The evening times., 1901-05-06
PHILADELPBIA'S BIG SHOW.
Anniversary of the Opening of the
Centennial Exposition


mark the twenty-ffth anniversary Of the
opening OF the Centennial international
Exhibition Of Industry at the Centennlai
grounds in FaiTmouut Park
Time flies 50 rapidly that It will be diff
cult for many of the thousands who al
tended the Centennial to realize that a
quarter Of a century has passed since the
opening day OF that mOmeutous event IN
the history Of Philadelphia The occasion
left such q firm impression on most men 5
minds that in review the twenty-five
years, which haze transpired since the
event, are overlooked and the Centennial
Is recalled as yividIy as the events of yes
terday.
Yet several worlds fairs have been held
in this country and abroad since the Cen
JenniaI, and Buffalo IS now in the throes
of grand international exhibition.
With those who remember and who at
tended the Centennial these later eXhibi-
ticns have served rs a means of Compari-
son with PhiadeIphia's great worlds fair,
and in many respects these comparisons
have been decidedly favorable to the Cen
tenniai. And this. too. in view Of the
fact that the Centennial was really the
pioneer worlds fair on anything like a
comprehensive scale. and its organizers
UntTied paths and TO work out the saliva
tion and success of the exhibition on
methods which they were obliged to orig
mate
1t IS generally acknowledged by the pro-
Eressive business men of this city that the
selection Of Philadelphia as the site for
the Centennial was the best thing that
every happened for the general advance
ment and continued prosperity of this
city.
With the Centennial Philadelphia awoke
to ali her possibilities, and assumed her
proper position and Importance among
the great cities of the world.
The twenty-ffth anniversary Of the
opening Of the Centennial is, therefore, an
event well worthy cf commemoration.
The honor Of first suggesting the exhi-
bitt0n belongs to Prof. Campbell of IN
diana This was done by a letter writ
ten in 1866 to the Honorable Morton Nc
Michael Mayor Of Philadelphia. The
suggestion was communicated TO Coun-
cils. and was acted upon by them in con-
nection with the Franklin Institute. An
act was passed By Congress, March 3,
1871, providing for the celebration of the
1g9th anniversary Of the independence of
America by the holding of az exhibition
Of the soil and mines. in which every na-
ton Of the earth should share.
A proclamation was issued July 3, 1873
by the President Of the United States
stating that an international exhibition
would be held in the city Of Philadelphia
in 1876. Copies Of this were forwarded
to all the foreign ministers by the De-
partment of State, inviting the partici-
patton Of their Governments in the ex-
hibition.
A commission consisting Of ore delegate
and alternate from each OF the several
States and Territories was appointed by
the President, upon the nomination of the
several State Governors to be known as
the United States Centennial Commission
which was to have the entire suDerin-
tendence Of the exhibition The President
OF the Commission was Hon Joseph. r
hdNleE- OF Connecticut The director gen
eral was Alfred 7. GOshoru. of Ohio. and
the chairman Of the executive committee
Daniel J. MOrTeiI- OF Pennsylvania
To provide the funds necessary to per
feet the plans Of the commission a cor
porate body entitled the Centennial BOarG
OF Finance was created and empowered
to issue stock in shares OF 80 each. to
the amount of 100000. The president
Of the board was John Welsh. Of Phfla-
GeIphta; the vice presidents, William Sell
erS. OF Philadelphia. and John : Barbour
Of NlrSID5a, the secretary and treasurer
the Hon. William Bogier. financial agent.
The building committee Of the commits
sion had for its chairman Thomas CoCh-
ran. Philadelphia
Very soon after the organization Of the
Board Of Finance, complete system was
adopted to convey TO every citizen of
every State such information as would
awaken interest in the exhibition and
lead TO subscriptions from the people
sufficient IN amount to a abSOrb the CauitaI
stock The financial crisis Of 1873 and the
OF banks induced the establishment Of a
bureau OF revenue, whose object was TO
work through voluntary auxiliary boards
organized N various localities through
the States and Territories
To the sum required for the covering
Of al expenses. the Federal Government
subscribed ono million and a half dollars.
the TnUuIcl pallty Of Philadelphia gave its
guarantee for the same amount the
state OF Pennsylvania subscribed one mil
ion dollars, and two and a half millions
were obtained by subscriptions among the
oiterent States IN the Union. and five
hundred thousand dollars or theFeabOuts
o< the disposal OF various concessions for
TiSnts and Tor sales to be made in the
cE lIbltion- In all they obtained in the
neIghborhood Of seven million dollars
which vas almost entirely absorbed in
erecting the five grand buildings and pre-
IaTlHS and adOrniDg the grounds. but he
generosity of public spirited PhHa.feI-
phidns supplied all deficiencies and as
su-ed the success Of the enterprise
The Centennial buildings proper con
sisted OF the Main Building. or PRINCIPAL
hail, reserved for the products of mines
and manufactures, and also for the ac-
cessories and productions OF education
and science Machinery Hall Agricultgl-
rei Hail horticultural Hail. and Memo
rial Hall Together these buildings coy
cred a space Of about fifty acres TO which
must be added for covered annexes. at
tached 10 the exposition buildings the
United States Building and those of tb-
states, and the Individual or
EanlZattOns and private firms something
like twenty-five acres more. so thai the
whole space covered amounted TO about
seventy-fiTe acres There vas no Mid
way upon the Centennial grounds, but
IlurneIouS side shows were located along
Elm Avenue and did a thriving business
until early IN September when they were
most all destroyed BY fire
The 10th Of May. the opening date of
the Centennial Exhibition. was prob4 bIv
the most mOmentOus one in the history Of
the fair. Gen Ulysses S Grant the
President Of the jTnited States in the
Supreme Court, Of his Cabinet. and many
other United States and municipal Off
GERS. and about 100 900 DeOpIe. performed
the ceremonies Of inauguration.
The biggest day of the fair was proba-
bly, Pennsylvania Day. September 2S.
y hen no less than 2149l9 people were ad-
Enitted to the grounds. On November 10
the Centennial was formally closed with
appropriate ceremonies. During the l59
1ays II was open the paying visitors were
2.O0i,Sf4 and the free admissions I qlS 600
making a grand total of 99I09S6. The free
admissions were mainly those Of con
-ribEtOrs. attendants, and employees.
After the Centennial was over. the
work of demolishing the buildings was
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