The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-15
CITY INTELLTGE ENCE.
LT0R ADDITIoNAL LocAL 1rnMs ann r1rru r.ar.I

VI hlehlutIS was lull. Inc business
Select Braneh--President spering filled the chair.
lnunlcatlon was received from the officers
OF tne Hestonville Railroad, asking permission to
erect temporary wooden building on Lancaster
PIKE, between Forty first and Forty second street.
number of petitions were received asking the
passage of an ordinance to prevent the laying of
railway tracks in Twelfth or sixteenth streets, as
- proposed oy parties apply ing TO the Legislature
A petition for the removal of the track of the
city railroad, in Market street, between Tenth and
mittees.
A Communication from the Superintendent of
Oity Railroads, recommending such removal, was
also referred.
A communication was received from M. Hall
Stanton, Esq one of the Trustees of the Philadel-
phia Gas Work, informing Councils that that body
had adopted resolution, by a small majority, to
continue holding, with closed doors, as before
Law.
Ool. Page offered a resolution providing for the
appointment OF special committee of three, rela-
tive to the affairs of the Pennsylvania Railroad:
heeolVeo, oy the select and Common Councils
OF the city of Philadelphia, that the communica-
ton of Messrs. Lewis Ekin and John Rice, Dlrec-
tors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, in
answer to q resolution of Councils, be referred to
Joint special committee of three from each Cham
Der, and the said committee hereby authorized,
II by them 1t shall be deemed advisable, to direct
the Mayor to cast the stock vote of the city for
against the acceptance Of the act Of Assembly, ap
proved March, 1866.
This act authorizes the Directors to borrow from
time to time such sums of money they may
deem needfu, and to issue bonds therefor, in sums
of not less than 800 The increase of the capital
stock of the company not TO exceed 600 shares.
Mr. Van Cleve did not see why road in a con-
dition already so prosperous should ask for per-
mission TO increase its capital stock to the extent
Of 100000 shares, and to effect the loan of an
amount OF money equal to its present capital. He
hoped that a committee would be appointed to see
whether such an increase would be for the benefit
of the stock held Oy the city.
Mr. Smith spoke to like effect.
Mr. King favored the resolution 1t could do no
harm II it did no good.
The subject was unanimously referred.
On motion, the committee was increased to nine
"A eommunlcanon was received from the O9n-
improvements, and was referred to committee.
An ordinance was presented by Mr.. Bumm,
Chairman Of the Committee on City Property, pro-
vlding for the sale of certain lots owned by the
city, in Chestnut street. from Twenty-third to
Twenty fourth on these terms;-2O per cent to be
paid in cash, the balance to remain on ground rent
at the option of the purchaser
This ordinance passed
Mr.. Bumm presented a report from Joint Com
mittee of City Property and Surveys relative TO
the inadequate accommodations for many of the
county officers, with an ordinance attached, pro-
vdlng for the appointment OF a commission for the
erection of public buildings.
The report shows that the offices of the Board of
Revision, Oty Commissioner and search clerks of
the Receiver of Taxes are all small and insult
able. The offices of the departments should be ad-
jacent TO them. The cost of making duplicate
books for the revision and assessment of taxes
would be very large, besides large annual outlay
to keep them brought down for use, which, II the
offices were adjacent, would be saved. All the
Courts are inadequately accommodated, and the
new Courthouse is but temporary make-shift,
The rooms of the District Court are unit for the
business of the city In all the departments the re-
port says, there is great want of room, and the
committee unanimously recommend the immediate
erection of new public buildings. The cost of
Keeping the present ones in repair amounts annu-
ally almost the interest the cost of new struc
tures. The city is paying in rent SIS 200, which
is the interest upon $3O00O0, and adding the cost
ofrepairs the city is expendng yearly the interest
upon half a million dollars.
The committee recommend the selection as such
q locality, of Broad and Market streets. In a few
years the way tracks for burden cars will dis
appear there aud the point is really the very
centre of the city The plan for the entire build
iDgs should be adopted now-not with view of
entering Immediately upon the erection OF all of
them but to fix the general arrangement, that
the city can erect and finish portion yearly until
the completion of the whole
The committee object to the leasing of the Adelphi
building, and urge immediate action upon the bill
appended.
The report is signed by the entire committee, Mr..
The bill names as the Commission Henry Davis,
John Price Wetherill, Furman Sheppard, James
A. Freeman, Edward Shippen and N b. Browne,
who, with the Mayor and the President OF Ooun-
cils shall hold for the term of five years the office
of Commissioners of Public Buildings, unless the
buildings herein provided for have been before
that time erected and completed.
ANY vacancies occurring in the said Board, eX-
cepting those of members by virtue of their office,
as Mayor and President of Councils shall be nlled
by the remaining members of the Board. The
said Commissioners shall meet within one month
after the passage Of the ordinance, and organize by
the election of a president ana secretary from
their numbers but shall receive no compensation
for their services as Commissioners.
Section second provides that it shall be the duty
OF the said Board to advertise, in at least two daily
newspapers published in this city, for three weeks
for plans aud estimates OF cost OF the proposed
buildings; and they shall, within three months
after their first meeting determine upon and adop'
q plan and thereupon shall determine what por-
tlon of said plan shall be first erected. They shall
advertise, for at least two weeks, in one or more
newspapers, for proposals for the erection OF sucn
parts to be by them designated in the advertise
Inent, and shall award the contracts to the Lowest
and best bidder who shall give the requisite Sc
cnrity, who shall thereupon enter into a contrac
with the city, and shall proceed, under the direc
ton OF the said Commissioners, TO erect said build
ihgs and fit them for the purposes intended.
Section third provides that the said Commission
ers shall prepare contract TO be approved by th'
CITY Solicitor, the terms of which shall be pub
lisbed at the time OF dvertisng for the proposals
for the erection of such portion of the buildings 81
shall be designated to be first erected; they shal
provide terms Of payment and the amount OF SO
curity, and shall proceed in the erection and com
petion of any other part or parts OF the buildings
provided, that the contracts are awarded after ad
Vertisement, in the same manner as above pro
Vided for that which is first to be erected.
Section fourth provides that the said buildings
shall be erected in one of the public
squares at Broad and Market streets, as the COM
mission deem proper; that the faith OF the city Is
pledged to levy special tax each year of one
eighth of one per cent upon zeal estate, or such
other rate as will yield at least S200,0O0 annually
the satd special tax TO be collected separately and
kept as separate fund by the City Treasurer, and
10 be known as "The Public Buildings Fund"
tits also provided that in order that immediate
stems may be taker for the erection of said build
ines the sum OF 5000 600 is hereby appropriated
tbe Commission ers OF Public Buildings, for the
expenses of the year 1867 to carry out the objects
a loan hereafter 10 be created. The warrants upon
said appropIiation TO be drawn by the Commits
l,son- signed by the President and attested by
,be Secretary, in the form authorized by existing
g ordinances. , -..u4 ,,o~o ,,do.oa .. |,
The ordinance ana IePOI' "eio OtVeio" W NC
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