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Wtt SltJmrj Jkintoilrt J. TUf CLTKB» Ttnumm. * • JDoBXHBT, cLLoroia THE CENTEHNIAL. t!11. »' [*• ti« ' r*<-" * «f»*v . •>.* - *- •lews of the Exhibition Build* 1ings and Full Descriptions v ^ - - U p ^ V a ] d o u s D e . . . I «<*4 W»f ^ ' HI > . • ' ~ , i 'fe--.il • iry- v5 r - f ' l V ®» fte* •"* Oosgr«#« -binh provided for "celebrating the one hundredth an­ niversary of American independence, by holding an International Exhibition of arte, manufactures, and products of the eoil and mine," authorized the creation of the United States Centennial Commis­ si < f sfan, and intrusted to it the management of the Exhibition. This body is com- ^ posed of two commissioners from each State and Territory, nominated by the respective governors, and commissioned * President of the United States. " -....V**! • ' -V:'/ , r'v,. II BUILDING. liss engines. Eaefi c^tm3,ei w Tdfty inches in diameter, with a stroke of ten feet; the fly-wheel is thirty-one feet in diameter, and weighs fifty-five tons; the horse-power is 1,400; and the number of boilers is twenty, This engine drives about» mile of shafting, The art exhibition includes, in addi­ tion to the works of contemporary ar­ tists, representative productions of the past century of American art--those, for instance, of Stuart, Copley, Trum­ bull, West, Alston, Solly, Neagle, Elliet, Kensett, Cole. These, as well as the works offered by living artists, have been passed upon by the committee of selection, who visited, for the purpose, New York, Boston, Chicago, and other leading cities, in order to prevent the mw:m MUll SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. p. **1 V *f» • #*14 .«! wsfi rf»d:: »*•* .©a*,} • ... turn Si • iMt'r #«»$<- l) «« ¥?~X- rrs^U-L; i*:" s- •** fke enterprise, therefore, is distinctly « national one, and not, as has some­ times been stated, the work of a private corporation. The Exhibition will remain open until November 10th. There will be a fixed price of fifty cents for admission to all me buildings and grounds. The Centennial grounds Are situated on the wwseem bank of the Schuylkill river, and within Fairmount Park, the largest public park in proximity to a great city in the world, and one of the most beautiful in the eoimtiy. The Crk contains 3,160 acres, 450 of which ve been inclosed for the Exhibition. Besides this tract, there will be large yards near by for the exhibition of Stock, and a farm of forty-two acres has Already been suitably planted for the ; fests of plows, mowers, reapers, and other agricultural machinery. The Exhibition buildings axe ap­ proached by eight lines of street cars, " which connect with all the other lines in the city, and by the Pennsylvania and Beading railroads, over the tracks of which trains will also run from the North Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroads. Thus the Exhibition is in immediate ' connection with the entire railroad sys­ tem of the country, and any one within ninety miles of Philadelphia can visit it at no greater cost than that of carriage hire at the Paris or Vienna exhibitions. The list of special buildings number from 200 to 250. Most of the important foreign nations--En gland, Germany, "Austria, France, Sweden, Egypt, Japan, and others--are putting up one or more structures each, for exhibiting purposes, tor for the use of the commissioners, ' cochibitcrs and TisitGrs. Offices and of Ihfe land, usually of con- OUw able* architectural beauty, ore pro­ vided by the States of Pennsylvania, "'"iSbio, Biuiana, Illinois, Michigan, Hew Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massa­ chusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, Kan­ sas, Virginia., West Virginia., Nevada, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Delaware ; and it is likely others will follow the example. A number of trade and industrial asso­ ciations are provided for in special %uildings. Among these are the photo­ grapher?, the carriage builders, the glass toakers, the cracker bakers, the boot and shoe manufacturers, besides quite a num­ ber of individual exhibitors. Hie great demand for space renders this course necessary to a considerable extent., es- peciallv for exhibitors who have been ' tardy in. making their applications. In the main exhibition building, for exam­ ple, 333,300 square feet of space had been applied for by the beginning of October by American exhibitors only; needless transportation to Philadelphia of works of art not up to the standard of admission. A large number of orders and fra­ ternities have signified their intention to hold gatherings at Philadelphia dur­ ing the period of the Exhibition. Among those which may now be enumerated are the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In­ dependent Order of Odd Fellows ; the Grand Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Grand Lodge, United States, Independent Order of Odd Fel­ lows ; Grand Commandery Knights Templar; Grand Army of the Republic ; Presbyterian Synod ; Caledonian Club ; Portland Mechanic Blues; Welsh Na­ tional Eistedfodd ; Patriotic Order Sons of America ; California Zouaves of San %l habitually, and in it wrote this paper particularly." The Hall of Independence, on Chest­ nut street, between Fifth and Sixth, was commenced in 1729{ and completed in 1784; laying been designed for the use of the Provincial Assemblies; and the long hail formerly in the upper story itfas often used for grand official ban­ quets given to Governors, distinguished strangers and Generals, and to the mem­ bers of the First Congress when they ar­ rived in 1774. It was originally decor­ ated with a stately steeple, which was taken down in 1774 on account of de­ cay ; only a small belfry was left to cover the bell until the year 1828, when the present steeple was erected as nearly like the ancient one as circumstances would permit. The ancient bell, for­ merly used for the clock, is remarkable for its prophetic inscription. Originally imported from England, in 1752, but cracked in its first ringing, it was recast in Philadelphia, and the inscription-- "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, and to all the people thereof"--was placed upon it. This was more than twenty years before the independence of the colonies was dreamed of ; yet, when the Declaration was signed, this very bell was the first, by its merry peal, to " proclaim liberty throughout the land." It now occupies a place in the south vestibule of the building. The Declara­ tion of Independence was signed in the chamber on the left of the principal en­ trance. Some years since the antique architectural decorations and furniture of this room were removed, and their places supplied with new furniture and tapestry in modern style. This error has since been repaired, as far as possi­ ble, by restoring the hall to its ancient appearance. The portraits of nearly every one of the signers now adorn the wails. Open daily. trusses. There are in the entire struct ing twenty-three f< 125 feet long. The: is 2.200.000 pounds. and girders weigh p.000,000 pounds tv... JI/Iac n# fV.A hniliinc. to seven feet finished with of these columns the shortest be- and the longest aggregate weight The roof trusses The sides of the b above the ground, brickwork in pane" rcmns. Above tbi sashes. The roof being the best rooi climate to resist 1 is of plank, upon ground, with no Turrets surmount corners and angl standard, with a placed over each pi There are nume: between the col- tbere are glazed 'ex iJig is of tin. that g known in this The flooring resting upon the n space beneath, e building at all the and the national riate emblems, is the main entrances, side entrances, of masonry to a height of five feet, and above that are composed of glased sash between the columns. Portions of these sashes are movable for ventilation, and Louvre ventilators are introduced in con- iieiiums lengths over both the avenues and theaisles. The building; is entirely lighted by side light from the north and south. Space in Machinery hall has been allotted, as foliows : ' ; v t.> ' Square feet Great Britain ....... .35,726 Qeviwujgr....... v.';. 4«». France................ . . . . . . ' . . .4. . . . . . 1,098 ,.11,219 each being surmounted with a trophy, showing the national colors of the coun­ try occupying thiA portion of the build­ ing. In the vestibule variegated brick and tile are intapduced. Louvre ven­ tilators surmount all the avenues, and skylights the central aisles. Light, of which there will foe ample supply, comes from the north and south sides almost entirely. There underlie the building two miles of drainage pipe, the water supply and drainage system being com­ plete. Offices for the foreign commis­ sions are placed along the sides of the building, in close proximity to the pro­ ducts exhibited. Offices for the adminis­ tration are at the enils. The design of the building is such that all exhibitors will have an equally fair opportunity of exhibiting their goods to advantage. There is comparatively little choice of location, as the light is uniformly dis­ tributed, and each of the spaces devoted to products is located upon one of the main thoroughfares. Belgium.....'»• Brazil,......... Austria....«... Sweden....4..i Canada. Spain. Iiuraia Denmark.... Chili...' Norway The United States 300,000 square feet. ... . .4. 9,379 4,000 1,536 3,168 4,300 2,448 1,600 685 408 360 occupies about TEE ART «ALLERY. The most imposing and ornate of all the structures is Memorial hall, built at ready been applied for from Munich, and application far space in them has also been made bom England. The ar­ cades designed to screen the long walk of .the galleries each consist of five groined arches, and form promenades looking outward over the grounds and £ inward over open gardens extending " back to the main wall of the building. These garden plate are each ninety feet by thirty-six feet, ornamented in the cen­ ter with fountains, and intended to dis­ play statuary. The arcades are highly- ornamented, and the balustrades of then* and of the approaching stairways are also designed for statuary. The walls of the east and west sides of the struct^ ure display tlie pavilions and the walls- of the picture galleries, and are relieved, by niches uSSiguGu. for Btatues. xhe- frieze is richly ornamented, and above- it the central dome shows to great ad­ vantage. The rear or north front of the- building is of the same general charac ­ ter as the main front, but, in place of the arcade, has a series of arched win­ dows, twelve in number, with the en­ trance in the center, Between the pa­ vilions is the grand balcony, a prom­ enade two hundred and seventy-five fee& Ion?? and fortT-ftv© feet wide, elevated^ forty feet above the ground, and over-- looking to the northward the beautiful grounds of the park. On each front, of the buildings the entrances open into halls eighty-two feet long, sixty feet, wide, and fifty-three feet high, decorated, in mc dera renaissance. These, in turn,, open into the center hall, eighty-thre* feet square, the ceiling rising over it- eighty feet in height. From the easfc and west sides of this center hall extendi the galleries, each ninety-eight feet long, forty-eight feet wide, and thirty-five feet admit of temporary- divisions for the better display of paint­ ings, and with the center hall form a C^rand hall 287 feet long and eighty-three- feet wide, capable of oomfortably aocom- MAIN BUILDING!. This is a parallelogram, running east and west 1,876 feet long, and north and south,464 fteet wide. The larger portion is one story high, the interior height being 70 feet, and the cornice on the outside 48 feet from the ground. At the center of the longer sides are pro­ jections 416 feet in length, and on the ends of the building projections 216 feet in length. In these, which are in the center of the iour sides, are located the tr>m'n entrances, which are provided with MACHINERY BUILDING. This structure is located about 550 feet west of the main exhibition building, and as its north front stands upon the same line, it is practically a continuation of that edifice, the two together present­ ing a frontage of 3,824 feet from their eastern to their western ends, upon the principal avenue within the grounds. This building consists of a main hall 1,402 feet long and 360 feet wide, with an annex on the southern side 208 feet by 210 feet. The entire area covered is 558,440 square feet, or nearly thirteen acres, and the floor space afforded is THE HORTICULTURAL HALL. a cost of $1,500,000 by the State of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadel­ phia. This is placed at the disposal of the Centennial Commission, to be used during the Exhibition as an art gallery, after which it is designed to make it the receptacle of an industrial and art col­ lection similar to the South Kensington Museum, at London. It stands on a line parallel with, and a short distance northward of, the main building, and is in a commanding position, looking southward across the Schuylkill over Philadelphia. It stands upon a terrace 122 feet above the level of the Schuyl­ kill. Being designed for an absolutely fireproof structure, nothing combustible has been used. The design is modern renaissance. It covers an acre and a THE MACHINERY BUILDING, Francisco; an International Regatta; the Life Insurance companies; National Board of Underwriters ; State Agricul­ tural Society ; Second Infantry, N. G. of California ; Philadelphia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church; Cin- cinnatl Society; California Pioneer Society; American Dental Conven­ tion ; Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America; Independent Order of B'nai B'rith ; National Alumni Associa­ tion ; Salesmen's Association; Fifth Maryland Regiment; Seventh New York Begiment; American Pomologioal So­ ciety ; Malster's Association of the United States ; Army of the Cumber­ land ; Humboldt Monument Association; :«h*%TU <•*' P %hereas, the aggregate space which it : fifes been possible to reserve for the Afjnited States department is only 160,000 ^aqnare feet. About one-third is con- H f fumed by jpaeeage ways. m T h e m a c h i n e r y b u i l d i n g , l i k e t h e o t h - is already fully covered by applica­ tions. There are about 1.000 American exhibitors in this department, 150 Eng­ lish, and 150 from other European coun­ tries--which is about 250 more than en- Jxed the Vienna machinery exhibition, xtra provision has been made, for an- fn accommodate the hydraulic aoachinery, the fcteam hammers, forges, lioieting engines^ boilers, plumbers, car­ penters, etc. . _ Power in the jtf&chinery hall is chiefly supplied by a pair of monster Cor- THE AST GALLERY. Christopher Columbus Monument Asso­ ciation ; Board of Trade Convention; International Typographical Congress; Rifle Association of the United States ; Centennial Legion; Philadelphia County Medical Society ; International Medical Congress ; Old Volunteer Fire Depart­ ment of Philadelphia; German Rifle Club ; Army of the Potomac, etc., etc. ---- <. THE DECLARATION OF IS DEPEND­ ENCE was written by Thomas Jefferson, at his private lodgings, in the house still stand­ ing on the southwest corner of Market and Seventh streets. He says: '• I rented the second floor, consisting of a parlor aiid bedroom ready furnished. arcades upon the ground floor, and cen­ tral facades 90 feet high. The east en­ trance forms the principal for carriages, visitors alighting at the doors of the building under cover of the arcade. The south entrance is the principal, approach from railway cans. The west entrance opens upon the main passage-way to two principal buildings, the Machinery and Agricultural halls, and the north entrance to Memorial hall (art gallery). Towers 75 feet in height rise at each corner of the building. In order to obtain a central feature, the roof for 184 feet square at the center lias been raised above the surrounding por­ tion, and four towers 48 feet square, rising to 120 feet high, are introduced into the comers of this elevated roof. This gives ventilation, as well as orna­ ment The main building gives 936,008 square feet of surface, or nearly 21J acres. Its ground plan shows a central avenue 120 feet in width, and 1,832 feet in length, which is the longest avenue of that width ever introduced into an exhibition building. On either side of this is another avenue of equal length, and 100 feet wide. Between the central and side avenues are aisles 48 feet wide, and on the outer sides of the building smaller aisles of 24 feet width. To break tlie great length of the roof-lines three transepts have been introduced, of the same widths and in the same relative positions to each other as the longitudi­ nal avenues. These cross the building, and are 416 feet in length. The inter­ sections of these various avenues make at the center of the building nine spaces, free from supports, which are from 100 feet to 120 feet square* and which ag­ gregate 416 feet square. The general elevation of the roofs of all these avenues varies from 45 feet to 70 feet.'-ar* The building rests upon the ground, the land having been thoroughly graded and prepared. The foundations consist of piers of masonry, the superstructure being composed of wrought iron col­ umns, placed twenty-four feet apart, which support wrought iron roof about fourteen acres. The chief portion of the building is one story in height, approach the mam cornice upon the outside being forty feet from the ground, and the in­ terior height to the top of the ventilators in the avenues seventy feet, and in the aisle forty feet. To break the long lines of the exterior, projections have been introduced upon the four sides, and the main entrances are finished with facades extending to seventy-eight feet in height. The eastern entrance is the princi­ pal approach from railways and from the main exhibition building. Along the southern side are placed the boiler- houses, and such other buildings for special kinds of machinery as maybe re­ quired. The plan of the machinery building shows two raftin avenues ninety feet wide, with a central aisle between and an aisle on either side, these being sixty feet in width. These avenues and aisles together have 360 feet width, and each of them is 1,360 feet long. At the cen­ ter of the building there is a transept ninety feet in width, which at the south end is prolonged beyond the building. This extended transept, beginning at thirty-six feet from the building and ex­ tending to 208 feet, is flanked on either side by aisles sixty feet wide, and forms an annex for hydraulic machines. The promenades are : In the avenue fifteen feet wide, in the aisles ten feet, and in the transept twenty-five feet. The walks extending across the building are all ten feet wide, and lead at either end to exit doors. The foundations of this building are piers of masonry, the superstructure consisting of solid timber columns sup­ porting roof trusses, constructed of straight wooden principal beams and wrought-iron ties and struts. The col­ umns are placed in longitudinal lines, and in these rows stand sixteen feet apart. The columns are forty feet high, and support respectively the ninety-feet roof-spans over the avenues at a height of forty feet, and the aixty-feit roof- spans over the aisles at a height of twenty feet. The outer walls are built i half, and is 365 feet long, 210 feet wide, and fifty-nine feet high, over a spacious basement twelve feet high. A dome, rising 150 feet above the ground, sur­ mounts the center, capped by a colossal ball, from which rises the figure of Co­ lumbia. The main front of this build­ ing looks southward, displaying a main entrance in the center consisting of three enormous arched doorways, a pavilion on each end, and two arcades.connecting the pavilions with the center. The en­ trance is seventy feet wide, to which there is a rise of thirteen steps. Each of the huge doorways is forty feet high and fifteen feet wide, opening into a modating 8,000 persons. This is nearly twice the dimensions Of the largest halk in the United States. From the galler­ ies doorways open into two smaller gal­ leries, eighty-nine feet long and twenty- eight. feet wide. These open north and south into private apartments connect­ ing with the pavilion rooms, and forming two side galloiios 210 feet long. Along the whole length of the north side of the main galleries and central hall extends a corridor fourteen feet wide, opening oik its north line into a series of private rooms twenty-three in number, designed for studios and smaller exhibition rooms. All the galleries and the central hall are lighted from above; the pavilions and studios from the sides. The pavilions and central hall are designed especially for the exhibition of sculpture. Thitt fine building gives 75,000 square feet of wall space for paintings, and 20,000 square feet of floor space for statues, etc. The skylights throughout are double* the upper being of dear glass and the under of ground glass. a ----p. '. THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING stands north of the Horticultural build­ ing, being separated from it by a roman­ tic ravine, and has a commanding view of the Schuylkill river and the north­ western suburbs of Philadelphia be­ yond. This building illustrates a novel combination of materials, mainly wood and glass, and consists of a long nave crossed by three transepts, each beinjp composed of truss-arches of Gothie form. The nave is be 820 feet long by 125 feet in width, with a height of 75 feet from the floor to the point of the arch. The central transept is be 100 feet wide and 75 feet high, and the two* end transepts 80 feet wide and 70 feet high. Its interior appearance resem- Mes that of a great cathedral, and in. lu oking from transept to transept, the vista extremely imposing. A portion, of this building is supplied with steam power for the use of agricultural: machinery. The four courts inclosed by the nave and transepts, and also the spaces at the corners of the building* having the nave and end transepts for two of their sides, are roofed, and form valuable spaces for exhibits. In addition to the grounds within the indosure, an eligibly located stockyard^.- 22 acres in extent, has been provided for the display of live stock, which will be " exhibited in a series of shows during; the months of September, October, ana November. Two farms, moreover, of about 50 acres each, have been suitably planted for the trials oi agricultural ma­ chinery. THE AGRICULTURAL HALL. Between the arches o» the door­ ways are clusters of columns, terminate ine in emblematic designs illustrative of science and art. The doors are of iron, relieved by bronze panels, displaying the coats of arms of all the States and Territories. The United States coat-of- arms is in the center of the main frieze. The dome is of glass and iron, of unique design. While Columbia rises at the top a colossal figure stands at each cor­ ner of the base of the dome, typifying the four quarters of the globe. In each pavilion there is a large win­ dow, twelve and one-half feet by thirty- four feet. There are altogether eight of these windows, which will be used for the display of stained glass, glass paintings, etc. Two of them have al- Cold Aprils. Since the beginning of the^ contrary forty-four Aprils were quite free from, frost, and even snow, which latter is most uncommon phenomenon for that month in most temperate climates Europe. The frosty Aprils occur series, viz., 1806 and 1807, when mn hoar frosts were observed; low a® 1809, with nine frosts also ; flnaUy» our present series, which began in 1873t.. As another instance of the seventy of > this winter, it may be mentioned thai- the sea from Kerteli to Tmutaracan ha| been frozen over this year for the nrw- time sinoel06£. A BAP er» cholera. '. .d, I