The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-02
TIE PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

meeting yesterday, and decided to locate the
buildings upon the intersection of Broad and
Market streets, and to surround them by q
street not less than 135 feet in width. This
is O realization of the worst fears ex-
pressed by those astounding 'coffin"
advertisements and posters that appeared
in the columns of some of our
contemporaries, and upon every blank wall
in the city, just previous to the election, but
we believe that the commission has done
wisely in coming to the determination it did
yesterday, and that the citizens of Phiadel-
phia will unanimously endorse their action
when all the plans are prepared so that it
can be seen exactly what the architectural
effect will be. Indeed, one of the papers that
most strenuously opposed the selection of the
Penn Square site said dist nctly, just before
the election, that, in case that site should be
chosen, the only proper place for the build
ings would be the intersection of the streets,
and that the commission ought to place them
there. One of the principal arguments
against putting the new buildings in
the centre of the space originally in
tended for them by William Penn when
he laid out the plan of the city, was
based upon the fact that Washington,
Franklin, Rittenhouse, and Logan Squares
have been distractions to the streets running
into them, and the fact was lost sight of
altogether that the great width of Market aud
Broad streets and the broad roadway
that will run around Penn Square
in case the buildings are located as proposed,
will make the situation materially different
from what it is in the location
named, and that practically there
will be no obstruction whatever. Union
Square in New York is certainly no obstruc-
ton to Broadway, but on the contrary it is,
as every visitor to that city will freely
acknowledge, one of its greatest ornaments:
and it is not too M uch to say that by placing
magnificent pile of buildings upon the
intersection of Broad and Market streets.
with grand roadway of 135 feet around
them, more will be done for the improvement
of our two great avenues than could be done
by any other means. The site that has been
chosen for our new public buildings is one
that is not surpassed, even if it is equalled, by
any upon this continent, and by the time the
great work is completed the citizens of Phila-
OCiphia hufO SOOu Oduoo "
themselves upon their decision at
the last election, and upon the
determination arrived at by the commits
sioners yesterday. The rectangularity of
Philadelphia is one of the characteristics of
the city that has always affected strangers
most unpleasantly; and if this can be broken
up little real public benefit will be con-
ferred, and the city beautiied in manner
that would otherwise be impossible By
placing the public buildings upon the inter-
section of Broad and Market Streets not only
will the most imposing architectural effect be
produced, but there will be ample room,
after taking what ground is needed for
the roadway, to permit the planting
of grass and trees that will add much to the
attractive appearance of the spot In fact,
the city of Phila ielphia now has an opportu-
nifty to execute great work of art that will
deserve the admiration and praise of all future
generations, and it is only to be hoped that
in the selection of plan the commission will
take the proper amount of care to decide
upon one that will be in every way worthy of
the city and of the location upon which the
buildings are to be placed