CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION, in the United States, held at Philadelphia in 1876, a hundred years after the declaration of independence. It was opened in Fairmount park, May 10, 1876. An area of 236 acres was used, and the cost of the five main buildings was $4,500,000. Before the close there were more than 200 separate buildings within the inclosure. Some idea of the magnitude of the preparations may be obtained from the apportionment of space in the main building, designed for the exhibition of the manu factured products and products of mines and metallurgy, as well as the condition of science and education in all nations. This building covered 20 acres, and was 1880 ft. long and 464 wide, with projecting wings in the center of the sides 416 ft. long; and in the center of the ends 216 ft. long. The exhibition space was on one floor. The roof of the main portion was 70 ft. high. In the center was an elevated square, with sides of 184 ft., having towers 120 ft. high and 48 ft. square at the corners. At the four corners of the building were towers 75 ft. high. The roof was supported by wrought iron roof-trusses resting upon 672 wrought-iron columns. The sides were closed with glazed sash, above a substructure of brick 7 ft. high, resting on a foundation of massive masonry. Space was apportioned as follows, in square feet; Argentine Republic, 2,861; Austria-Hungary, 24,727; Belgium, 15,598; Brazil, 6,899; Canada, 24,118; Chili, 3,244; China, 6,628; France, 45,460; Germany, 29,629; Great Britain and Ireland, 54,155; India and British colonies, 24,193; Hawaiian islands, 1575; Italy, 8,943; Japan, 17,831; Luxemburg, 247; Mexico, 6,567; Netherlands, 15,948; Norway, 6,959; Orange Free State, 1058, Peru, 1462; Spain and colonies, 11,253; Sweden, 17,799; Switzerland, 6,693; Tunis, 2,015; Turkey, 3,347; United States, 136,684. Within this vast space the nations vied with each other in allowing proofs of their industry, wealth, and greatness. A most interesting part of the exhibition was that devoted to the progress of modern education. Another building was the women's pavilion, covering an acre of ground, designed to receive the products of woman's ingenuity and progress. Besides the United States more than a dozen other nations were here represented. This was the first collect ive display of women's work ever attempted. The art building was called Memorial hall, and remains as a permanent monument of the exhibition. It is a splendid structure, in the renaissance style. On a central tower 150 ft. high stands a colossal statue of America; at the base are four figures of smaller proportions, representing the four quar ters of the globe. The building is 365 ft. long by 210 wide, and 59 high ; it is of granite, glass, and iron. Machinery hall, next in size to the main building, was 1402 ft. long by 360
wide, its area, including that of itS annex, being nearly 18 acres. tSteam, water-power, and shafting were provided by the commissioners. The United States building was 504 by 306 feet. In it were exhibited, as fully as possible, all the operations of government service, Horticultural hall, in the Moorish style of the 12th c., was built by the city of Philadelphia, and was intended to be permanent. It is of iron and glass, 383 by 193 ft., and 72 iu height. Agricultural hall covered a rectangular space 820 ft. long and 540 wide. Great Britain erected three buildings for the use and entertainment of her commissioners; and Germany, Brazil, and Portugal each had a pavilion. The English buildings were fine specimens of the later Tudor architecture. Sweden exhibited a national school. house with educational appliances and furniture complete. France had a buildince containing charts, drawings, and models of public works. Canada displayed her wood's and lumber in log and 'frame houses. Spain had a soldiers' barracks, and Cuba had an acclimatization garden. Turkey showed in a special building her sponge fisheries. Japan had a model dwelling. Morocco had a Moorish villa for the display and sale of her productions. Chili had a building containing models of amalgamating machines. There were also a number of special edifices belonging to private exhibitors. There was a Turkish cafe of true oriental type, where Mocha, mastic, Syrian tobacco, and Samian wine were dispensed. There were a Tunisian bazar, and an Algerine pavilion; Japanese booths, houses, and gardens; a New England farmer's home with the old style of kitchen, and other peculiar structures. There were 26 buildings for the headquar ters of as many states, seine of them containing large exhibitions of state products; several were made of the stone or wood of the state represented. Thirty or more build ings were erected by private companies or individuals. Among them were the tele graph building, the transportation building, the bankers' building, the American kin dergarten, the Bible building, and others showing the manufacture of innumerable articles; finally, the ingenuity of man was supplemented by bees making honey in the midst of all the crowd and turmoil. The exhibition was opened to visitors every day except Sunday for six months, closing on the 10th of November. The number of admis sions was 9,910,966, of which number 7,250,620 paid the regular fee of 50 ets., and 753,654 the special rate of 25 cts. ; 1,906,692 admissions were free, representing exhibit ors, officers, employes, the press, and complimentary passes.