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key, Denmark, Tunis, Chile, the Argen ne Republic,
Peru, the Orange Free State, the Sandwich Islands,
and Venezuela were also represented, Never before
had there been gathered together in one place such

 

INDEPENDENCE HALL, PHILADELPHIA,

a comprehensive display of the arts and industries of
so many of the peoples of the world.

Machinery Hall, which was especially devoted to
machinery in motion, was 1,402 feet long and 360

WORLD'S FAIRS.

feet wide, with an annex 208 by 210 feet for hydraulic
machinery. There were more than 10,000 feet of
shafting for conveying to the various machines the
motive power generated by the huge Corliss engine.
This enormous machine had cylinders of
44 inches diameter, and a ten-foot stroke,
a fly-wheel 30 feet in diameter, and 56 tons
in weight, making 36 revolutions per min-
ute. There were 20 tubular boilers of 70
horse-power each, and at 60 pounds pres-
sure the work of the engine was about 1400
horse-power. This building contained by
far the largest and most varied display. of
working machinery that had at that time
ever been seen in the world.

General Joseph R. Hawley, President of
the United States Centennial Commission,
formally presented the Exhibition to the
President of the United States, who: re-
sponded in a brief address, closing with
the words, ‘‘I declare the International
Exhibition now open.’’ At that moment a

" thousand flags were unfurled on every hand,
innumerable bells and whistles were sounded,
a salute of one hundred guns were fired, and
Handel’s ‘* Hallelujah Chorus’’ was sung
by the great choir, with organ and orches-

Then the President

and other distinguished guests formed in a

smaall procession and moved through the
principal buildings. In Machinery Hall
the President and the Emperor cf Brazil
set in motion the great engine and all the
machinery connected therewith, being
assisted by Mr. George H. Corliss, the
builder and giver of the engine. Then the
President and other guests were escorted to

tral accompaniment.

the Judges’ pavilion, where a brief recep-

tion was held. This concluded the opening
exercises, and thenceforth the grounds and buildings
were open to the public, at fifty cents admission,
every week-day until November roth, when the
Exhibition was closed.