record for that State by appropriating one million dollars for the Exhibition. The "City of Brotherly Love" did better still by voting the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars. The people of New York City made a contribution of a quarter of a million. The State of New Jersey gave a hundred thousand dollars; New

OF THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY

CENTENNIAL MEDAL.-OBVERSE.

CENTENNIAL MEDAL.-REVERSE.

Hampshire, Connecticut, and Delaware, ten thousand dollars each. But notwithstanding these magnificent contributions, the aggregate sum fell far short of the estimates; and the Centennial Commissionin the face of the former illiberal action of Congress-resolved to make a second appeal to that body for help. A bill was accordingly prepared, asking for an appropriation of three million dollars from the national treasury; but on the 6th of May, 1874, the bill was decisively defeated-an act well calculated to bring the American name into contempt and shame.* The managers of the Exposition were again thrown back upon the people for sympathy and aid.

Meanwhile, the sale of stock and of medals, as well as other enterprises for the increase of the Centennial funds, was going on successfully. The Exposition gained constantly in public favor. Even in the Far West, Centennial orators traveled through the country districts, stirring up the enthusiasm of the people. The public Free Schools, by exhibitions and excursions, contributed their part towards the success of the great celebration. In June of 1874,

*After times may be astonished to know that the empire of Japan cheerfully contributed six hundred thousand dollars to the success of the American Centennial after the Congress of the United States had twice refused to vote a cent.

the President of the United States extended a cordial invitation to all the civilized nations of the world to participate in an International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, to be held in the city of Philadelphia in 1876, in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence. By and by, the contagion spread even to Congress, and that body passed an act appropriating five hundred and five thousand dollars for the erection of a Centennial Building in honor of the United States and for the illustration of the functions and resources of the American Government in times of peace and of war. The legislatures of several of the States also became interested in the enterprise, and made appropriations-ranging from five thousand to fifty thousand dollarsfor the purpose of erecting State Buildings on the Exhibition grounds, the sum thus contributed amounting to nearly a half million dollars. Finally, as the success of the Exposition became more and more assured, the patriotism of the people and the clamors of the press drove the national Congress into an appropriation of a million five hundred thousand dollars to supply the deficit which was still reported by the Board of Finance. Such were the principal measures by which the Centennial fund was finally secured.

One of the first matters to which the attention of the Centennial Commission was directed, was the selection of suitable grounds for holding the Exposition. But that problem was soon solved in the most satisfactory manner. By the act of March 3d, 1871, it was decided by Congress that the Exhibition should be held within the corporate limits of Philadelphia. The authorities of that city, throwing their whole energies into the enterprise, at once proffered to the commissioners the free use of Fairmount Park, one of the largest and most magnificent in the world. This beautiful tract, presenting every variety of surface, well wooded and well watered, extends on both sides of the Schuylkill for more than seven miles, and along the banks of the Wissahickon for nearly the same distance. The entire park embraces two thousand seven hundred and forty acres, and presents to the eye every thing that is lovely and refreshing in woodland scenery, beautified and adorned by the hand of art. The portion of the grounds more particularly set apart for the purposes of the Exposition, including an area of four hundred and fifty acres, lies on the right bank of the Schuylkill, below Belmont, and was formerly known as the old Lansdowne Estate.

The formal transfer of the grounds to the Centennial Commission was made on the 4th of July, 1873. An immense throng of citizens

and strangers gathered in the park to witness the ceremonies. The address of presentation was made by the Honorable Morton McMichael of Philadelphia, and the response by General Hawley, president of the Commission. The dedicatory oration was then delivered by Governor Hartranft of Pennsylvania, who, after reciting the congressional acts and various other measures upon which the Centennial enterprise had thus far proceeded, continued in the following eloquent manner:

These

"We have assembled here to dedicate a portion of this beautiful park to the uses of a great International Exhibition, which is to commemorate the anniversary of our country's birth. Upon the threshold of the century to expire in 1876, thirteen poor and feeble colonies, with no common ties other than their love of liberty and hatred of oppression, declared their independence. Thirteen Colonies, with their offspring, now increased in number to thirty-seven, stretch their empire across a continent, and afford the grandest exhibition of a nation's progress in the world's history. In all the wondrous changes wrought in the nineteenth century, none are so wondrous and conspicuous as the industrial, moral, and physical growth of this our native land. With those powerful auxiliaries, steam and the telegraph-both of which our country gave to mankind-we are striding with majestic steps toward a dominion unrivaled by any other nation on the face of the earth. Let us, then, from every State-north, south, east, and west-bring to this great city, the consecrated place where our liberty was born, the evidences of our culture, the proofs of our skill, and our vast and varied resources, that the world may have a glimpse of our enlargement, industry, wealth, and power. To the myriads who will gather here, let us accord a welcome which shall be in keeping with the dignity and magnitude of our country. Here, too, let our own people gather, garnering new and fresh ideas from a survey of the world's arts and industries; and let us dedicate ourselves to a higher civilization, to more extensive fields of development, to more liberal and more widely diffused education, to the purification of our institutions, and to the preservation of that liberty which is the foundation-stone of our prosperity and happiness."

Governor Hartranft was followed by George M. Robeson, secretary of the navy, who read a proclamation by the President of the United States; and then the General Regulations for the government of the Exposition were announced as follows:

I. The International Exhibition of 1876 will be held in Fairmount Park, in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1876.

II. The date of opening the Exhibition will be April 19th, 1876, and of closing will be October 19th, 1876.

III. A cordial invitation is hereby extended to every nation of the earth to be represented by its arts, industries, progress, and development.

IV. A formal acceptance of this invitation is requested previous to March 4th, 1874.

V. Each nation accepting this invitation is requested to appoint a Commission, through which all matters pertaining to its own interests shall be conducted. For the purpose of convenient intercourse and satisfactory supervision, it is especially desired that one member of every such Commission be designated to reside at Philadelphia until the close of the Exposition.

VI. The privileges of exhibitors can be granted only to citizens of countries whose governments have formally accepted the invitation to be represented, and have appointed the aforementioned Commission; and all communications must be made through the Governmental Commissions.

VII. Applications for space within the Exposition buildings, or in the adjacent buildings and grounds under the control of the Centennial Commission, must be made previous to March 4th, 1875.

VIII. Full diagrams of the buildings and grounds will be furnished to the Commissioners of the different nations which shall accept the invitation to participate.

IX. All articles intended for exhibition, in order to secure proper position and classification, must be in Philadelphia on or before January 1st, 1876.

X. Acts of Congress pertaining to custom-house regulations, duties, etc., together with all special regulations adopted by the Centennial Commission in reference to transportation, allotment of space, classification, motive power, insurance, police rules, and other matters necessary to the proper display and preservation of materials,-will be promptly communicated to the accredited representatives of the several governments coöperating in the Exposition.

On the day after the dedication of the grounds in Fairmount Park, a copy of the President's proclamation, already mentioned, was transmitted to each of the foreign ministers resident at Washington. At the same time, the American secretary of state notified the minis