Identifier: popularhistoryof00ridpaj (find matches)
Title: A popular history of the United States of America, from the aboriginal times to the present day
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: Cincinnati, Philadelphia (etc.) Jones brothers & company San Francisco, A. L. Bancroft & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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. The authorities of that city, throw-ing their whole energies into the enterprise, at once proffered to thecommissioners the free use of Fairmount Park, one of the largestand most magnificent in the world. This beautiful tract, presentingevery variety of surface, well wooded and well watered, extends onboth sides of the Schuylkill for more than seven miles, and along thebanks of the Wissahickon for nearly the same distance. The entirepark embraces two thousand seven hundred and forty acres, andpresents to the eye every thing that is lovely and refreshing inwoodland scenery, beautified and adorned by the hand of art. Theportion of the grounds more particularly set apart for the purposesof the Exposition, including an area of four hundred and fifty acres,lies on the right bank of the Schuylkill, below Belmont, and wasformerly known as the old Lansdowne Estate. The formal transfer of the grounds to the Centennial Commissionwas made on the 4th of July, 1873. An immense throng of citizeus
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(569) 570 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. and strangers gathered in the park to witness the ceremonies. Theaddress of presentation was made by the Honorable Morton Mc-Michael of Philadelphia, and the response by General Hawley,president of the Commission. The dedicatory oration was thendelivered by Governor Hartranft of Pennsylvania, who, after recitingthe congressional acts and various other measures upon which theCentennial enterprise had thus far proceeded, continued in thefollowing eloquent manner: We have assembled here to dedicate a portion of this beauti-ful park to the uses of a great International Exhibition, which isto commemorate the anniversary of our countrys birth. Uponthe threshold of the century to expire in 1876, thirteen poor andfeeble colonics, with no common ties other than their love of libertyand hatred of oppression, declared their independence. TheseThirteen Colonies, with their offspring, now increased in number tothirty-seven, stretch their empire across a cont

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