Year: 1876

youth VII" ''1rt, for gOOdly price,


banner with the proud device,


Centennial.


| A week has made little change in the
aspect of Centennial affairs, though a


very large quantity of exhibitors stock
has arrived during that time The work
of unpacking and arranging it is going
forward with rapidity, while good deal
lies around loose in boxes on the grounds
and in the buildings. But, anyhow, it
is here and gives encouraging evidence
that there is going to be something to
see after all. At one time there was
a complete blockade in the unloading of
ears, but better system is now observed
and the work goes on more smoothly
There is some talk of putting on a double
force all round, exhibitors and all, and
working night aud day 10 hasten the
unpacking and arranging process, and
unless, this is decided upon the situa-
ton May 10th, will be about as indica-
ted in my last letter. l notice that
great many ''things" forwarded for ex-
hibition are considerably damaged in
transportation. So far, more than two
thirds of the articles in the building are
from foreign exhibitors. The interest
manifested by foreign countries and for
eign enterprise is really astonishing, and
will not be fully realized except by those
who witness it.


a complete resume of the display to
be made by the different States cannot
well be given for few days, as l find
few Of the separate State buildings are
ready. Some of them appear to have
aetedupon the old maxim of ''better
late than never" But there is no end of
really interesting things to write in
general way, and cannot begin to give
your readers the details they will want in
one, or in half a dozen letters. The
question of expense is the all important
one to most people who contemplate
seeing the show. Besides the item of
railroad fare referred to last week, there
is the matter OF living while here. Both
thefe items of expense are going to be
too high for the majority of people un-
less they take a tumble, though the cost
of living promises to be less extortion-
ate than the cost of getting here. The
leading hotels have put there prices at
IS per day, averaging 81 more than their
ordinary prices. This Is of course an
outrage, yet there is no way to prevent
itand they Justify themselves on the
ground that they will be "choek fulr'
with people who can afford to pay high
rates. The more modest hotels will
charge from So to 81 per day, prices
which they could not get at any other
time


But they air expect to be full, and
more than full, and are providing them
selves with extra cots for use in their
parlors and ante-rooms. To them, as
to business people of every class here,
''hope tells a fiattering tale and we
will not wish them any disappointment.
The Philadelphia merchant whose eof-
feIs the dull times have lately depleted
tells his importunate creditor to wait
until after the Centennial-and he waits.


But aside from the hotels there is the
everlasting boarding house, more numer-
GUS here at this time than any other city
on earth except Washington. IN these
people can live at a little less than hotel
rates, although i'll proportion to the
accommodations and luxuries offered
their charges are the higher. About
50 per day is the common price among
them, and from that to So. l had a
plain conversation with a woman who
runs one of them, day or two since,
just after she had shown Ina a little cor
ner room about seven by nine, scantily
furnished. in which she proposed to put
two persons at So per day each. In ordi-
nary times she would have had hard work
to rent it to one person at eight dollars
per week with board, but she said the
Centennial Lodging and Boarding House
Association had established these rates
and recommended people to maintain
them. There is no reason why the peo-
pie of Philadelphia should plunder Wis
itors to the city by means of unusual
and unreasonable charges, but they look
forward to Ii as their harvest, and in
tend to make the most it. They present
this view of the case openly and freely,
and argue that increased demand JUS
titles increased price. There are plenty
of patriotic people here whose interest
in the Centennial is entirely apart from
any motives of gain, but they are neith-
er the tradesmen nor keepers of cara
vanseries. The rates given above cover
about the rauga ri cost as far as can be
regulated by t!la iodging-house mon
opoly. but those who come to stay any
length of time aud are willing to go out
some distance oil The lines Of street cars
can do better. a joint stock concern
known as the Patrons Centennial En-
campment has been organized with a
capital of Sl50, 900, and is erecting
buildings on forty acre tract at Elm
Station on the Pennsylvania railroad.
The plan is to rent rooms at one dollar
per day and furnish meals at fifty cents,
though the farming classes who are ex-
pected to patronize it may bring their
own provisions if they choose.


Several outside boarding and eneamp-
ment speculations, apparently reason
able in their purposes. are under way,
but there IS no telling what comforts
they will possess or to what degree of
degeneraey, dirt, and disorder they may
finally come. Many people will prefer
to take quarters at rural retreats a few
miles from the city, and to these every
encouragement will be given by the local
lines of travel. All this is not very racy
reading, but will interest those who want
to know the facts. The funny side of
the picture will present itself when the
crowd gathers and the performance be-
gins inside the canvas.


The cargo of additional British ex-
hibits recently brought by the Pennsyl-
vania is valued at 81. 500, coo, and is said
TO be the most valuable cargo of any
kind that ever arrived in America from