Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-07-12
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
Qua SATURDAY LETTER.

QuEsTIos THE READING AND p W. & b. RAIL-
ROADs--THE SUMMER EXODUS" s"--EARLY DELIvE-
Ri or NEW YORK PAPERS, RTc.
| Special Correspondence ofuie Commercial
| ..# PHILADELPHIA, July IL.
Tie "Pennsylvania" has again disappointed
us, her homeward trip falling short, even ere
| than her outward one We had in the latter
Csc the excuse OF accident, and much has been
said OF what the ship might have done II she had
not broken hor propeller blades; but coming
home nothing untoward occurred, and doubtless
i tie vessel did her best The weather was foggy,
but it was no less 90 for other steamers which
left Liverpool after the ''Pennsylyania" and
reached New York before her. That IL the state
Of tho case. and the result ia a disappointment
which there is an effort on many sides to conceal
but which is nevertheless universally felt. II is
claimed by some that the ship may do better in
future and that the other VESSELS OF the line will
prove faster. but there is no assurance that
either OF these things will happen On the one
d, the "Pennsylvania' had every incentive to
m sid and make reputation on the other it is
well known that all the vessels OF the line are
built upon the same model and with similar ma
chiuery and appliances. OF course, safety is the
great essential of travel, to which all other
sideratious are subsidiary, but safety and speed
united will be too much for safety and slowness.
That fast vessels can be safe has been abundant
ly proved, and unless better machinery can be
put into the ships of the American Company, it
is hard to see how they eau successfully compete
with the English Lines. ..t.
The bittereet part OF the disappointment is
that Philadelphia might easily have fleet of the
best vessels atioat-the plan moral is that she
must have it II the American line is to be made
a success As the matter stands what induce
msnt can wo offer in the fierce competition OF
ocean travel ? With tue influence Of the Penn
sylvania Company freight may be kept to pay
ing figure. hut what bid eau there be for the pas
senger tralfij? Crossing the ocean is for most
people serious undertaking, aud difference
in time OF three or four days settles at once and
deoislvely the case of the SLOW vessels, unless
indeed fares are proportionately reduced and
vessels, like those OF the Auchor aud Giuon
lines, acknowledge themselves second or third
class. IL has not come to this but to this 1t will
come IL Il days Is to be the time male by the
ships OF the American line. As Phlladelphian,
take pride in this enter prise, and speak en-
tirey without prejudice. II these l4-day bosts
we're put upon a Boston and Baltimore line the
comparisons would be just as evident. Locality
should not blind people to matters of fact, and
before Philadelphia boasts that il has ocean
steamers eqaal to the best it should prove it.
The University Of Pennsylvania takes anoth-
er step In its progress to inal clmpletion. The
scheme of the new college building ombraced as
you know. not only accommodations for the art
department and the medical school. but also
plan for an expensive Hospital to be operated in
connection with the latter The construction Of
the Hospital has just been commenced The
University buildings, when completed, will cover
three sides of an irregular plot OF ground, oter-
ing az a whole a magnificent and unique archi-
tectural display. The college proper, as it
stands, gives good idea OF the effect the ell
tire University, built in similar proportions aud
OF tho same MATERIAL will produce 1t will be
..Nt. osa1
comp eteness by any college in the country, If
indeed, it shall be equsled.
A kindred subject ls that OF the Phila1elphia
Hospital (Blockley) which somo lof our
physicians are eDdeavorng to have separated
from the Amshonse, or at least to have put on a
different footing than it has hitherto held In
extent. responsibility and real usefulness this is
our principal hospital, although its size and the
benefits il confers are but imperfactiy under
stood Because OF its connection with the aims
house the people know very little about this great
institution. Many men and women who have
lived here all their lives have uever heard of the
Philad slphia Hospital. Thew have hoard OF
"Blockley" and know there are sick wards at
tached to the Almshouss. but they believe THAI
the hospital only intended as a sort Of pauper
inRrmary for the relief OF patients taken sick in
the house. On the contrary il il distinct civic
institution, intended for the sick poor opposed
to the PennsyvRnia Hospital. where-except in
cases OF accident, &c patients are expected to
pay for their accommodations But the poor are
ing of terms that operates to the discredit and
reduction of usefulness of the Philadelphia Hos
pita The mistake was originally m lde bv the
! city in locating the Hospital Ia the Almshouse
buildings. 1t has no reasonable connection with
the poor house, but through the unfortunate
| ASSOCIATION many are deferred from seeking It,
| and those who do, by policy which in the slow
growth Of years has become almost ineradicabe,
| are treated nursed and fed as veritabe paupers
| II is strange that 30 tlAgrant msdirection OF
intention should not have been exposed long
| since or course the Almshouse should have its
| nhrmary, but the Hospital prOper-the free re-
sort of honest working people, who earn their
| living but are not able topay Doctors bills when
taken sick has no more rghtful connection
with the Almshouse than it has with the State
| House or the Navy Yard. II seems difficult to
| start the agitation OF this subject, but the re-
| torm must come before long.
The announcement male yesterday that tho
recently disu ed section Of thu Philadelphia, Will
/ mington Il BALTIC II II between Gray's Ferry
i & Ridley Junction had gone into the possession
i Of the Reading II. r., aud that traius would
i shortly run upon il touching at Lazaretto, Fish
i House &c, was received with satisfaction by
| good n.auy people, Since the p W 4 b. trains
/ nave been running over the Darby Improvement
Il communication Oh the old line as far as Rldley
Junction with the city has been tedious and des-
i tructive of good temper. The Reading Railways
i enterprise is intended msiuly for the shipment
i Of coal to Wilmington and Chester but accommo-
adations will also be afforded passengers at suit
i able hours through the day aud the arrangement
/ is a good ono straight through. II ID also
/ check on the Pennsylvania Company's attemptto
block trade on the p. W. & b. road
The city is gradually assuming its usual mid
| summer appearance. The weather has been
| variable as to interfere with the out OF town
| movement somewhat. Three weeks ago il was
hotter than it is now, but people were not then
| ready for tue country aud the sea shore After
the early warm speh there set in a season Of cool
and pleasant weather which yet further retarded
the Exodus" Nevertheless numbers only wait
thermometrica intimations to hee from brick
and mortar. As in other seasons the absentees
are mostly misssdin the dwelling bouse portion
| OF the city. The business streets, except on
Saturdays and late in the afternoons, present
much the same appearance in summer as at 9TH
or times, but npon walking north aud west the
closed shutters and generally neglected look Of
things tell the story. Happy those who can get
away, and happier those who can stay away, all
the year round.
The New York morning papers, pursuant to an
arrangement announced sometime since, now
arrive in the city between six and seven O'Clock,
and are served down town almost simultaneous
ly with our own papers. The merchant gets to
his counting room and finds the Herald and the
Press-the lion and the lamb lying down
together. This is first rate for readers it is a
question il it is as good for publishers fancy
| the arrangement cannot but wOr6 to the disad-
vantage OF the Philadelphia papers. 1t will not
| ha lLaIu IN iniura fnr bOW-