The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-12-09
From the Quaker City.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Doth. 1878.

ANON. --ttu: iOt
Editor ofthe Register:
The long continued Indian summer, has
at length resolved itself into, or rather
yielded to the ftful and changeable
weather of November, which brings with
it still more palpable, and tangible evil
, dences OF approaching winter, than the
earlier autumnal months. In the parks
and public squares. the domesticated and
nimblo English sparrows, spring from
branch to branch, and chirp and twitter
in their dialect, asking aims from those
that pass; and to the credit Of the hu.
name denizens Of the city be it said, pub.
lie measures have already been inaugur.
ated, to feed the little babbling innocents,
during the inclemcnt season that is ap.
preaching The first time [ visited Phil
adelphia some twenty-five years since,
many Of the public squares were then
stocked with gray squirrels. They could
only croak, aud crack nuts with arched
back and tail but little sprightly spar.
rows appear much more social han these
"greyers," who naturally possess suspc.
ious disposition, shying from the advance
of civilization, and the presence Of man,
while the little nimblc sparrows seem to
court civilization, and the presence OF
those who should be, and to great ex.
tent are, their protectors and defenders.
The times look portentious or rather
inauspicious for all classes the coming
winter, especially for operators and daily
labors from the closing, or partially clos
ing and reduction of working time and
wages, in many Of the huge manuiactur.
ing establishments in and about town, but
the councils and proper authorities are
maturing plans to extend employment to
large plumber of men on the public high
ways and thoroughtares, embracing both
streets and avenues, in paving new, and
repaving older ones, constructing culverts
and sewers, laying water mains and gas
pipes where needed, and even in Suburban
localities where structures are now going
up, and where others in large numbers
are soon to arise in this rapidly growing
city. by many, the panicky line or rubi.
con, is thought to have been passed, while
others arc less hopeful
Work on the great storage reservoir in
upper East Paramount Park is still pro.
crossing two thousand men and nearly
eight hundred horses and carts, are still
in active service, in scooping out the i'm
mense basin; it covers an area of one
hundred and five acres, and is full mile
in circumference. La addition to the
other distributing reservoirs in and about
town, this is designed as storage one, to
anticipate any emergency that may here
after occur. Its contents can never be-
come exhausted, until the Scnuylkill shall
cease to roll its onward.course to the sea
Its construction will involve large ex-
penditure Of money.
The Spanish butchery naturally en-
crosses much attention here, as well as
elsewhere. In what is called the Back
Bay near the junction Of the Delaware
and Scbuylkill rivers, aud in immediate
proximity to the new and extensive navy
yard at League Island, are thirteen mon
itors. which have for quite awhile beer
living at ease, and in a state Of quiescence
A number of them are now being over