^' ^.-^'^ • /v -. >" V^5^'> ^<.'^'^*\^ v^\<^ ,V ./>i;^%'^. ..^\.'A*i:.X ■.A:i^./^ .'» ■^-.^'i* .* .• ^^''\. '} JOM BAIEI, SOIS & CO.; IMPORTERS OF $. AND RAGS, No. 214 South Twenty-Fourth Street, PMBLft©! KLPMK^. JOHxN BAIRD. ' THOS. E. BAIRD \VM. M. THOMAS. JOHN E. BAIRD. rnEST.NTT llll.l. INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION PHILADELPHIA 1876. rrnmnilienrlosed 233 Acres 1 Afiiin BiiiJdiru) ^^' „ 2 ArtOalhry /& „ 3 ilorlnwnlMI 10 .. 4 l/ur//^ ^, . - '^ be holden, is the most extensive and in '^<^ natural advantag^es the most attractive among the pleasure grounds of the cities of America. 8 FAIRMOUNT PARK. It comprises over 3000 acres of ground, and is traversed by fifty miles of carriage drive, and one hundred miles of path for pedestrians and equestrians. It borders and includes the Schuylkill River and the Wissa- hickon, a tributary stream, and begins at Fairmount, a point on the for- mer, distant about one and a half mile from the Centre Square of the city, and terminates at Chestnut Hill, on the latter, distance of over twelve miles. The Schuylkill, its principal river, has an average breadth of a quarter of a mile ; in some of its portions winding so as to present the appearance of broad lakes, at others showing a full silent flow for long distances. The Wissahickon is one of, if not the most remarkable of all known waters, as a type of the purely romantic in scenery. The Park has twenty small streams, tributaries of these, with four mineral springs, and one hundred and fifty of pure cold water, in some places found bubbling through the green- sward, in others trickling down the rocky hillsides. * It has every variety of scenery — cascades, green and wooded islands, meadows, uplands, lawns, rocky ravines, high hill summits, and open fields. It contains two hundred thousand native, many foreign trees, shrubi, and vines, and a great variety of indigenous flowers. It has also the remains of the primeval forests as they stood in the days of the aborigines, and old historic man- sions which connect the present era with the days prior to the Revolution, and preserve the memory of the greatest statesmen, jurists, and heroes of America. FAIRMOUNT PARK. " <-^i even, silent flow; this, and the submerging of some of the islands by the back-water, and a decrease in the size of those which remain, are the most marked features of the change from that early time. Portions of the bluff's, also, are concealed by the bridges which now span the river. Other portions of them have been used by quarrymen, but many of those old landmarks — bluffs, islands, and shelving shores — are still clearly traceable ; and the placid beauty of its now broader and quiet waters is even more attractive than its rapid flow before the erection of the Dam. The grounds of the old country-seats have lost much by neglect, yet they have also gained by the removal of the narrower, separate designs and road-ways of the individual owner, and their absorption into broad general effects and avenues for the people. The flowers are also reveal- ing themselves again along the shores, while the grounds around the old mansions, so dear to our remembrance, have been preserved and are being restored, so that this beautiful river, thpn so attractive, is returned again with a heightened effect to the condition of its earlier era. As one of its names* evidences that it was to the aborigines, so it is to us also, * Called by the aborigines "Ganshewehanna," the noisy stream ; and " Manayunk," our place of drinking. The present is a Holland name, originating with the first settlers. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 19 '^our place of drinking," and it is to the popular determination to retain it for this purpose we owe mainly the preservation of its shores as a great public pleasure-ground. And surely never before in the world had a people in any city, even in the remote East or classic lands, such ''flower-crowned bowl" from which to drink, as is this river; nor ever before beautified a common necessity of life with so perfect a measure of all its romance and poetry. THE SCHUYLKILL NAVY. "The healthful and manly exercise of rowing." Boating on the Schuylkill begins with the light canoe of the Indian. From this rude though graceful origin, and following close upon it, came the boats which composed the squadron of ''the Colony in Schuylkill," and the bateaux of Fort St. David's. This squadron, called also "the Schuylkill Navy," was composed of the "Shirk" and the "Fly;" their •20 FAIRMOUNT PARK. successors, under an act passed in 1762, for the augmentation of ''the Navy in Schuylkill," were the ''Manayunk" and "Washington," re- spectively fifteen and seventeen feet long, they were built of mulberry timber, with ash oars; these remained until 1822 within the Park limits. The barge of the Founder, also, sometimes appeared on these waters; it was one of much stateliness — had a regular crew and officers — pulled six oars, and bore the broad pennant with the Proprietary's arms. The Founder had enough of the great Admiral's blood in his veins to delight in boats, for this barge he always manifested much solicitude, and in a letter to James Logan, whose v/ords go straight to the true waterman's heart, he says: ''But above all dead things, my barge; I hope nobody uses it on any account, and that she is kept in a dry dock, or, at least, covered from the v/eather." After these came the pioneer clubs, which preceded the present organization; the first of which, the "Blue Devil," was organized 1833. Its first barge, the "Blue Devil" participated in the earliest regatta of which we have record (Nov. 12, 1835). In this regatta, the Ariel, Nymph, Dolphin, and another were entered, four-oared barges; and the Cleopatra, Falcon, Sylph, Blue Devil, Metamora, Aurora, and Imp, eight-oared barges. The organiza- tion of the present Schuylkill Navy was effected in 1858, and the first re- gatta took place in 1859. It then numbered eleven clubs, the Bachelors, University, Keystone, Camilla, Independent, Undine, Neptune, Che- bucto, Quaker City, Nautilus, and Excelsior ; and twenty boats, the Linda, Iris, Gazelle, Ariel, Lucifer, Arab, Spree, Atlanta, Gipsey, Naiad, Whisper, Undine, Fawn, Irene, Menanka, Cygnet, Spider, Nautilus, Intrepid, and Falcon. It is now, both in its appointments and organiza- tion, the most complete association devoted to rowing in the world. It numbers ten clubs and sixty-seven boats. It has four hundred and seventy-one members; and its boats and houses are valued at ^100,000. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 2, In addition to the regattas, and usual daily exercise, the clubs of this Navy sometimes make long excursions. One of these was made in i86i, by the Malta Club, on the Susquehanna to Havre de Grace ; another, to Easton, by tht Pickwick Club, to which the Crescent is the successor. In May, 1859, the Bachelors Barge Club made an excursion on the Delaware River and Delav/are and Raritan Canal to New York. And a double scull outrigger, the Fawn, of the Undine Club, made the same excursion, September 10, 1867; distance 105 miles, rowing time eighteen hours. An entire revolution is going on in the class of boats used by the Navy, which will have a very important bearing on the future of this organiza- tion and boating generally. The shell is superseding the others. This means necessarily an advance in the science Itself, and, with the river best adapted In this country on account of Its almost uniform quiet at all sea- sons, its width, length, and freedom from traffic, may ultimately render this organization the universal centre for test trials of skill and endurance. These trials In England, and to a great extent In this country, concentrate an Interest which may be called national. zt FAIRMOUNT PARK. THE PHILADELPHIA SKATING CLUB. Incorporated 1861. Its objects are improvement in the art of skating, and securing efficiency in the use of, and proper apparatus to rescue per- FAIRMOUNT PARK. 23 sons breaking through the ice. The active members in 1864 were 260, honorary 10; they now number 350. The house occupied by the Club is forty feet front by sixty feet in depth, two stories high, built of fine gray stone, and pointed. The building is of Italian architecture, and ornamented with a handsome cupola and flagstaff fifty-five feet high. The roof is covered with slat- work, and encircled with a secure and handsome railing, and has a cupola. The first story, forty by sixty feet, is appropriated entirely for the life- saving apparatus and barge boats. The second story is divided as fol- lows: A Ladies' or Reception Room, fronting on the water, with a Retiring Room, the Members' Room, Executive Committees' Room, and the Board of Surgeons' Room. This room is furnished with all kinds of the most approved apparatus for rescuing and restoring suspended respiration to persons drowning, consisting of — i. Badges; 2. Cord and reels; 3. Ladders; 4. Hooks; 5. Axes; 6. Life-floats; 7. Station flags; 8. Caution flags; 9. Life-lines; 10. Air-hole guards; 11. Boats; 12. Blankets, grapnels, and drags. The boats are made of cedar, small and light, about one hundred pounds in weight, and sixteen feet long^ (see plate). The records of the Society show that two hundred and sixty-one lives have been saved through its instrumentality. Among its members is Col. James Page, who still, as he was half a century ago, is our most graceful skater, and linked with all the boyish memories of the passing generation. » All these are placed at the disposal of the Commission by the Society. 4 24 FAIRMOUNT PARK. Leaving the Plaza, the road ascends* the second of these hills, the site of Robert Morris's home, known of late years as Lemon Hill.^ Near the mansion which stands there,'' and of which this is a drawing, the road passes on the left hand two Tulip Poplars and Pines, which ' It passes on the right hand four deciduous (swamp) cypress-trees, the remains of a large group. 2 Called formerly "Old Vineyard Hill." Tlie Founder sent a skilful gardener from France and introduced the culture of foreign grapes here, but' with no great success. His contributions to the attractions of ntiture should also be mentioned: he sent from England walnuts, hawthorns, hazels, and fruit-trees; a great variety of rare seeds and roots from Maiyland, also some panniers of trees and shrubs ; and directed by his letters that "the most beautiful wild flowers of tlje woods" should be transplanted to his grounds. 3 The late Mr. Pratt, a merchant of this city, was building here in the summer of 1796, probably erecting this mansion. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 25 Stood there during the Revolution; and are noble representatives of the primeval forest. The general character of the grounds remains un- changed. The forms of the superb terraces are still visible, although the rare flowers, vases, and statues once there are gone. There is a good view of Fairmount, the river, and the city from the hall-door of this man- sion. In the old house, ^ which stood here, Robert Morris resided from 1770 to 1798, twenty-eight years — a period embra'^ing the Revolution and ths ^^r^ n^^,^^ Presidency of Washington. He had a fine mansion in the city, but his house on these grounds was his home; winter and summer his hours of rest and enjoyment were passed here. In 1776 (Dec. 29) he wrote to Baltimore, where Congress, having fled from the city, was sitting: ''I have always been satisfied with Philadelphia and the Hills. At the same time I have been constantly prepared ; my things packed up, horses and carriages ready at any moment ; I dine at the Hills to-day, and have done so every Sunday. Thus, you see, I continue my old practice of mixing business with pleasure; I ever found them useful to each other." 1 The cut is a fac-simile of Robert Morris's home, from a painting by the late Samuel Breck. 26 FAIRMOUNT PARK. And when the evil days came, in which he had no pleasure, still he clung to this place. From ''the Hills" he wrote (Feb. 8, 1798J: "It is the only place of calmness and quiet my foot was in all day yesterday." ROBERT MORRIS. Robert Morris was the representative of the capitalists of the Colonies, the most honorable, and the most unfortunate. As such, he has left, of his public life, three records, intelligible to his own and to after genera- tions. His first record is a letter, a short extract from which follows; it was written on these grounds. From the Hills on Schuylkill: — "July 20th, 1776. . . . ''It is the duty of every individual to act his part in whatever station his country may call him to, in a time of difficulty, danger, or dis- tress." His second record is his signature to the great Declaration, and the pledge of his financial abilities and his private fortune to the cause of the Colonies. His third record is the ledger of his counting-house and the folios of the Government, of which he was the Treasurer from the year 1781 to the close of the Revolution. These show that he held the army together, from hour to hour, through the Revolution, by the credit of his individual name.* Among the items of the accounts of this faithful steward are some which illustrate the whole. 1779 and 1780 were the most distressing » "The individual notes of Robert Morris circulated as cash through the Colonies." — Chastellux (1780). FAIRMOUNT PARK. 27 years of the war. On a pressing occasion, during this period, Washing- ton communicated to Judge Peters the condition of the pubHc stores : his army was without cartridges, those in the men's boxes were wet;* if attacked, retreat or destruction was inevitable. In this emergency the Board of War, of which Judge Peters was Secretary, was powerless ; all the lead accessible was exhausted, even to the lead spouts of the houses, and the Board was then offering for it, without obtaining any, the equiva- lent in paper of two shillings in specie a pound. Judge Peters showed Washington's letter to Mr. Morris, who was with others at a reception at Don Juan Mirailles's, the Spanish Minister. By a fortunate concurrence, a privateer had that day arrived at the wharf at Philadelphia, one-half consigned to Mr. Morris. He said to Judge Peters, one-half of the Holker's cargo is consigned to me ; she is at the wharf, take the one-half of the unfortunate supply — it is ninety tons of lead ; the owners of the other half are standing there ; get theirs also. But, said Judge Peters, they will make no further advances to the govern- ment. Then, said Mr. Morris, I take myself their portion and deliver it to you..-. The arrangement was at once made. That night one hundred hands were employed. Before morning a supply of cartridges was on its way to the army. Again, December, 1776, from his broken army on the Delaware, Washington wrote that without specie an offensive movement could not be made. This letter was sent by a confidential messenger to Mr. Morris; but it seemed impossible, in the general confusion and flight of the citi- zens, to raise the sum required. Among his acquaintances, however, was a cautious but straightforward capitalist. To this man he made his wishes known. Wliat is the security for this sum? said the capitalist. My note and my honor, was the answer of Morris. On that security I will loan 4* 28 FAIRMOUNT PARK. the money, was his answer. With this money Washington was enabled safely to cross the Delaware and secure the decisive result at Trenton. At the most critical period of our nation's early history, 1781, Judge Peters, Robert Morris, and Washington were together at the Head- quarters of the Army, on the North River. Washington received on that occasion a letter from the Count De Grasse, announcing his determination to remain in the West Indies with the French fleet. Washington read the letter, which destroyed at one blow his plan of operations on the city of New York, and resolved at once on the expedition to Virginia. Turn- ing to Judge Peters, he said. What can you do for me? With money, everything; without it, nothing — was the brief reply, as he turned with an anxious look to Morris. Let me know the sum you desire, said the Patriot Financier. Washington's estimates were made that night. Morris placed, within the required time, the amount of the estimates in Judge Peters' s hands — the army moved. The result was the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis, at Yorktown — the successful close of the war for the Independence of the Colonies. Judge Peters gives the requirements of Washington, for this brilliant and final effort, as follows: *' Seventy to eighty pieces of battering cannon, and one hundred of field artillery, were completely fitted and sent on for service in three or four weeks, progressively; and the whole together, with the expense of provisions for, and pay of, the army was accom- plished on Mr. Morris's credit, which he pledged in his notes, which were all paid, to the amount of one million four hundred thousand dollars. Assistance was, 'tis true, afforded by Virginia and other States, from the merit whereof I do not mean to detract. We had no money in the War Office chest; the Treasury was empty; and the expedition would never have been operative, had not most fortunately Mr. Morris's credit and FAIRMOUNT PARK. 29 superior exertions and management supplied the indispensable sine qua non.''^ These are items in the account of this faithful steward. And when it is considered that bills of credit finally would buy nothing; that cattle died on the road to the army for want of public money to buy provender; that the Colonies themselves ceased to comply with the requisitions upon them; that clothes for the soldiers were sold to pay the more suffering needlewomen who made them — we may estimate how constant were those drains upon his private fortune, and how large was their aggregate. From the spirit and the word of that letter from "the Hills," Robert Morris, from the first to the last, never swerved. The signature which he appended to the Declaration was repeated again and again to notes which were met as they matured, and which amounted to millions; but this ex- penditure of his private fortune, princely as it was, was not the measure of his service. The folios of the Government show a reduction of ex- penseSj while its finances were in his hands, from eighteen to four millions annually, and this still was not the full measure of his service. These pledges of the individual wealth of a man, who was himself the national coffer, i7ispired as well as sustained the country ; this completes the mea- sure of his services, for this he was called in his day the right arm of the Revolution. » Judge Peters to Alexander Garden, Esq., Belmont, Dec. 20, 1821, MS. John Adams was for some time his near neighbor. His house was at Bush Hill. 30 FAIRMOUNT PARK. The main carriage road passes next over the third of these hills, formerly known as SEDGELEY PARK. This portion of the grounds, a tract of thirty-four acres, was purchasea by contributions from citizens of Philadelphia, and presented to the city, in 1857, for a public park and to preserve the purity of the Schuylkill water. The acceptance of this gift by the city was followed by its im- mediate dedication to the people for their use and enjoyment. A tasteful little structure stands here, formerly a porter's lodge, for a mansion which stood here overlooking the river ; the view from this portion of the grounds gives the bridges — the nearer the Girard Avenue, and the farther the Railroad Bridge— the Solitude on the opposite shore with its fine grove, and the site of the old fishing-house of the State in Schuylkill. Here are found some trees worthy of notice— the most remarkable one the road passes on the right hand. The hill breaks off in bluffs along the margin of the river, and forms a ravine through which a little rivulet runs; and along whose border violets, spring beauties, quaker ladies, and the May apple, the first spring offerings, are found. This hill is about eighty feet above the river — it has been selected as the site "for a monument to Humboldt. The most notable object in Sedgeley is an earthwork, yet traceable, constructed during the late war as part of the system of defences for Philadelphia; it is on its highest elevation near the bridge. There is also on these grounds another relic of those days — FAIRMOUNT TARK. 31 THE GIRARD AVENUE BRIDGE replaced a wooden structure on the same site. It was entirely rebuilt, from the foundation of the piers. It was begun the 12th day of May, ^2 FAIRMOUNT PARK. 1873, ^^^ completed the 4th day of July, 1874. It is 1000 feet long, and 100 feet wide; has a central roadway paved with granite blocks for car- riages and car-tracks, 67 feet wide, footpaths on either side 16^ feet wide, paved with slate-, with white marble borders. The bridge is constructed of iron and stone, with bronze ornamentation. It has five spans, three river, and two shore, the former each 197 feet long, the latter each 137 feet long. The bridge rises from the east to the west abutment arch four feet grade ; the distance from the surface of the water to the western end pier is an average of 23 feet. The abutments are 108 feet long, and 18 feet wide ; they are of granite, laid on a solid rock foundation, 25 to 30 feet below the water surface. The lines of the piers are 120 feet long and 10 feet wide at the water surface, and 113 feet long and 8^ feet wide under the coping, with elliptical chords. The iron work at the arch abut- ment is 24 feet above the masonry, the roadway being an average of 50 feet above the water surface. The railings are panelled with rich designs in bronze — the Phoenix, the Eagle, and the cotton plant alternating ; the bridge is lighted with 12 candelabra of graceful design. Designers and Constructors, Clark, Reeves & Co. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 33 GRANT'S COTTAGE. The small frame house which stands on these grounds was brought heie, at the close of the late war, from City Point. It was there occupied by General Grant as his headquarters. The main carriage road gives a broad view of the river as it gradually descends the hill to the Girard Avenue Bridge. THE SCHUYLKILL WATER WORKS. These Works, brick buildings in the Egyptian order, stand in a ravine just beyond this bridge ; they are operated by steam. Their pumping capacity is 22,947,000 gallons per diem. The storage room in the reser- voir, attached to the Works, is 9,800,000 gallons. The Connecting Rail- way Bridge crosses here. The road unites railroad lines for all sections of the nation. Near its east abutment is THE TUNNEL. The hill, which forms the farther side of the ravine in which these works are situated, terminates in a huge rock, which rises abruptly from the water's edge to the height of sixty feet; this rock. Promontory Point, is tunnelled through for a road along the river. The tunnel is one hundred and forty feet long, forty-one feet wide, and twenty-two feet nine inches high, and is throughout solid natural rock, without any lining whatever; it is elliptical in section, with straight sides and an arched roof. It was begun October, 1870, and finished June, 1871. 34 FAIRMOUNT PARK. THE STATE IN SCHUYLKILL. " Atte the leest he hath his holsom walke and mery at his ease a swete ayre of the swete savoure of the meede floures that makyth him hungry, and if the angler take fysshe surely there is noo man merier than he is in his spyryte."' A tract^ beginning at Solitude, and extending to the Sweet Brier Man- sion, was formerly called ^^Egglesfield." Its first owner, a contemporary with the aborigines, was one William Warner,^ an amiable and worthy man, and a member of the durable order of plain colors and rectitude. Nearly a century and a half ago (the year 1732), certain gentlemen, fol- 1 Book of St. Albans. 2 The estate was of late years the property of the Lorie family, of Philadelphia. 3 William Warner died Sept. 12, 1794. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 3^ lowers of ''Walton," leased one acre of this tract; this they inclosed with a worm-fence. For the ground, they formally delivered on a large pewter plate to William Warner, as a yearly rental, every spring, "three sun perch iish," and they elevated him to the dignity of a Baron, so that he might be the more worthy to receive the service of this feudality. After securing the title to the one acre of ground, it is said they got together some of the same Indian chiefs who signed "the Treaty" with the Founder, and as tney had no Elm trees, they sat them down under their Black Walnut trees. They smoked many calumets of peace with them, and entered into a similar solemn treaty for the privilege of hunting and fishing at all times forever along these shores. The consideration for the privilege they ladled out to these swarthy granters from a large bowl, and if the courses of their signatures along the parchment were devious ones, it would assure, what we might credit without the assurance, that no advantage was taken of them in the consideration. The preliminaries thus arranged, these fishermen, w^th their sturdy arms, hewed down trees enough and erected themselves a hut. Then they constituted themselves, by letters patent, a colony, by name "The Colony in Schuylkill." For the Colony they elected a Governor, to order its general affairs ; a Sheriff, to serve writs of execution on the feathered denizens of the forest and the restive tres- passers of the stream ; a Coroner, to view their inanimate forms after exe- cution and pronounce them dead and edible. Having done all this, they then sat down to fish; and what is an incredible thing to all but fisher- men, they continued to sit there ninety years; at the end of this time, one morning their spirits became sorrowful, their corks rested on the water motionless. Looking around them, they perceived that civilization had been advancing steadily towards them, while they had been uncon- 5 36 FAIRMOUxNT PARK. sciously sitting there, and that "an anathema"' fatal to fishermen had been levelled against them at Fairmount; a barrier through which their faithful fish could reach their hooks no longer. Then they got up, and, carrying their house with them, followed the course of the finny tribe further down the stream, and beyond the Park limits, where they and the house still remxain, but where the limits of this book forbid us to follow them, When these patient fishermen sat down to fish, one hundred and forty years ago, from the old Independence Hall to the borders of this Park was one unbroken wilderness. The canoe of the Indian v/as still there, and the deer drank at the borders of this stream; now, a city,^ with nearly a million of people, covers this whole area; the silver shad come to them no more, the rock more and more rarely, and the memory of the one trout fish they caught in this stream, a century ago, grows dimmer every hour, but they still sit quietly beside its borders, and they say to us, in their master's words, ''No life is so happy and so pleasant as the life of a well-governed angler, for when the lawyer is swallowed up in business, and the statesman is preventing or contriving plots, then he possesses himself in quietness;" and it is truly said of angling, what Dr. Boteler said of strawberries, "Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did." And so, if we may be judges, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling, nor, it may be well added, worthier types of the good virtues of the angler than themselves. May they long continue to enjoy the savory shad upon the smoking board, the crisp, white catfish, and the steaming rock, ''dishes of meat too good for any but anglers, or very honest men." * The Fairmount Dam. ' In 1745 there were but 2049 houses in Philadelphia; in 1871, 122,751. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 37 THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. The entire tract, embracing ''The Solitude," the grounds of the old Fishing-House, and an estate formerly known as Spring Hill, was trans- ferred by a lease from the Park Commissioners to the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. It covers thirty-three acres ; its boundaries are the River Road and the Pennsylvania Railroad, Thirty-fifth Street and Girard Avenue. The Garden has every variety of surface ; it has a piece of old woodland — the Solitude Grove, large water supply, and the 3S FAIRMOUNT PARK. most complete drainage. The Solitude Villa — the former residence of John Penn, has been restored and preserves an interesting association of the grounds. The improvements are of a very ornate, as well as durable, character. The collection of Birds and Animals is already large, and constantly increasing by the private agencies of the Society, donations, and contributions from officers and others in the army and naval service, made by permission of the Government of the United States. The Society was incorporated March, 21, 1859. The Garden was first opened July i, 1874. It is open for visitors every day during the entire year. A moderate charge for admission is made. OFFICERS. Pi'esident. WILLIAM CAMAC, M. D. Vice-Presidents. J. GILLINGHAM FELL. GEORGE W. GUILDS. Corresponding Secretary. JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D. Recording Secretary. JOHN SAMUEL. Treasurer. FRANK H. CLARK. Actuary, CHARLES L. JEFFERSON. Managers. William S. Vaux, S. Fisher Corlics, Frederick Graff, Theodore L. Harrison, William Hacker, Henry C. Gibson, J. Vaughan Merrick, Isaac J. Wistar, John Wagner, EdM-ard Biddlc, William H. Merrick, Charles W. TroUer. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 39 THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS. The visitor leaving the Garden may either continue on Girard Avenue to Eh-n Avenue, or under the Railroad Bridge.^ By the latter he passes over Eaglesfield, a knoll of land partly covered by a wood, over which the road rises and descends to a bridge, then winds around a second knoll, passing over grounds formerly known as Peterstone ; these contain ' The Pennsylvania Raihvay, connecting lines throughout the United States. 40 FAIR MOUNT PARK. Sweet Briar Mansion f passing again by a wood, the visitor enters the Exhibition Grounds. These grounds were formally transferred by the Park Commissioners to the Commissioners of the International Exhibition on the 4th day of July 1873; ^^^^ the Proclamation of the Exhibition made by order of the President of the United States. The reservation contains 450 acres; it extends from this point to George's Hill and Ridgeland, em- bracing two tracts — Landsdov»me and Belmont ; the first — Lansdowne, is bounded by the river, Elm Avenue — the Park's southern boundary, George's Hill, and the Belmont tract. It is a plateau known as the Lansdowne Plateau, and a second plateau lying north and westward — Lansdowne Terrace, separated by a ravine from the other. This first tract is the site of the National Memorial, the Main Exhibition Building, Agricultural and Machinery Halls, and the Horticultural Hall and grounds. Belmont, the second of these tracts, is bounded by the Lansdowne tract, Ridgeland, Elm Avenue, and the River; it is the reservation for Agriculture. 2 Erected 1791, by John Ross, a merchant of Philadelphia; formerly the residence of Samuel Breck. Seepage 113. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 41 THE MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING Is located on the Plateau east of Belmont and north of Elm Avenues. It stands 170 feet back from the north side of Elm Avenue, and 300 feet from the south side or front of the Art Gallery. The building is in the form of a parallelogram, extending east and west 1,880 feet, and north and south 464 feet. The larger portion of the structure is one story in height, and shows the main cornice on the outside 45 feet above the ground. At the centre of the longer sides of the building are projections 416 feet in length, and in the centre of the shorter sides or ends are projections 216 feet in length. In these projections are located the main entrances, which are provided with arcades upon the ground floor, and central facades extending to the height of 90 feet. The East Entrance forms the principal approach for carriages. The South Entrance for street-cars ; the ticket-offices being located upon the line of Elm Avenue, with covered w^ays provided for entrance into the building itself. The North Entrance communicates directly with the Art Gallery. The West entrance gives the main passage-way to the Machinery Hall. Upon the corners of the building are four towers 75 feet in height, and between the towers and the central projections or entrances, a lower roof, showing a cornice 24 feet above the ground. 42 FAIRMOUNT PARI DIMENSIONS. Measurements taken from centre to centre of supporting columns. Length of Building iSSofeet. Width of Building 4^4 " Central Avenue or Nave. Length . . . . Width . . . . 1832 120 FAIRMOUNT PARK. 43 Fi BtJIIj^II^G. 11 —:^ ^ Height to top of supporting columns Height to ridge of roof 45 feet. 70 " Central Transept. Length 416 " Width 120 " Height to top of columns ......... 45 " Height to ridge of roof .......... 65 " 44 FAIRMOUNT PARK. Side Avenues. Length Width . Height to top of cokimns Height to ridge of roof 1 23 2 feet. 100 " 45 " 65 " Side Transepts. Length 416 "Width 100 Height to top of cokimns .......... 45 Height to ridge of roof 65 Central Aisles. Length at east-end .......... 744 feet " at west-end ......... 672 Width 48 Height to roof .......... 30 Side Aisles. Length at east-e;pd ^. 744 " at west-end . . , 672 Width . Height to roof Central Space or Pavilion. Ground Plan ..... Height to top of supporting columns Height to ridge of roof . 24 24 120 72 96 Towers over Courts. Ground Plan 48 Height of Roof 120 Corner Towers. Ground Plan . 24 Height to roof .......... 75 square. square. square. The foundations consist of piers of masonry. The superstructure, of wrought-iron columns and wrought-iron roof trusses. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 45 The columns are placed lengthwise the building, at the distance of 24 feet apart ; and the sides of the building, for the height of seven feet from the ground, are finished with timber framed in panels between the columns, and, above the seven feet, with glazed sash. Portions of the sash are movable for ventilation. The wrought-iron columns are composed of rolled channel bars with plates riveted to the flanges. The roof trusses are similar in form to those in general use for Depots and Warehouses. Upon the exterior of the building, around each corner column, is placed a light casing of galvanized iron, octagonal in form, and designed to appear as a slender turret extending from the ground to above the roof. The roof over the central part, for 184 feet square, is raised above the surrounding portion, and four towers, 48 feet square, rise to 120 feet in height at the corners of the elevated roof. The areas covered are as follows : Ground Floor 872,320 squcare feet. 20.02 acres. Upper Floors, in projections 37,344- " " -^5 " " " in towers 26,344 " " .60 " 936,008 21.47 GROUND PLAN. The Ground Plan shows a central avenue or nave 1 20 feet in width, and extending 1,832 feet in length. This is the longest avenue, of that width, ever introduced into an Exhibition Building. On either side of this nave is an avenue 100 feet, by 1,832 feet in length. Between the nave and side avenues are aisles 48 feet ; and, on the outer sides of the building, smaller aisles 24 feet in width. Three cross-avenues or transepts of the same widths, and in the same 6 46 FAIRMOUNT PARK. relative positions to each other as the nave and avenues, run lengthwise ; viz. : a central transept 120 feet in width by 416 feet in length, with one on either side of 100 feet by 416 feet, and aisles between of 48 feet. The intersections of these avenues and transepts in the central portion of the building result in dividing the ground floor into nine open spaces free from supporting columns — covering in the aggregate an area of 416 feet square. Four of these spaces are 100 feet square, four 100 feet by 120 feet, and the central space or pavilion 120 feet square. The intersections of the aisles result in four interior courts 48 feet square, one at each corner of the central space. The main promenades through the nave and central transept, are each 30 feet in width, those through the centre of the side avenues and transepts 15 feet each. All others are 10 feet wide. The Private Offices for the various Foreign and State Commissions are on the ground floor and in the second story on either side of the Main Entrances, in close proximity to their exhibited products. Buffets or Restaurants for light refreshments are at four prominent points. Water is supplied freely throughout the entire building, the most com- plete provision being made for protection against fire. Sanitary arrangements, easy of access, are located at six different points. ARRANGEMENT OF PRODUCTS. The arrangement of products exhibited is that recommended by the Committee on Classification of, and adopted by, the U. S. Centennial Commission. It is known as the Dual System of Classification, and will be applied in this building as follows : FAIRMOUNT PARK. ^^ Dept. I. Materials in their unwrought condition. Mineral, vegetable, and animal. Dept. II. Materials and Manufactures the result of extractive or combining pro- cesses. Dept. III. Textile and Felted Fabrics. Apparel, costumes, and ornaments for the person. Dept. IV. Furniture and Manufactures of general use in construction and in dwellings. Dept. V. Tools, Implements, Machines, and Processes. Dept. VI. Motors and Transportation. Dept. VII. Apparatus and Methods for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Dept. VIII. Engineering, Public Works, Architecture. Dept. IX. Plastic and Graphic Arts. Dept. X. Objects illustrating efforts for the improvement of die Physical, Intellectual, and Moral Condition of Man. In this building will be located portions of all of the above Departments, except No. VI., which will be placed in the Machinery Hall, and No. IX. to which the Art Gallery will be especially devoted. The Departments will be arranged in parallel zones lengthwise the Building, the zones being of different widths, according to the bulk of the products exhibited in the particular department. The countries and States exhibiting will be arranged in parallel zones crosswise the Building; these zones also being of different widths, according to the amount of space required for the exhibits of each country. Between each Depart- ment and each country will be passage-ways, distinctly marking the limit of each. The result of this dual system will be, that any visitor or student desiring to compare products of the same kind from different parts of the world may do so by passing through the building lengthwise, keeping in the zone devoted to the particular Department ; or desiring to examine the products exhibited by any particular Country or State may do so by pass- ing through the Building crosswise, in the zone devoted to the particular Country or State. 48 FAIRMOUNT PARK. GROUND PIAN AND ORIGINAL ALLOTMENT OF SPACE 7^ f ;,— ,, O 1 NAVE ~) (n) bin ^r 1 1 \-y 11 II II lULJl ll^ll |ui| Uai= II II II II II 1! II--II 1^1 . PH ^ 1 II 1 II 1 1^ " 1 1 1 zi]=]::i]r:^ . !| II 1 1 II II 1 1 1 1 HlH 4 Oi-ii-i'^t^ mroMHHi-ii-.i_i>-,i-iro 1^ c; c^ c^ CO CO CO N o >0 C/3 CO i-O O) Cj^ CO 00 U-) LO cr ro ro LT) r-C rf Tfco COCOvOvOOOCO^h O ■^Ot^COOrOroOcOMD C^ r-^o i^cxD lo Lo lo >j^co vo u^ On i-i !>. ro Lo •^ -^ ii-» CO '-"'^ t^ O do 3 > C/2 s a o _ _ OJ rr-J ^ ex. FAIRMOUNT PARK. 49 IN THE MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING. ri^^ff^^f^^^^^*^^^^ ^j^^^^~^ '"■"'"V ^'li'^"- Tl "? 1 II 1 1 II II ^^—1 II 1 1 II 1 n,^ll 1 1 ' II II II 11 II i ll'^ll II II II 11 Ii II II 1 II 1 1 ^k 1 ^k r'. 'iiH o NAVE l! o c r II ^^ 1 ^= iii'i ii^ii n II II II II 11 II 1 —'