The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-04-18
Letter from Philadelphi0.

PHILADELPHIA, April Ii, 1874.
Work is progressing with renewed vigor at
Paramount Park, with a view TO its readiness for
the grand Centennial gathering. This, by the
way, is one of the chief ornaments and attrac-
tons of our city. Though originally established
to prevent the erection Of such factories on the
Schuylkill as would render the water unfit for
drinking purposes, it has grown by purchase and
donation, from a comparatively small tract, I'M
til it embraces three thousand acres, and takes
the first rank among thu parks of the world. In
addition to what Nature has done for this ''gar-
den of the people," the large amounts which
Councils have appropriated for its improvement,
have been well expended It's immense forest
trees OF many varieties, its gushing springs and
sparkling streams, its fry miles of hard smooth,
and undulating roads for the carriage, the horse
man, and the pedestrian, its handsome statues
placed in conspicuous POSITIONS its Art Gallery
with its elegant paintings Its Geological Garden
with its growing collection of animals, its vered
guards, stationed at equi distant points for the
prevention of disorder and depreciation, its com
manding emnences from which can be seen the
merry boating clubs gliding along the river, the
crowds of visitors on pleasant afternoon seeking
retirement from the diu aud dust OF the city, the
croquet, picnic and bal-playing parties luxuria-
ting in their sports, and the vast area of brick
and mortar beneath, with its towers and steeples
ba,hed in the mellow sun-!ghi-al these objects
and exercises and ornaments. combine to make
Fairmouut Park spot of which every Philaiel-
phian, every Pennsylvania, every American,
indeed, may justly be proud
The Stale House building and the structures at
Fifth and Sixth and Chestnut streets have just
received designation worthy of their historical
connection with the foundation of the Govern
ment. On the building at the southeast corner
OF Sixth and Chestnut, now occupied by the
Highway Department aud the District Courts,
there has just been placed sign announcing that
in that building the first U. S. Senate and the
first U S House of Representatives held their
sessions, and that the first President, George
Washington, and the second President, John
Adams, were inaugurated there.
About tive hundred of the inmates o. the in
sane department of the Blockley Aims House were
favored with delightful concert on Tuesday
evening by The quarlette choir of the Church Of
Epiphany. The department of the patients dur
ing the entire entertainment was perfect, while
they testified their enjsy by frequent applause
and the merry laughs which rang out from the
dense ranks of these sadly afflicted creatures
showed bow easy il is TO carry rays OF happiness
even into the hearts OF many who seem beret of
every form Of human comfort or enjoyment.
DR.. Dio Lewis, The champion Of the Women's
Temperance Movement, addressed large meet
ing in the Foyer Of Horticultural Hall on We'd
nesday morning. 10 answer to his call for vol
unteers TO form committees for the purpose of
visiting saloons, some twenty ladies offered their
rvices. Thus the crusade has actually COM
menced.
President GRAFT was with us GU Tuesday
Gentlemen who are in his confidence, and 10
whom he expressed himself freely during bis visit,
say it may be deemed certain that il the $780,,
900, 900 bill be passed By Congress it will receive
the Presidential signature.
In 1860 the assessment Of real and personal
property 10 this city amounted to $l55, 591, 669
The tax rate 'or the city was 81 75 for the State,
Is cents; making a total Of So In 1874 the
total assessments amounted to S543, 243 535 and
the city tax rate So 90 the State tax having been
abolished. In 1860 the city's expenditures were
in the neiehborhood of $4,000 OO0 In 1873
they looted up more than Eve times that amount,
and vet the populatiop has NOT increased In q