The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-13

wv NeN
not only ability, but due familiarity with the
details of the Ofice-not only honesty, but
also an intimate knowledge Of the routine Of
duties, without which any novice will greatly
incOmmode the workings of the complex sys-
tenn of warrant payments. Recognizing that
those qualities were essential, the Republican
Convention nominated Mr.. David Jones, for
many years Chief Clerk of the Treasurer, and
who is thoroughly familiar with all the work
ings of the Office, and with the condition of the
city finances. He is as honest as man can be;
he is as faithful as we could desire; he Is
courteous and able, and possesses all the
requisites for the delicate post With these
qualifications are combined love of our city,
and thorough Identification with her inte-
rests which render him peculiarly fitted to
guide her finances; for, with all the other
requisites, candidate would be as nothing did
he not have a love of Philadelphia and a
desire to see her rise in greatness, increase
in prosperity, and be clear of debt, by means
of her additional resources. In opposition to
Mr.. Jones is Mr.. Joseph N. Peirsol. Now all
that recommends Mr.. Jone for the Office is
wanting in Mr.. Peirsol. He has had no ex-
perienoe in that position. If elected he comes
novice into a new Office, and with a new set
OF assistants incommodes all who have deal
ings with him, until all its machinery gets
into working order. There is no doubt of
his honesty, but he lacks another
grand requisite-the grand ,equiSits-for the
Office. He thinks first of Mr. Joseph N. Peir-
sol, and secondly of the city of Philadelphia.
Mr.. Peirsol is ready, and has been ready for
years, to sacrifice the great interests of our city
for either personal ends or else for sheer
delphian, and one, too, who now asks to be
put at the head of our finances, if he had tried
to prevent our getting the Navy Yard at League
Island, and gone out of his way to write to an
entire stranger, in order that the plan which
was to do so much good to his native city should
be defeated? Yet this is what Mr. Peirsol has
done. we give his letter, written five years
ago to United States Senator on the subject.
We give it word for word and let it speak for
its writer:-
PHILADELPHIA, June 90, 1852.
Sir:-I take the liberty of addressing you upon
the subject of the proposed location of the
United states Navy Yara at League Island. 1
Island has been wholly reclaimed from the
river Delaware, and is only prevented from
overflow by large banks of stone and earth. IL
is surrounded, except upon side, by a
marsh, and for this cause as well as from insa-
lubrity, IL has been unimproved and unoccu-
pied, except as pasture land, at moderate rent,
since It's reclamation. The fast land is from six
to eight feet below high water mark at all
points, and would cost over a million dollars to
level and tit for use as much as will be required
for the large purposes projected.
If the object Is to erect foundries, the spongy
| nature OF the soil would make IL inn possible to
| get proper foundation for the buildings ex-
cept at great cost, nor could we'll of sufficient
| depth be dug for large castings. 1t could not
| cost less than two or three million dollars in
ship-houses, dry.docks and oJher structures
now in The old yard, which would have to be
abandoned. Thus The git Of he Island Ooutd be
dear, and stu dear y $2OOOOOO .oere added to ne
git tOtUdrdS tttttiIg IL for use. Most of the snip
carpenters employed in the yard now reside In
and find employment in Kensington nearly
| eight miles distant from the Island where they
| would continue, as Government work Is not
| sufficiently regular or remunerative to Induce
miles from the supply stores of the city: The
| approaches are as low as the Island ITSELF and
| unhtfor building purposes, and far dlstantirom
MIGRANTS, gas, improved streets, police, ana
| railroads.
The place has only to be visited and seen to de-
n0fStrote its urJttneSS, and l would humbly
suggest visit by committee of Congress for
the purpose before so great an outlay IL IN
possible. There are minor objections, which 1
Will not urge. L am as earnest as any Pnlla-
deIphian in the desire of the location OF first
same feelings which you have, to state To you,
as public man, IL will cost at least four million
dollars to ht League Island for the least efn-
cheney as compared with the present yard II
you add foundries ETC., that will be an addi
tlonal expense, which will not undertake to
estimate.
The present gard may be extended for a5Ou, tux
hundred and Jitty thousand dollars, and proDtdt
oil The ground necessary noW and hereafter u10I
out dtStuTban &C or delay. am ready to give fur
ther Information. Being personally unknown
to you, refer you to any OF the Philadelphia
delegation of the House to be assured VINO am
With high respect,
Shall we elect to post of trust, post Of in
! fuence, a man who would thus insidousl.
! seek to ruin the plan for which all good Phila
, delphians have been working with unparal
= leled harmonyH Shall we reward this enem
to our best local interests by putting him il
} a position to again sacrifice our city, and thi
t time with greater success Let the peopl
t answer. For personal reasons he goes asid
t from what is his natural course, and writes
: letter to Senator whom he does not know
l and whom he has to refer to our delegation i
e order that his name may be recognized; an
q for this we are to make him Treasurer Thin
1 of it, voters If Mr.. Peirsol had succeeded
4 League Island would have been rejected, an
, we would have had to be content with th
Q wretched Navy Yard now ours, and the gre,
depot of our ron-cladS lOOuld hare been located
v Ae,o London. It is all nonsense for man