights
and stretch across the plains from the lit
tie motor which first drew a train of two or
three coaches 10 Germantown " in fair wea-
ther," to the great engines which now
thunder over hills and plains and through
the valleys of our State, are manufactured
here and sent to climb the Andes of South
America, and traverse the frigid regions of
Russia and the golden districts of Aus
,ralia.
4. The invention and production of the
myriad forms of machinery, which have in
so wonderful a manner mitigated and facil-
itated human labor, and brought many COM
forts, conveniences and refinements within
the reach of the humblest people, and adorn-
ed the mansions of the affiuent.
5. The improvements in textile fabrics,
from the time when spinning wheels and
hand looms were in every dwelling, to the
present, when thousands OF substantial and
commodious factories pour forth the goods
which clothe and adorn the persons of our
own people and those of distant parts of
the world.
=. What has been accomplished in every
department of industry and art; in the ad-
yancement of science and education, agri-
culture, horticulture, mining, architecture,
Typography, civil engineering, and the estab-
Ishment of institutions for the promotion
of intellectual, moral and social culture.
Z. The recreations, amusements and ath-
Ieiic sports of the people, and comparison
with those of other countries; and, by i'm
posing pageants and tableaux, to present
the great events of our history.
The Association which has been formed,
will carefully consider every suggestion
which may be made with a view to increas-
ing the attractions IF the city; and opening
communications with organizations and per-
sons in every part of the State and vicinity.
In order to arouse the people to an appreci-
alton of the occasion we propose to ceie-
brate, we should have Bi-Centennial Club
in every town and village.
Pennsylvania, the youngest OF the "Thir-
teeno Colonies which united tc achieve
Independence, is now the second State OF
the Federal Union in population, yet first in
the development of material resources, the
first to open highway to the Ohio, hrst In
productive industries, and first to construct
an "iron way," which furnishes fuelto other
States, power to drive their machinery, ana
give light to distant nations. Her career
was begun by q treaty with the unlettered
sborigines, which s'was not by an oath and
Was never broken.''
Philadelphia, with one exception the
youngest of the great cities of the Atlantic
slope, and now second in population, but
first In extent and capability Of expansion,
is the great center of industrial enterprise,
the ssCity of Homes," long famous for the
health and prosperity of its inhabitants,
whose scientific and educational institutions
have a reputation throughout the world.
Here the First Congress of our Republic
assembled. Here the Declaration of lnde-
nendence was uttered. Here the Constltu-