The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-06

Mr.. Ksmerly a resolution asking the City Con-
troller TO state TO Councils the amount paid for
gravel for street paving during 1868 and 1862
Agreed to.
Also, resolution by the same gentleman. that
the Chief Commissioner of Highways be directed,
before awarding contracts for the paving of Streets
to advertise for proposals. that they be awarded to
the lowest bidders and that contractors be required
to give security TO keep the streets in repair for
three years. Agreed to. -. .
The bill appropratnR Sl,0OO,0O0 for the extern
sion of the Gas-works was passed.
The following bills from Common Council were
soncurTed I'M One recurring the S,S1 Race and, and Vine
each side of the track dispensing with the services
of the Moyamensng Hose Company and locating
tie Philadelphia Hose Company at the house OF
the M0yamensing; one requesting the Mayor to
enter into arrangements with the Womens Branch
of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, in regard to a more humane manner of
killing dogs; to create two additional divisions in
Il Q Twenty-third ward; to create two additional
election divisions in the Nineteenth ward; to create
an addit onal division IN the Twenty-sixth ward; to
change The place Of voting in tn the Fourth division
of the First ward and for grading Fifth and other
streets.
The bill .appropriating $4,000 for public baths
wss amended and passed.
he resolution appointing a special joint com
mittee to cooperate with the Mayor to devise
for preserving the sanctity of the Sabbath
was indefinitely postponed.
The resolution inviting the Seventh New York
regiment to visit Philadelphia, and rendering the
hospitalities of the city, was concurred in.
=. A bill to authorize the erection of bridge over
the Schuylkill at Paramount was postponed, and
o'clock.
Also, the school bill.
The bill for the erection of a bridge at South
street was made the special order for five o'clock.
The resolution granting the of independence
square to the Temperance Blessing on the Fourth
of July was concurred in.
Mr. King offered a resolution that the Board of
Controllers report to Councils suitable lot for the
Girls High School building. Passed
Adjourned.
hour. president Louis Wagner in the chair The
following communication was received and referred
to the Committee on Finance:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF PARAMOUNT
PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 1870
To the Select and Common Councils OF the city
of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: The resolution of
the Commissioners of Paramount Park, a copy of
which is hereto annexed, will inform you of the
existing financial condition of the Commission, and
of the necessity of early action the part OF your
honorable bodies to prevent suspension of ope
SO long ago as the 18th day of March last the
Finance Committee of Councils reported a resou-
ton preliminary to the creation of loan of two
million dollars for Park uses. That resolution
was recommitted to the Committee, with whom it
BY the eleventh section of the supplemental act
relating to the Park, approved April a. 1868, it is
provided that "the city of Philadelphia shall be
authorized and required to raise by loans from time
TO time such of money shall be necessary to
make compensation for all grounds heretofore
taken or to be taken for said Farmount Park, and
for the laying out and construction thereof for
public use, for the permanent care and improve
ment thereof" &c and by an act passed at the
recent session of the Legislature the faith of the
commonwealth is pledged "that no railroad shall
ever hereafter be constructed within the limits of
the said Fairmount Park " in consideration as well
of the large expenditure by the city of its being
kept open "for the free use and enjoyment of all
the citizens of this State"
The Park, with its fixed boundaries, was made by
the Legislature and not by Councils, while the duty
of maintaining andimproving it was confded to the
Park Commission. Whatever, therefore, of outlay
is devolved upon the city arises from positive law,
about the observance of which there seems to be no
discretion, while the duty of keeping it open for
public is not merely enjoned upon the city, but
1t is understood to be part of the consideration for
the exemption from railway interference granted
by the last act.
The value of property bounding upon and con-
tiguous to the Park territory has been largely
augmented by the opening of the Park grounds,
and the higher assessment already placed upon it
by the proper officials promises to the city an in
creased revenue from this source.
The amount of appropriation now needed s
large-much greater than it would otherwise be-
for the reason that while there has been appro-
priation this year for payment of land damages or
purchases, or for permanent improvements, yet the
absolute requirements of the Park have compelled
much work to be inaugurated, and of character
that only be accomplished by the possession of
the contiguous tracts upon which improvements
to be made. Sound economy teaches that this can
be better secured in unbroken line than at de-
tached spaces and thus the wants OF the Commits
sion are at this time extremely pressing
1t is believed that the work already done which
is enjoyed by many makes the public anxious for
its progress and extension: and it is respectfully
suggested that while the Commission ought not to
delay purchases and appropriations of land, its
value being steadily on the increase, the want of
prompt means of payment may, without any fault
on the part of the Commissioners, subject the city
and its creditors to much inconvenience especially
if it shall be held that the adiudicated claims
be paid under the writ of mandamus, out of the
ordinary funds in the treasury, whereby large de-
iciency may be created, and the consequent in
ability to meet the current demands greatly impair
the city's credit.
With great respect,