The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-08
@y- CHANGES IN PHILADELPHIA.

R-g- CHANGES IN PHILADELPHIA
Perhaps no city in the United States has under
gone such great changes as the metropolis founded
by Penn Street after street has been added to tie
old limits and rows of stately and splendid build
irgs occupy the places OF waste and barren CON-
mons still, there is great want, which every
Philadelphsn more or less feels aud that is q at
we have spacious public squares where the peo-
pie at large can throw of care for time and en- ioy
brief season of leisure, and it was a pity Il at
William Penn, when he designed the city, had OF
left large area in the midst breathing spe ce
that could then easily have b. en- done at small
cost
AS the question now stands we must do the best
that we can, and not NEEDLE with those that we
have This Is particularly the case with Washington
and independence Squares, and there are many rea-
sons why these pieces OF ground should not be
touched, but oe LEFT open and public green for
ever. To any one who will for a moment glance at
the past, it will be exceedingly plain that such were
the intentions Of the rulers of the city who first
planned and executed the present buildings. The
first act was passed in 1I29 when an appropriation
of e2000 Pennsylvania currency, was made to build
a State House, 10 Andrew Hamilton, Thomas Law
renee, and John McCully, to superntend the new
building, and carry out the act of Assembly. No.
thing was done till 1880, when the lot on Chestnut
street was purchased, and in lI44 the suding was
finished.
But the position OF affairs was exceedingly diner
ent from what it now is. The city small. Parts
that are now thickly settle then vacant lots
Trinity Church. at the corner OF Sixth and Spruce,
in 1888 considered out OF town, aud as matter
Of course there were, excepting few shantles,
dwellings west OF that edfce and as matter OF
course the State House then the centre OF the
city, and so remained for more than half century.
In 1882 Tenth and Chestnut was reputed the exact
centre.
But from that time the path OF fashion took a
fnIl,
wake. Vacant lots which before had been considered
as OF little account, were now thrown into the mar
ket, and realized large sums for their owners. The
mansions which previously had been the abodes OF
the wealthy and aristocratic were now converted
into stores, and other great alterations made. The
population OF the CITY rapidly increased, railroads
and freight stations appeared in the western part OF
the city, and the erection OF buildings OF all kinds
circulated prodgiOus amount of capital.
The Court House. in the mean time, had not c9r-
responded to the wants OF the community. The ac-
commodations here are still all wofully insufficient.
Lawyers complained that the Row onices were too
small for the incessant litigation OF the county, and
that valuable papers which were noted as filed on
the docket were missing and thereby parties fire.
quenty met with heavy losses.
The community complained, the members OF the
lar grumbed-nothng was done; but in the mean
time the city has been paying rents for outside pre-
misses, and thus the Inconvenience has been sus-
tanned of the different branches OF the city govern
ment occupying premises at a considerable distance
from each other.
The question now comes up How is this to be re-
NEEDED The answer is prompt, and to every rea-
sonable mind can admit OF little delay or equivoca-
ton-bud on the lots in West Penn Square, do
mated to the city by William Penn for any purpose
OF public utility.
IL has been urged that these lots too far west
for any practical purpose, but single glance at
Chestnut street will convince all who not strongly
prejudiced OF the futnity OF this objection Many
OF the business houses which formerly occupied Front
street and the lower part OF Market
street are now to be found high up
in Chesnut street, and the distance to
the Court House (supposing it TO be situated on
Penn Square) is farther than the old Court House
from their former location All or nearly all the
dwellings from Seventh and Chestnut to Broad have
been converted into stores and the prospect is that
trade will encroach still farther west, and that
Girard avenue, part of which is now handsomely
built will be the main artery and centre OF the city.
This suppositon is by no means unlikely, as the
rapidly increasing population of Germantown,
Mount Airy, and Chesnut HUI, and the dwellings In
process OF erection in those sections OF the city, in
dcate that some central position must be selected,
and all economists agree that Il Is wretehed pan
to build and then at the expiration OF few years,
he compelled to move
The same QUERY Qhough not TO such degree)
was raised when the High School was removed from
Juniper and Market TO its present location, and yet
NO one now complains that the Institution has at
all suiIsfcd IL