, 1872-11-08
Real Estate and Building N0tes---
How Houses Are Built.
The Building Associations---Every Man
a Observation-Disclosures Mat
ters, &C., &c.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Z, 1872.
4 pleasant week Was that which have just
passed in this comfortable old city. Indeed, my
visit has been more than pleasant, for I have
been fortunate in meeting an old friend, q resi-
dent Of Philadelphia, who is familiar with it's
many points Of attraction and history And az
some Of the facts I have learned were new to
me, feel that they may be to many other per-
Sons Of our own Phoenix City u also. There il
. full appreciation here OF the wonderful pro-
g1ese Of Chicago, sympathy for the calamity
which swept from the face Of the earth the
richest portion Of our city in q few short hours,
and heartfelt wish that re may be able soon to
forget the losses and distress of that fearful
time in new and rapid advances in prosperity.
And1et me Say, too, that DR.. Fowler's sermon,
"No Mean City" delivered on the first anni7er-
eary OF the great fire, which gave resume Of
our history and the statistical figures OF our
great progress in commerce and manufactures,
WAS republished here in full, with expressions
Of pride at the marvellous growth, that Chicago
is an American city, and without any Of the
jealousy which seems to be aroused in some
Western cities whenever the name Of Chicago
is mentioned. But let me speak more OF Phil
kdalphia and less Of ourselves, and here the
trouble is to know where to begin and where to
end.
HRpsESE VIEW OF PHILADELPHIA.
Let ne take your readers with me first in =
visit to thenew Masonic Temple, which is erected,
and Will be finished in it's interior arrangements
next summer. This is magnificent granite
building situate On Broad street, near
Arch. This structure is $50 feet in width,
and extends 24D feet deep to back street, and
rises grandly to lofty height, the top OF the
+ha Aoir f,ot
ground The interior is being finished in =
xnoss ornate and tasteful manner, the several
aodge-rooms, grand chapter, and banqueting-
hall representing each different order Of
architecture -Egytian, Corinthian, DC. The
building, exclusive Of the ground, will cost
when dnished, 81, ,250, 600, and REFLECTS great
credit on the Masonic Order in Pennsylvania.
and will always be conspicuous monument to
their wealth and enterprise.
Ascending thetowar Of this building, one Of the
finest views Of the city is obtained, and its mag
tnituds more fully realized than from any posi-
+ion have get been permitted to occupy And
such view can be seen nowhere else in this
country. Miles Of houses stretching far to the
north houses to the e.st, houses to the
south and west, seemingly no end to the con-
innous line OF compactly-built brick and stone
houeeB, more than 130, 600 in one view, covering,
81 the closely built portions OF the city, from
900 to Il 900 acres, and this area Of built sur
fsce Is being enlarged every year BY the addition
Of from 600 to 1000 new structures. Surely, I
medtated as my eyes tried to take in this bound
less view, this is no mean city, and there must |
be power, hidden energy, here greater than |
Its people credit themselves with, that can COM
fortsbly house and support 750, 900 people, and |
doated BY the annual house-building statistics. |
And this opinion is strengthened when told that |
within the space bounded by the lines OF vision
from this tower there will be produced this year
products OF manufacture OF the value OF more |
than S4Oo, ,0o0o COO. This is accomplished without
hustle or thR seeming hurry SO noticeable in |
other cities, but that there is American spirit
and energy under it ell, deceiying to the eye /
only on account Of its having its own method, is
evident from the prosperity which is perceptible
in every quarter.
HOUSE ACcosMoDAT1oys FOB ALL
CLASSES.
But one OF the most noticeable things which |.
attracted my attention, was the comfortable
the hunb1est, and as our city has been in11uned
10 think more Of real estate this year than ne
deslre to have occasion, under similar circum-
stances, in the future, I thought my inquiries in
your readers.
BOW THE QUAkER CITY BUILDING MATERIALS CANE
TO BE USED.
As before mentioned, nearly all the buildings
IL LQ15 C1Lt u DIiCk o1 ElOuGA uL1lt !
generally Of brick than any other material and
this is SO different from many Of our Western
:ities that you are led to IN inquiry aB to the
origin Of the different systems OF building
Thether it is custom or the cheapness Of ma
;aria and here interesting fact was related
% me, that shows that Philadelphia owes much
# this advantage to the intelligent foresight
md benevolent care Of her great merchant, |
Stephen Girard. Mr.. Girard had q fear Of
Tres spreading in city where frame build |
yaHY
,etting beyond the control Of human efforts to
,xtinguish them and the consequent great loss
# property and misery that such fires occasion,
Is in his day instances periodically occurred in
3onstantinopfe and some European towns. And,
" he noticed, Notwithstanding the whole area Of
ity furnished the. best brick-c1ay for the con- |
truction OF houses, = growing tendency to erect :
wooden structures in the suburbs. In order to /
heck this, he bequeathed by his last will, to |
he State OF Pennsylvania the sum of 100000 |
or the internal improvements then in course Of
obstruction, to be paid, provided the Legisla-
ure OF the State should, within one year from I
ls death, pass certain laws designated in his
;il-one Of which Was that the erection OF I
Frame or wooden buildings shall be prohibit E
d within the limits OF the city, and that all c
7ooden buildings then standing should be re- ]
1oved. he further left the sum Of $500, 600 to 7
he City OF Philadelphia as special sbequest, c
be interest Of which Was to be used, among I
ther objects, to carry this law of re-
noval OF wooden buildings into effect. c
rom the passage Of the act OF Assembly above .
Mentioned in the year 1881, no wooden buildings :
'ere erected within the boundaries Of what was /
hen the limits OF the city, and the wisdom Of I
his became 30 evident to the people after few /
ears Of experience that, as the city extended I
ato the outlying districts, this law made ap-
u that portion Of the municipal territory which
not strictly suburban. After forty years OF 1
xperience this Law is universally regarded as t
ne of the greatest Importance in preventing :
-E a. L..