Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-05-27
Correspondence Of Tribune & Telegraph
PHILADELPHIA, Nav 4, 1853.

of four years am again for day or
two in the "City of Brotherly love-" and
will try and get together facts enough
in relation TO it, to make this letter in
teresting to your readers.
In the year 1851; the first settlers ar
rived from London, in the ship "Sarah
and john" Capt Smith. The following
year its great proprietor and founder
William Penn, came here, and took up.
his residence.
The object this celebrated man had in
establishingy" the new Colony" was,
using his own words, ''to afford an asy-
lum to the good and oppressed of all
nations, to frame government which
might be an example, to show men as
free and happy as they could be-" 81
am" he writes, spending my life and
money, without being six pence en-
riched by my greatness. Had sought
greatness only, had stayed at home,
where the difference between what / am,
and was offered and could have been
there, in power and wealth, is as wide
as the places are apart.
Everything connected with the settle
ment and early history Of Philadelphia,
indicates the enlarged and religious
mind of this distinguished man. The
very name he chose is impressive, as
signifying in its original Greek sense
"brotherly love-" The plan and limits
were on the most magnificent scale
Had those original plans been carried
out, Philadelphia would now have been
the most splendid city in the world
They were feared, however, to be too
extensive, and the::contemplated city was
reduced to one fourth the original plan.
In 1884 the population.was $500, and in
1901 it was incorporated into city. At
present Philadelphia extends from its
southern to its northern limits, twenty
miles, and from east to west eight miles,
about l25 square miles.
j The city is now extending with won
drous strides; year by year streets are
being laid out and houses extending
away for squares, arise, as by the hand
Of magic, on ground that lately "waved
in golden harvest"
Philadelphia is perhaps the most
healthy city in the United States. The
air is sweet and clear, the sky serene
and seldom overcast. The streets are
wide and airy crossing at right angles
they surpass all others in the world, in
their convenience for trade and accomo.
dation for passengers, and are well
paved and kept remarkably clean. AT
night they are well lighted with gas.
Most of the houses in this city are
built on uniform plan, being generally
three stories high. The population in
1857 was $4,000. Total number OF
dwelling houses $4,000. There has
been on an average over $500 buildings
erected here annually, for the last three
years.
During the year 1856 the fetal value
Of coal sent to market amounted to over
thirty one millions ofdollars being $685.
1913 tons.
First among the public buildings,
comes that interesting relic of the past,
Independence Hall, and few strangers
leave the city without visiting its veneer
ated halls. 1t was commenced in 1929,
and completed in 1874. The original
cost was $4,000, Though frequently re-
novated, it presents the same appear
ance now, that it did in l776. In the
east room Of the first story, the immortal
Declaration of Independence waspassed
by Congress, July 4tE, 1776.
There are places which possess, in a
peculiar degree, the power of awaken
ing sensations in the mind. In their eff
feet we acknowledge the influence
which has been SO beautifully designed,
the "magic of scene" Such an in
fluence did experience, standing in this
''relic OF olden days. Everything in the
room leads the mind back to the mem
orable time-to that decisive act, which
has consecrated. this room to undying
fame. We see those patriotic men pom
dering on the magnitude of the step
about to be taken. Some of them seem
to waver. Silence-aeep and solemn
silence, reigns throughout. See that
aged man arise. He casts look of in
expressible interest and unconquerable
determination on his fellow patriots. he
addresses them. Hear him! "There
is tide in the affairs of men, a nick of
time; we perceive it now before us. That
noble instrument upon your table, which
insures immortality to its author, should
be subscribed this very morning by ev-
cry member in the room. He who will
not respond TO its call, is unworthy the
name offreeman. Although these hairs
must descend into the tomb, l would
rather, infinitely rather they should de-
scend thither by the hand of the public
executioner, than desert at this crisis,
the sacred cause of my country" He
ceases, but the fire of patriotism is kind
led afresh in every bosom, and "forth-