The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-11
no THE
COMMITS ssxoNERs
FOR TUE
Erection of Public Buildings.


your determination to erect the Public Buildings on
the intersection of Broad aud Market street At
the election last October many OF voted for Penn
Square, under the conviction, based upon yOur pub
lished resolutions and the utterance OF the news
papers which were supposed to represent the m jp-
Tity OF your body, that the buildings would be
erected upon the squares, ans not upon he streets
Had 1t been known that two IN in thorough
fares TO he blocked up we can sately say that
the popular vote at that eli cton would have been
very different; probably resulting in the ection OF
Washington Square.
To occupy the intersection would therefore be to
disappoint the expectations OF those by whom Penn
Squares were selected Rs the site for public build
ings, as well as to in6ct rreparable wrong upon
the architectural and hus ness development OF
city. The only opportunity for the effective display
Of civic architecture possessed by Philadelphia is
Broad and on Market streets, and the former, pro-
perly treated should become In the future the finest
street not only In America, but in the world To
strangle It at its GENRE 10y pile Of b1d ng' no
mater how imposing in themselves. would there
fore be fatal obstructng travel, destroying
the noble vista which we had always hopes to see
when the street should be linei with stately build
iDgs and retardlng, perhaps forever, the develop
meDt OF that splendid avenue.
PhIsdephias right to have the Centennial Ami
versary of American Independence celebrated here,
where the declaration of that important event
made, seems TO be recognized, aud doubtless many
thousand visitors Will honor city with their
presence in 1876 The condition of only two
grand avenues not exceeded in the world, will
| then be such as will make us blush to point them
out, aud this locality, which ought to he attractive,
| will be kept out of view much possible
During the long period required for the erection
OF a structure such as that designed by your COM
| mission, which we NAV safely estimate at no less
| than ten or twelve yeare, the obstacles to traiic
| and circulation that will necessarily arise from the
plan proposed ss well as the uusightly condition Of
the place. will d. i've away travel from both streets
| business as well pleasure, during that ilterval
accommodate itself to other localities, and the
period OF another generation will then he required
| to rec tore to main avenues the expected pre-
| dominance which you will thus have diverted iron
them; unless indeed, popular dissatis action shall
gradually arise to that extent that after you shall
have incurred heavy expenditures, 1t will compel
reconsideration of your plans, and restore the
streets 10 their present alignmt mt Agai st such
fruitless expenditure Of public money under such
circumstances we now respectfully protest in ad-
vance.
1t would seem incredible that, when 90 many
other great cities submitting to large outays Ia
the endeavor to widen aud sraighten their principal
avenues, hilsdelphia should deliberately prOce ed
to expend millions In obstructiDg hers that wheH
the experience Of the interior towns OF this ani
other States has shown the Inconvenience OF public
buildings the intersections their largest stree
so that several OF them have removed their Court
Houses at the expense OF erecting others in more
suitable positions, we should be resusctatng that
obsolete blunder.
AS tax.oa ers we would likewise protest against
the imprudenJ haste in which you are apparently
entering ino contracts before obtaining pans spe-
ci6cations, or esrima' OF cost We know that you
are armed with unlimited power to tax u.s. but we
earnestly protest against an imprOvldent exercise
OF tina power in a manue in which no prude man
would co duct his own affairs, and which must de-
precate the value OF all the pro erty In the city.
We have right to expect that reasonable prudence
shall be exhibited in the expenditure OF the money
which yeu have authority 20 exact from u.s. and that
before you involve the city in large liabilities the
public shall have the opportunity OF knowing where
those liabilities are to end.
The rapidly increasing debt OF the city, its disor-
dered finances, aud the heavy expenditures required
for other improvements already In progress, warn
that our community is in no condition to Indulge
in exravagant architectural displays. The history
OF the New York City Hal, t. Albany ate House
aud the Capitol extension at Washington is not
assuring You will allow 10 say that your action
thus far has made us apprehend that our Public Build
iugs may become also a conspicuous example OF the
pIodigal and unwise expenditure Of pub ic money
while existing taxation is ssch as to render any
notable addition 10 our burden destructive to the
prosperity OF our city.
Believing that we express the views OF a majority
of those who like many of ourselves, have been in
favor OF Penn So uares as the site for the Public
Buildings, we invite reconsideration OF your reso-
luton selecting the streets as the site Of the Public
Buildings, and have the honor to remain
Very respectfully,
YOUR FELLow- CITIZENS,
NJ. BAIRD & CO.,
A. WHITNEY SONS,
JOS EPH HARRISON,
WIN. SELLERS CO.,
JAMES MOORE,
JAMES c. HAND& co,
BARROW SAYERY q CO.,
c. COLKEF,
C. H. BoRIE,
SAMUEL WELSH,
JoHNP vERREE,
HENRY c. GIBSON,
JOHN NJ KENNEDY,
TArHAM IL BROTHERS,
j. GILLINGHAM FELL,
II. ID WOOD a CO.,
VIM. C. KENT,
JESSUP MOORE,
JOHN @. BULLITB
JOHN FARNUM x CO.,
GEORGE B. ROBERTS,
CALEB COPS,
FUhNESS, BRlNLEY & Co,
A. II. FRANCiSOUS
RHPPLtER, GORDON & Co.,
ROBERT OABREN,
JOHN T. LEWIS,
CHARLES DUTlLH,
CAIN, HACKER COOK,
MoKEAN, BORIE 90,
HENRY MORRIS,
HERMAN J. LOHBAERT
w. O. HOUT5UN,
5. j. SOhRS,
FRANCIS Il. COPE,
JAMES l. CLAGhOkN,
CHARLES WHEELER,
AND MANY OTHkRS.
Citizens desiring TO add their sames to the above