The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-23

the heart of the city, this question has no par
ticular significance. But with that numerous
class which, even in this town of steady habits,
are forced to change their habitatiOD once a
year or more, II is the one great question OF lite
rising superior even to the grand problem OF
what shall we eat and drink and where withal
shall we be clothed?n
Ponderine this matter the other day, we took
our seat In horse-car at the corner OF Third
and Walnut Streets resolved deliberately upon
Teconnoitring that indefinite LEGALITY on the
other side of the Schuylkill which passes under
the. general title of West philadelphia. The
first thing we noticed was the TACT that we were
seated in a vehicle which was almost sump-
tuous in its arrangements and finish. The seats
were certainly more comfortable and the deco
ratons more tasty than any we remember to
have encountered on any other line n the city;
Inquiring of a gentleman who sat near, and
who appeared to be thoroughly posted upon
the general affairs of the road, we were in
formed that the Chesnut and Walnut streets
line were now running forty cars, OF winch
number eighteen were entirely new, having
been placed upon the road at the time tnat 1t
was opened beyond the Chesnut Street Bridge.
These cars, we were as5ured-and our subse-
quent observation OF them-eXterior as well as
interior, convinced us that it was all the sober
, truth-aIe superior to any in the city for
strength, as we'll as for finish. And yet they
weigh but two tons each, while some new cars
which have recently been placed upon other
enterprising roads exceed them in weight by
several hundred pounds. This item, of course,
is OF no particular consequence to the passenger,
but it is of vast Importance to the hard-worked
animals whose task IL Is to drag them throu9h
the streets. The cars in question cost $3.50
each, and were built at the celebrated manutac-
| tory of Harlan, Holllngsworth Co., winning
ton, DelawaIe an establishment, by-the-way,
which holds q rank second to none OF similar
character in the United States.
Our curiosity with regard to the vehicle in
| which we sat being satisfied at last, we next
| turned our attention to the sights and scenes
| along the road. They were not oyer-attractive
as we approached the new bridge from the east.
! Breweries, stone and marble yards, and un-
finished buildings, were the moss prominent
| features. But these are destined in very short
| time to be done away with, giving place to The
| handsome residences which must eventually I'LL
this one of the most desirably located portions
| of the city.
The bridge itself, the new Chestnut Street
| Bridge. although IT was thrown open to car
travel on the Fourth ofJuly, is not quite COM
| pleted. The cars pass over it regularly; so do
| loot passengers. But vehicles OF all kinds are
still prohibited from trespassing on its sacred
| precincts. The time will come whep even these
| will be permitted to take the bridge IN their
way, but precisely when is yet mystery. But
| little remains to be done before the bridge will
be entirely finished. The paving OF the side
walks is under way; so is the iron railing.
| There is nothing more to be done towards the
| completion Of the structure.
Once over The bridge and one is in consider
| able doubt as to whether or not he should be
| pleased with the prospect. The collection of
| ill-favored factories and mills which line both
| banks OF the Schuylkill is certainly not attract
i've. There is al'O a nuisance In the shape of the
West Chester Railroad, but this will soon be re-
| moved, as it is the intention OF the Company to
locate their depot to the south OF Chestnut street.
There is, likewise an assortment OF open lots and
antiquated frame houses which detract some
| what from the enchantment of the view.
| When this locality Is once passed, however,
| we find ourselves IN one of the most charming
suburbs on the continent. It is half country
| and half city-a veritable landscape with long
rows of brick houses and looming church spires
| hn A for
| residence of business man or mechanic could
not be conceived, much less desired. And the
| crowning feature of the whole is the fact that,
| within twenty minutes, or half an hour at the
most, you can place yourself in the heart of a
great and bustling city, at the frivolous expense
OF SIX and quarter cents. The ready access of
West Philadelphia is indeed its strongest point,
and the one which places it far ahead of Ger
| mantown, Chesnut Hill, and each one Of our
| other numerous suburbs.
Even before the Chestnut street railway was
| opened to Forty-second street by the compile
ton of the bridge, many palatial residences
| were erected on and near the present line of it's
| tracks. But now that the only drawback is re-
moved by its completion, buildings are rising
out of the earth with the rapidity of Aladdin's
palaces: and while they rival these last in at
tractiveness, they will surely surpass them in
durability. As an illustration of the impetus
which the opening of the through line has given
to building, we may state that lots fronting on
Chestnut street, above Thlrty-siXth, have in
creased in value sufficient to bear the entire
cost of the road
But while thus surmisiLg, we approached the
end of the route. at a distance of full three
miles and half from the Front street terminus.
we reached Forty-second street. the present
western limit of the road. At this point the
Company have constructed temporary car
houses and stables, and are now busily engaged
in the erection of their permanent headquarters.
These will be Of brick, and equal in exterior
appearance and interior arrangement to any in
the city or country. They occupy the whole
block bounded by Forty-frst. Forty.second
Chestnut and SAMSON streets, with frontage on
Chestnut street of 80 feet, and depth of 22(
feet.
The car-house will extend the entire length Of
the Chestnut street front, and will be 63 feet in
width, and two stories in height, the SECOND
story to be used as repairing shop. The offices
of the company will be located at the corner O.
Forty-second street, on the first floor. The
foundations of this mammoth structure art
already laid. and it is expected that it will bC
entirely completed by the opening Of the new
| year. The stable, which is located on the San
som street side of the block, will be larger ever
than the carhOuse, extending the entire length
OF the LOT, 80 ,ieet, and having a widCf
of 80 feet. This also VIII be two
stories in height, the second story to be used fol
the storage OF food tor the horses. The building
is already under way. and win be completed By
the lst OF December. The total cost of the i'm
provemeuts projected by the company will b.
about $60,000. When they are finished tn
| Chestnut and Walnut Streets Railroad will Oe il
condition to compete successfully with an!
line in the city. And even now, the person VIII
is striving to solve the problem, Where shall
live ?n will find a satisfactory answer, If ne viii
but take a Walnut street car and make the roun
tip to West Philadelphia and back.
, THE POLICE OF THE CITY.-It is indee,
: matter to congratulate ourselves on the gene