Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-08-18
FIRsr NATIONAL pANK.


improved in appearance. The outside and in
inside have been replastered, the windows al
tered, and the whole building so changed that
its ancient appearance hos disappeared and CIV
en- place to a more modern style. This struc
ture was some years ago, the fashionable hotel
of our city, and thousands of the dgnitaries
of the State and nation have found shelter be-
meath its roof, whilst sojournng in Wilmington.
Finally, other hotels more handsome in appear
ance and Of larger dimensions were erected, and
as a consequence the custom was soon lured
away from the more humble-looking house, and
it became improbable as q hotel. II was pur-
chased by Mr. Hyland b Pennington, and
converted into a dwelling and dry goods store.
Mr.. Pennington confined to carry on a successful
business for several years, until the Mechanics
Bank was chartered, when it was secured by the
Board of Directors, Of that institution for a
banking house.
NEW CITY HALL
When are we to have a new City Halll This
enquiry suggested itself, Us we passed the anti
quated looking structure which our good people
a
Is mean looking establishment totally unsuited
to the wants of the community and reproach
upon city as large as ours. The main hall,
provided for public meetings has long since
been found entirely too small to accommodate
Wilmington audience, and the citizens are COM
PEELED to engage private hall, at a heavy e1-
pense, or else assemble in the open air. There
is large lot belonging to the city Immediately
in the rear, and we would suggest that the City
Council consider the propriety Of erecting new
building covering the entire lot 1t should be
SO arranged that the BIayor aud High Constable
can have ofhces on King street, with the prison
cells in the same wing Of the structure. There
J is certainly much room for improvement ia our
| city Prison. il has been several times, within
the last few years the subject of communion
tiOn by the Mayor to Council, and is certainly
unfit to eonhne prisoners in. We have no doubt
that it is kept in as good condition as the cir.
oumstances will admit Of, and yet it is really
loathsome and disgusting. We hope that the
subject of a new City Hall will be agitated by
our citizens. Let the matter be presented to
our City Fathers, in such strong terms that they
NNAAAANAAAk
taxes are already very high, but we think that
retrenchment should he made in other quarters,
and this much desired and really necessary i'm
provement be made.
THE NAMES OF TIE STREETS ON THE LAaPs
While we are on The subject Of improvements
necessary to be made by the City Council, we
would suggest the propriety of painting the
names of the streets on the glass of the public
lamps, as is done in New York and Philadelphia.
Strangers visiting our city find it very difficult
at night-to ascertain the locality they are iu,
as ii is next to impossible to see the boards on
the street corners particularly if the night be dark
The cost would be but trieing in comparison
with the great improvement it would make and
the accommodation it would be to strangers.
AERRicKs NEW CARRIAGE NAHUTAcroRY.
One of the finest improvements that has been
made in our city lately is the extensive carriage
mandatory of John Merrick, on the corner Of
Ninth and King streets 1t is 2l8 feet in length,
and extends through the whole square to French
street and fronts W feet on King street. The
building is two stories high on King street, and
three stories on French or rather the deelivty
OF Ninth street gives the cellar the appearance
of being the 6rst story. The foundations ars
two feet thick, aud about a half million bricks
we're used in the erection Of the walls, which are
built in the most substantial aud workmanlike
manner. The walls are topped with a tasteful
cornice, which adds much to the beauty OF the
structure On the top Of the mandatory, on
King street, is fine belfry, and a sky.liRht and
ventilator running the entire length of the rooE,
q feet high and IL feet wide, composed Of 81
large sash, hung above half their height on
pivots, thereby remaining shut, but governed
iaside by ropes.
On French street is the entrance to the black
smith shop, having capacity for 20 or more Iorges
and further extension can be easily added.
The ceiling Of this shop is IL feet high, and for
100 feet in length is plasteFed as we'll as the
walls all around The whole smith shop is very
light in all it's parts so that work eau be done in
any portion Of it. The fires are blown by fan
which is turned by l5 horse power Corliss
engine. The engine is also used for turning
circular and scroll saws grindstones, drill.prsss,
paint-mill tre-bender, Wheel-maohinery and
polishing machine
Notwithstanding the heat smoke and gas usu-
ally arising from coal fires, we found the air
pure aud cool, even in this warm weather.
We also noticed a very simple yet complete
cOntrivance for beating carriage tire, consisting
Of a circular iron plate feet in diameter. en-
circling which is a large gas pipe, on which is
45 jOinted burners. The tire is laid thereon.
aud the gas being lighted, the burners are moved
up until the focus of heat in the tame strikes
the tire in the DO places, equally distant from
each other. The great advantage in il is, that
the tiEe is heated the same all around, 30 when
on the wheel, at the time of cooling, the com
tracing is regular on the whole circumference.
By the old method of heating in the furnace.
the tire being upright, the part lowest gets hot
ter than the upper, causing unequal contraction,
and crooked wheels that will not track and have
many other faults.
There are rows Of stout vice benches running
up the middle the same door, to be used by 6p-
ishers and for filing the iron work.
The 7econd foor ia IavaI ,y;tL Li..- -...-. 49, g,