The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-08
Broad street-RaiIwRy Tracks-F""i'
Rnildings.


WE notice that All effort is being made py
few interested parties to secure yet iuF'her
postponement of the time for removing Ine
rails from Broad street between CalloWhlil
and Market streets. By act OF Assembly
PASSED in 1866, the owners OF properly III snS'
street we're allowed three years from tne nts'
of April of that year in which to make 'ne'r
preparations for the removal OF the Tracks,
This time was given because it was urged tnst
Il would be unjust and destructive to their
buaiuess interest to compel more speedy
obapoe of location. This was only
aouitable. but no one can pretend
that the time given was.too short. The whole
development of the real estate fronting on that
great thoroughfare was delayed three years,
TO accommodate the score or two OF commission
merchants interested. These very gentlemen
now have the audacity to ask for yet greater
delay of the proposed great public improve
msnts, We are lost in amazement at the cool
ness of the proposition. Why should tue
march of advancement cease because OF the
selfish and ignorant policy OF few
citisepsP There are 500, 600 souls in Pnila'
dslphia; they would be benefited by the
change, yet some fifty merchants ask them to
wait more than three years in order that tbs
fifty may make little more money by the
delay. The grant of the time already elapsed
has been but lily borne by our citizens, aud
they now demand that not another day or
hour be given, but that on the 1stOf April the
disgrSosiul cause OF stsguauOn on the most
elegant thoroughfare in America be forever
removed. 1t is not necessary for rs to
foretell the immediate effect which will follow
such reform. The effect will be instanta
neous. Carriages will no longer have to enter
Twelfth and Fifteenth streets in order to reach
the improved portion of North Broad street.
but can roll directly along. With the opening
OF this passage will come the destruction OF
the unsightly store-houses, and in their places
will stand elegant structures TO ornament and
Seautify the city. Within two years atterthe
taking up of the rails the residents in the
neighborhood will not recognize Broad street,
and they will be able to tell their iuoredulou5
children how desolate that great boulevard
was in 1869
ApropcS to the intended improvement of
Broad street, We must mention the eminent
propriety Of the establishment of the public
buildings at Broad and Market streets. The
opposition to that location is all engendered
and created by certain proportion of the
public press, and there is a coincidence be-
tween the ownership of real estate of those
papers and the expression of their sentiments.
1t is fact noticeable that all the papers hav-
ing property around Sixth aud Chestnut
streets are opposed to Broad and Market
streets for the public buildings, and are in
favor of Independence Square; while
those papers more east, that is to say,
nearer Third and Chestnut, although further
from Broad street, favor that locality. Thus
the Public Ledger owns its Office at Sixth aud
Chestnut streets and real estate at Fifth and
Chestnut, and is bitterly opposed to Broad
street. So also the Bulletin, the Press, and the
Transcript. This opposition is only natural,
ior they well know that with the removal of
the public buildings will come serious de-
crease in the value of their property. each
for himself is natural motto, but still the
value OF an opinion is somewhat detracted
from by the fact of self-interest. The other
journals, the Inquirer, North American, Dis
patch and EVENING TELEGRAPH, located east
ward, are not directly interested pecunisrily
and can judge with greater freedom as To what
is for the public good. They all favor Broad
street.
The relative advantages for artistic effect OF
the two positions caunot be compared. Il
the buildings are put in Independence Square
the more elegant the structure, the more or
nate the design, the more will the effect be di
minished. The extreme narrowness of the
streets which border on the square will ruiz
the effect, and there will be but one position
from which they can be advantageousl,
viewed, and that will be from the centre o
Washington Square. The difference between
this location and that on Broad street is to-
obvious to need argument The effect a
Broad and Market streets would be grand
OF the repayment as an investment of al
the money which the city would be callec
upon to expend, we can say one word. TIL
experience of New York city teaches us
lesson. The cost of the Central Park ,Oa
repaid By the increase of the value Of propert
an IFS vicinity, and the consequent addition /
the revenue of the municipality. The sam
would be the case in our own city. In actua
dollars and cents the money would be re
turned, to say nothing of the crowds whic
would be sure to visit our city to see tn
thoroughfare, and the consequent receipt
THAR monev. We believe il TO be the tru