Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-12
FIRST EDITION.
philadelphia.
OUR sATuR DAY LETTE


POSED ABArToIR NUrsANcE-rHE REFORM Asso-
cIATIoN-AMUsEMENTs-J ETC.
Special Correspondence of The Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. IL.
Ths person at distance who would get just
idea OF the Philadelphia of to day must fol-
low not alone the current of leading
events with US but must make large allowance
for the enlightened public spirit which is becom-
ing 80 noticeable and gratifying feature OF 80
ciety. 1t is hard to convey an impression Of this,
for while much of it is seen practically demon
strated in local improvement Is and the like,
other and perhaps the main part Of the vivifying
influence Is seen in the people themselves. In
the course Of events it will show itself in works,
but the process of education is a personal mat.
ter and something only to be ret by direct con-
tact. From some cause, whether it be natural
growth, the influence of the Centennial, or what
ever else Philadelphia has turned leaf which
seems to sstonish herself only less than it does
her neighbors. Where once land but lately
there was sluggishness Of thought
there is now mental activity, and fall
ing inevitably in the train thereof ia the
promise that the Quaker city will before long
take the place among the worlds capitals, to
which by wealth, population, and natural advan-
to renewed life is not owing to exceptional bus
lness prosperity at this time. No more money
has been made here of late than elsewhere, and
the report generally as we know is a dull one ;
nevertheless decided and cheering impulse has
been given, and it ia felt in every quarter and
through all the depression of the hard times.
Does community have it's stages Of growth just
as the individual has Not only in years and
wealth but in wisdom as well Philadelphia
has at last come to realize that New York and
a
prize OF the country. 1t is evident the city OF
the future will be very different thing from
that of the past.
The most important public matter of the weeL,
although concerning apparently but a small class
of people, was meeting Of the Pig Iron Manu-
facturers. Although not a sympathetic sort of
subject it is one which affects our prosperity in
a marked way. The dependence of Pennsylva-
mia upon the Iron Trade is well understood, and
whatever is for the good of that trade is for the
good of all. Leading manufacturers from other
$ ates were here to meet our own iron men and
the meeting WAS full OF significance The feel
ing developed was that there has been an over
production Of pig iron, which, in view OF the linn
tied demand, threatens the whole trade with dis
aster. The logical remedy for the trouble they
found in resolution to decrease production un-
til the large accumulations Of stock shall be dis
posed of and trade has reached its normal level.
The iron workers present then pledged them
selves to run their furnaces during 1875 at only
half their full capacity in case the agreement
should be signed by two-thirds of the trade of
the country. The signers were, hewever, giveu
the privilege Of being released from their pledge
upon giving written notice Of two months to
the Iron and Steel Association, intimatng cir
intention. Following this important action an
effort was made to commit the Association to
Judge Kelleys 3-65 Bill which although tabled
showed very clearly that the Iron men oppose a
return to specie payments. 1t was thought un-
wise to bring politics into the trade discussion in
formal manner but the expression OF views
showed none the less that iron workers believe
high and exclusive tariff to be the best pre-
ventive against specie leaving the country, and
thus helping along what they consider q true re-
sumption. However harshly people who agree
with the President may regard these views, let II
| be remembered that the proposed action was de-
feated And it must be allowed that considering
the peculiar exlgencies Of the iron trade this
| Quite all excitement has been raised by what
is affirmed to be the irregular action OF police
man and Alderman in arresting ana committing
| a young man to the House OF Correction. The
| person concerned is named Thorp, and claims tC
| be a commercial traveller, or !" drummer" fol
a Boston business house. He WAS found one
| evening last month in freight car at the Penn
syvania depot, and without proper investigation
was sent to the House of Correction as a vagrant
This, Notwithstanding his story chat he was
respectable man and that he had sustained
severe injuries in falling from the platform OF I
moving train, and had crawled into the plac
where he was found only to obtain temporar
shelter. When taken to the House OF Correction
it was found that two of his ribs were broken
and that he was otherwise quite seriously in
jured He was placed in the infirmary of tn
institution and now that he is fairly recovered
the facts are being investigated. There seem
to be no doubt that the Alderman acted very al
bitarily in making the commitment, althoug
there ia question as to the genuineness O
Thorps claims upon the Mercantile House
Boston. But he is not shown to have done an
wrong, nor to have been vagrant and hi
treatment under painful circumstances whicl
should have ensured him careful treatment .
the Pennsylvania Hospital or some similar inst
tuition was a personal outrage of the grossei
sort II il claimed that commitments to th
House of Correction are often open to criticism
and that is one reason why this case has bee
forcibly pressed.
The Bond Forgers, Halfman and Ripley hav
been convicted, and the universal verdict is ths
they have been rightly served. These are th
ingenious rogues who ''raised" the stock held
the bogus Central Insurance Co., 30 as to maH
it appear that the securities OF the concer
were within the limits of the law, while in fac
they were far below it, and it has been prove
through this prosecution that not only was tn
public victimized by the Central, but thi
the busines in which Ripley and Halfman wer
Q engaged was regularly organized scheme
swindle people in the sam direction. The vi
lians were prepared to 90 assist Insuranc
= Companies of easy conscience by Wholesale, an
| IL IL u mtLtoF Oh cOuBrhlulhbiuu tlht tho Pi"
has been exposed. The aInsurance business
/ on surer footing because of it, for now the Il
spectors will know just where to look Tor I'll
i value of the securities, and the community WI
g enjoy sense Of thorough protection.
h The Pennsylvania Railroad Co. is determine
a to force its project of establishing mammot
9 drove yard and slaughter house at Market
bridge, despite the earnest protest OF all res
dents of the section, and regardless OF the a
: surances of medical experts that such actlc
y y would be highly prejudicial to the public healt
= The Faculties OF the University of Pennsylvan
II and the Jefferson Medical College have athrm'
!, in the most positive manner that no matter he
I, carefully conducted the proposed abattoir ca
y not fail TO be a nuisance. But what does o.
= Brarcus care for these professors who ha'
J, made the science of health study Or VIII
70 does it care for the comfort or convenience
y money interest of the people amid whom it
= determined to set this offensive estabiishmen
One effect OF the abattor will be to at once q
= press the value OF all real estate in th
~ neighborhood, but what does the 10
10 ,.e care for that, either unless, indee
-, it should be glad Of result which would allo
~ ~ it to buy up another huge track OF ground al
~ rate below its real value There is somethil
~ disheartening in the lack Of conscience shown
e ~ the management of these great corporation
~ ~ Col Scott, az man, may have the feelings
NE y. other men, but as railway president he is
IL, morseless and hard. He is absolutely deaf
Vi everything but his own purposes, and If eve
man and woman in the city were TO sign pc
se tion against this deseoraton OF the Schuyll
re front the result would be precisely the same
-e- it is now determined it shall be. You very
Al ....,l.ra at.ta a In