The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-23

fuences were used to have either Indepen-
dence Square or Washington Square chosen
for the site, although there we're objections
of most serious character TO either of these
being used for such purpose, and although
the city owns magnificent piece of ground
in its very centre which was set aside for a
public building site by William Penn, when
he prepared the plan of Philadelphia.
The suitability of this site at the
present day has been denied by few except
those whom personal interest prevents from
being impartial, but in order to silence all
objections and to settle the whole contro-
versy with regard to the location of the new
public buildings in manner satisfactory to
every one, the Legislature or dered a vote of
the citizens of Philadelphia to be taken.
What that vote was everybody knows. An
immense majority declared in favor of Penn
Square, whereupon the advocates of the
other sites, not satisfied to submit to the ex-
pressly declared will of the people, but imi-
tating the example of the Southern malcon-
tents who opposed the election of Lincoln,
Immediately set to work with renewed
energy to accomplish their object in defiance
of the wishes of a majority of their fellow
citizens.
The alleged pretext for war now is that
the commissioners, by placing one large
and elegant edifce at the intersection of
Broad and Market streets, will block up those
highways, destroy business and improve
ments upon them, and do all manner of other
damages that the lively imaginations of GER
tain newspaper writers and property holders
in the neighborhood of Sixth and Chestnut
streets are able to invent 1t is now de-
manded that the municipal offices and courts
shall be distributed about on the four Penn
Squares, although it does not need any argu-
ment to prove that it will be more expensive
to build, and to maintain after they are built,
four suitable structures, than it will be to put
up one elegant city hall that will be a credit
to great and wealthy corporation like
Philadelphia. Of course, four shabby build
ings can be erected for less money than one
handsome one, but unless the new building
or buildings will be, both in appearance and
in general arrangement, equal to all the
demands of our numerous courts and public
offices, we might as we'll let matters be as they
are. Scarcely less absurd than this is the
proposition now being made to purchase new
ground contiguous to the Penn Squares upon
which to place the public buildings, while
the squares are to be left open and converted
into grand plaza. To purchase new ground
when we already have all we want would be
simply throwing money away, and those who
really wish to give the city an architectural
ornament that will be worthy of it should
adhere unalterably to their determination to
have the public buildings placed at the inter-
section of Broad and Market streets, and no.
where else. This location is the only proper
one, whether we consider architectural effect,
economy, or the convenience of the public
officers who will occupy the new city hail.
and it should steadily be borne in
mind by every citizen that all
this clamor about the intersection scheme
comes from men who are determined if pos
sible to prevent the erection of the public
buildings anywhere else than in the imme-
diate neighborhood of SIKH and Chestnut
streets. 1t should be remembered that the
same kind of clamor was raised against
every great public improvement ever con-
summated in this city, and that it is this
spirit of old fogyism which gives Philadel-
phia the reputation of being behind the age
in comparison with some other places. Let
any intelligent citizen, who has no personal
interest in the matter, 60 to Broad and Mar
ket streets, where the destruction of the trees
will enable him to judge of the extent of the
ground occupied by the Penn Squares, and
ask himself the questions, Whether an i'm
posing edifce at the intersection, with a
roadway over two hundred feet around it, can
possibly be an obstruction? and whether it
will not be the most magnificent improve
ment to both Broad and Market streets that
could possibly be made This is a matter
that any man of common sense, whether he
has the eye of an artist or not, can Judge of
for himself, and those who are not disposed
to see a great public enterprise come to
nothing in order that a little ''ring" of pro-
perty- holders may be benefited, should take
some action to show the anti-Penn Squareites
that they are carrying matters with rather
too high hand, especially when the vote of
the citizens of Philadelphia last October is
taken into consideration.
IN the House of Representatives yesterday,