New-York tribune., 1874-07-06
THE FOURTH IN PHILADELPHIA.

THE FOURTH IN PHILdDELfHih'
INTERESTING PUBLIC OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BROKEN FOR THE CENTENNIAL boli-piNuo
OPENING OF THE GIRARD-AVE. BiSipoh-in"
copvrR-sroyE OF THE NEW CITY HALL LAID.
tvoox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE rRiBuSE'J
PHILADELPHIA, July At has been long
.,a sinca the national holiday was celebrated here
nth such nanimlty and enthusiasm as II was touay'
perbans the approach OF the Centennial stimulated pa
riotism and undoubtedly the occurrence o' d" "
number OF important public ceremonies mao son'',""s
10 do with the general observance OF the day. pe'
multitude Of minor performances, paraues a"u 80"
sons there were two events OF great loca ippoi'n'
and one OF national interest These were the opening
OF The bridge over the schuylkill at Girafa-aFe '
having Of the corner stone Of the new city pudipts
in Pepp-souare and the commencement y.
work on the Exhibition buildings III F"'ii'0
Park The brilliant parade Of the Cathohc 'e
societies which mustered over 5000 unhorneu h'" "
line and made a beautiful display OF banners anu
insionia was also striking feature OF the Gay 7F"
and shows. .,o mar
Ground was broken early 10 tue morning Tor the per
manent Centennial building, the Mayor OF the Guy ui
cling the first spadeful OF earth. The enterpr'sns
tractor Mr.. Dobbn, whose papers were siS"'u -
had large force OF aborers on the spo'' WI"
fell TO work as soon the Mayor laid down MS pauo
At 10 O'Clock the city authorities proceeded u 'no
oon n, carriaees seven abreast formally accepteu ~
from the contractors Messrs. Clark. Reeves Co. Inc
potables present and the members OF the press "e'
then entertained by the firm under tent IN the pain
The bridge Is the widest in the world and Tor lts eug
rhav the finest II is LOCO long and 100 wide or
I5 feet wider than Westminster Bridge II LOU
| don. aud rs feet wider than the new BacAhiar.
Rr,doe The width OF each sidewalk is l63 feef ana OF
he roadway 675 feet. Beside two street raroau a'A'
there is ample space ln the roadway Ior i've oaN0'
70 drive abreast Above bridge presents the appear
ance OF a spacious causeway. paved with seone' WIN
sidewalks, either side Dordered Dy s'ep
OF colored tiles protected by ornamental rahss VI
| iron and bronze and lighted at night by handsome
smns Viewed from the water this massive structure
| "a seen 70 be supported by intricate Network oi
urought iron "trusses" "chords," and oars resting
upou four piers and two abutments the eHect Oelhs
pecularly light aud graceful Tue COST OF tue urueo
was 4O44l5 and 1t was completed IN thirteen inon'"
from the time begun upon the nrst pier ioun
| dation.
The ceremonies OF the laying OF the cornerstone OF
the CITY Hall consisted the customary Masonic Tor
naltes and an Grafton by the Hon. Benz amin H. brew"
ster large tent sheltered the invited guests from the
sun, and the arrangements for the eomforF
| able seating OF the audience withln range
OF the speakers voices and In full view OF the cere
nona part performance were 50 much better tnan
are usually pn such occasions as 10 deserve un
ouahed praise. The building will cost great deai
OF money and Judging by the pictures will be an I'M
posing ofar 1t ought to have been buit twenty years
ago. Its location, however is bunder 30 gorgeous
that it is impossible TO conceive how 1t ever got the
sanction Of public opinion The immense structure Will
stand right at intersection OF the only two nne
thoroug ghfares in the city-Broad and Market-sts.-
blocking them up with huge bulk, that vehicles
and street traverng either must turn four corners
to get il. Marketst is the only street vide
enough for the great crosstown traffic between the
xllysn hao 1iu i'm yad
Of late by the erection OF such buildings the great dry
goods store of Hood Bonbrght Co.. and the extensive
| publishing houses OF J. b. Lippincott Co., and
| Claxton, Remsen & Hafelfnger; and before the
city authorities began putting their pile OF granite
1t bid fair to be OF the hnest business
streets In the country Broadst contains the costest
private residences in the city, and many handsome
| churches hotels club.houses, and important public
buildings 1t the entire city present aud pro-
spectiye midway between the two rivers and Its great
width affords unriyaed vistas aud indefinite capacity
for adornment. The stupid pennywise policy OF our
authorities has spoiled this magnificent avenue as well
Marketst in two. aud al o save the expense Of
buying a square OF ground.
Public buildings OF all kinds OF slow growth, and
IT will be at least ye before the City Hall s fin
shed When the courts and city and county Offices
| transferred TO 1t there will be sudden and striking
the appearance OF the streets in the vicinity
of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The whole tribe of lawyers
and conyeyancers will gather up their books pens, and
foolscap and pack Off TO Pennsauare, settling down
upon the peaceful dwellings In that neighborhood like
| flock OF Who will take their places
| in the houses along Walnut, Fifth, Sixth, and
| Seventh-sts., which they Ill from Easements
| TO garrets Will they not relapse into their old
condition OF private residences with this difference that
the old times they were tenanted by wealthy fami-
lies. whose descendants would scorn live east
Of Broadst. while they would be acceptable only
keepers OF boarding ghouses very old-fashioned
people indeed. 1t will be sorry day for the landlords
when the lawyers take their flight They hope to get
insurance offices their places, but this is business
which already overdone and will not want any
room for long time to Besides, the Post
Office will be built the OF Ninth and Chestnut
SITS, and the insurance viii cluster around il.
Old Independence Hall which ardent municipal reform
sometimes severely term the den Of thieves" will
be cleared Of courts aud city Offices aud restored az
nearly as possible to the condition was In a century
ago With the new City Hall Broad-st and the new
Post-Ofce on Ninth, retail trade will push westward
and soon convert the fine Chestnutst msnsions into
stores as far as the Schuy leaving the street from
Sixth or Seventh TO the Delaware the banks and whole
sale mercantile houses Ii Is only eight squares from
Independence Hall to the city buildings and the
fost-Ofce goes but five squares uptown. but these
moval OF the City Hall TO Union-sqlare and the Post
ONCE 10 CanalsL would DC 10 New-YOrk
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