The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-21
CITY COUNCLLS.

a note was received from Mayor Fox in
forming the Chamber that the bridge crossing
the stream known as Gunner's Run, in
the Nineteenth and Twenty-fifth Wards, is
III condition, of dangerous diapidation
Accompanying the note was a report made
to his Honor by the Chief of Police repre-
senting that within the city limits there are
twenty bridges, all of which are either in
precarious condition of decay or in urgent
need of preventive treatment. During the
past two months the chief enumerates
the loss OF seventeen lives through casual
ties resulting from the bad condition of these
bridges.
The documents were referred to the imme-
dlate consideration of the Department of
Highways.
An invitation was received from General
Provost, commanding First Division p. NJ,
for the presence of the body in their Off jial
capacity on Monday next, and review by
them of the expected parade. heinvitatiOn
was accepted.
A resolution requesting the Mayor to tender
to eX Governor Curtin the use of Indepen-
dence Hall for the reception of his friends pre-
vious to his departure for Russia, was
adopted
Mr.. Bumm presented the resignation of
Mr.. Richard Wildey from the Board of Port
Wardens of Philadelphia. Accepted.
A petition for the restoration To service of
the Independence Engine Company was pre-
sented by Mr.. Barlow, and referred to Com
mittee on Fire and Trusts.
Mr. Fox reported an ordinance to change
the boundaries of the first division, Twenty
fifth Ward, and creating a new division
therein. This was agreed to.
Mr. Hodgdon, of the Committee on Water,
reported a resolution authorizing the laying
of water pipe in Hed1ing, Bucknell, Jack
sen, Sepviva, and other streets. Adopted
An ordinance by Mr.. Cattell, authorizing
additional leases of Girard lands in Schuyl-
kill and Columbia county, was passed.
resolution was adopted permitting the
erection of a temporary edifce at Twentieth
and Montrose streets, for temporary use by
the congregation of the new Catholic Church
of St. Charles BorromeO, for purposes of pub
lie worship.
The Committee on Finance reported favor
ably with regard to the appointments of Ohm
NJ. Melloy, Receiver of Taxes, and all were
confirmed.
Mr.. Cramer reported an ordinance making
an appropriation of $1,000 to the Board of
Health, Tor steamtug for quarantine pur-
poses
Mr.. Ritchie submitted an ordinance appro-
priating $50, 600 for the purpose of erecting
schoolhouse building in Noble street above
Fifth, in the Twelfth Ward. The amount to
be reimbursed out of and to be hereafter crea-
ted. Agreed to.
Common Council ordinance authorizing the
sale Of nineteen acres of the Almshouse
grounds for the sum of $4,000 an acre was
taken up.
Mr.. Hodgson favored the sale of the prop
erty, but advocated the doing by the me-
dium of an auctoneer's sale. He referred to
the case of the lease of the Tobacco Ware
house at $500 more by public outcry than
Select Councils had agreed 10 take for it. The
Legislature has compelled the city to build
costly bridge over the Schuylkilll. The COM
pletion of that bridge will enormously enhance
the value of the Almshouse property. The
nineteen acres thus to be given away would
70 fha ~ 80
ofthe choicest Of the tract 1t contains abund-
ance of gravel, and that is what the city just
now needs. To build the bridge will increase
the debt of the city million of dollars. The
water works must have another loan of a
million and half and with a debt of S42,-
O00 600 the people are not in a position to
endow a college at the expense Of interests so
important Keep on as we are now doing
and the taxes of the people will soon reach
the figure Of 81 so in the 500. Mr.. Hodgson
favored the placing of the proposed college in
Farmount park.
Mr.. Franciscus took directly opposite
grounds; he pronounced the institution to be
an honor to the country, and a matter rising
far above the value of dollars and cents.
The people of Philadelphia generally are in.
terested in this matter. They will richly en-
dow this institution. One gentleman alon9
is ready to present to it library of greater
value than that owned by any corresponding
institution in the country. Mr.. Franciscus
deprecated that spirit which begrudged to an
institution gratuitously educating so many
impecunious young men, the privilege de
sired for increasing its usefulness. Mr.
Franciscus dwelt upon the insignifcance OF
the mere dollar, compared with the advan
tages derivable from its transfer to such an
institution of learning as the University of
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Hugh McIlvaine cited long list of re-
cent sales of real estate in the vicinity of the
Almshouse with the prices that it brought; at
the very lowest rate the Almshouse property
proposed to be given to the University for
$4,000 an acrt, is worth $780, 900. Let the
streets be opened, and in a very short time
this property would realize to the city So, ,0OO,-
000 Its location IS commanding much more
so than collegiate institution need require.
Mr.. Smith favored the proposed sale to the
University because the present property of
the institution would give a site for row of
stately stores, and paying into the City
Treasury a sum in taxation that it will never
receive while occupied as at present. The
city can well afford to make this sale. No
other city would be so chary in dealing with
| such an institution as the University of Penn
| sylvania.
| An amendment was offered to limit the
| parcel to be sold TO the University to an area
| of 400 feet square.
Mr. Barlow moved that further considera-
tion of the matter be postponed for three
| weeks. Agreed to.
A resolution directing official investigation
| into the statement that police warrants have
| been forged was adopted.
The ordinance to make an appropriation for
| a clock and alarm bell to be placed in the
| Shiffler Hose House, was concurred in.
| Adjourned.
| COMMON Characterization Joseph +.
| Marcer called the Chamber to order at quar-
| ter mast three O'Clock.