The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-06
CITY LLIsRNC q.
CITIZENS, ASSOCIATION,
Anuuni Meeting TO-dny-MemOrlui to Cc

Anuuni meeting TO-dny-NlemOFinl to Coun-
The-annual meeting of the members of the
Citizens Association for the Improvement of
the Streets and Roads of Philadelphia was held
in the Board of Trade Rooms at noon to-day.
The annual report, of which we published an
abstract some days since, was submitted and
adopted.
The following memorial to City Councils was
presented for the consideration of the members
of the association
The Citizens Association for the Improvement of
the Streets and Roads OF Philadelphia, composed OF
many hundreds OF members, by its officers and
directors, respectfully represents 10 your honorable
mat there has not been heretofore that active
effcient, and uniform inspection OF the work done
and of the material used upon and in the construc-
tion and repair of the highways Of the city OF Pha-
dephia which It's true interests demand. That the
contractors for the construction aud repair OF nigh
ways have taken advantage OF the want OF such
proper inspection, ana have shamefully dsregarded
the pubic Interests as wen as the spirit and the
letter OF their contracts, thus c1t8tlinR heavy
penses upon the city and serious losses upon our
That by reason Of the want Of such inspection the
material used In the construction and repair afOre-
said has been largely unit Tor the purpose, and the
work has been done in the most inefficient manner.
Streets newly paved, and streets repayed, have in
one year been unit for travel That the practice
of stretching cobble-stones hes been very nmon.
That the stones too frequently pitched into POSI-
tOn. That too often no gravel is used at ALL and
rarely OF the depth required by ordinance. That
without being screened, mixed with cellar
memorial a part of Federal street is being
payed between Seventeenth and Eighteent6
streets without curb. That this street has been
Tepaved several times within the past few years and
is Iow being repayed upon mud base at the ex-
have been constructed in manner dangerous to
travel and injurious to the health Of the city That
under their present mode Of construction, filth
accumulates therein, and cannot readily be cleansed
by the washing OF rains or by those whose duty 1t is
to clean the streets That the streets OF Phadel-
phia are too narrow to Justify the LOSS Of space de-
voted exclusively to dangerous, unclean, and
almost useless Cutters, such as will always exist
long as the wretched system OF paving with cobble
stones is continued.
Your memoriasts have taken into careful con-
sideraton the subject Of cobble-stone paving, and
do not hesitate to pronounce such paving as dam
gerous to travel and injurious to the best interests
of the business OF Philadelphia. To the use OF cob
ble.stone pavements do we largely attribute the
filthy condition Of our streets; and although per-
haps cheaper i'm the beginning, they prove infinitely
more costly in the end. We ask that the use OF cob
ble-stones in the construction, renewal, and repay
ing OF all streets and cartways of twenty six feet
and upwards in width be prohibited by ordinance.
Your petitioners also represent that citizens have
been ordered to grade pave, and curb sidewalks be-
that they have been ordered to do so according to
the confirmed plan OF the city before the street has
been regularly and lawfully opened or widened by
process of law; that the railway companies utterly
disregard their charter and the laws and ordinances
OF the city OF Philadelphia that I'm violation OF the
recent wise and salutary ordinance Of your
honorable bodies, the Chestnut and Walnut
Streets Railway Company, at the date OF
this memorial Is using ashes in the repair OF the
streets between its tracks, OF which due
notice has been given to the Chief Commissioner OF
Highways. Your memorialsts further represent
that the records of the Citizens Association show
that the citizens from all sections of the city
pouring IN daily wel-founded complaints OF the
shameful condition OF the highways OF Philadelphia;
that these complaints are invariably examined by
careful inspector, and then formal notice given to
against private citizens, they have upon notice in
most cases remedied the evils complained OF.
Your memorialsts respectfully submit that there
Is great want of skill and scientific care paid to the
construction and repair OF our highways, and this is
evinced ia the want OF specifications and in the
execution OF the work; that the inspection during
the progress OF the work should be in the hands OF
careful and competent civil engineers and under the
care OF the Department OF Surveys, whose chief
officer and surveyors have been placed in Office by
reason OF their education as civil engineers. In
this respect do the ordinances Of Philadelphia, in
the judgment OF your memoralists, require altera-
ton.
Your memoriasts have caused two ordinances to
be prepared, and submit herewith, which 1t Is be-
leVed will to some extent remedy the evils COM
planned Of and respectfully ask that they may be
enacted by your honorable bodies. Your memo
riasts beg leave to submit petition lately made to
the Court Of Quarter Sessions, and the complaints
in its support against the several passenger railway
companies, with the opinion Of the court thereon,
and we ask that Councils shall order lawful action
thereon.
Your memoriasts refer with deep regret to the
fact that the community at large is dissatisfied with
the manner in which the laws Of the Common wealth
and the ordinances of the city relating to the public
highways are executed by those upon whom the
appeal TO you as the legislators OF our city to take
immediate and efficient action in the premises, and
we will ever pray.
The memorial was also adopted. The follow
ing resolutions were offered and passed.
ReSolUed, That the thanks of this meeting be
presented to the President and managers of
this association for their important services
during the past year, and that they may be en-
couraged to proceed with the good work COM
mitted to their management.
ReSOlUed That the citizens be requested to
continue and increase their support to this asso-
citation.
An election for directors to serve the ensuing
year then took place, with the following result:
hessrs. George G. Carson, Z. Spencer Miller,
Edward Shippin, s. Fitzpatrick, j. l.. Lauden-
slayer, r. S. sturgis, John Neill, NJ. D., and f.
n. Hopkins.
Mr.. Eli X. Price presided at the meeting and
Mr.. Dingee acted as secretary.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRADE.
Tonight the annual meeting of the Philadel-
delphia Board of Trade will be held, at which
the officers TO serve for the ensuing year will
be elected. The ticket to be elected will un.
doubtedly be the following the gentlemen
named having been nominated at q recent spe-
cial meeting:-
President, John Welsh; 1st Vice. President,
James q. Hand; I'd Nice-President, Frederick
Fraley; Sd Vice-Presdent Samuel e. Stokes;
Secretary of the Association T. Morris Perot;
Treasurer, Richard Wood.
Executive Council-Joseph G. Grubb, Ed
mund A. Souder, George l.. Buzby, George N.
latham, John Price Wetheril, Henry Winsor.
George n. Allen, John o. James Charles b.
Durborow, Thomas G. Hood, Thomas D. Giles