Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-13
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
o U r SATuR DAY LETTE

| Spectut Correspondence ~ The Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, March II.
Following the publication of the Pennsylvania
Railroad report, came this week the ANIMAL
\ meeting Of the stockholders. Owing to the rea.
| sonable plan now first adopted there was less
confusion and less bitterness of expression, at
this meeting than usual. The report had been
considered at leisure and-measurably at least
understood. There was not 30 much of the un-
easy feeling that the owners were being COM
PEELED to action of which they know nothing and
Which 1t was impossible in those limits to explain
to them. Az consequence there was little of
| the peculiar dissatisfaction of old times, and the
| part OF the proceedings relative to the report
went smoothly enough. On another point how
| ever. the opposition to the present mode of
management made itself felt. The recent ey-
amining committee appended to its report GER
| tam resolutions which were left over for action
to this meeting. These resolutions required
| that the stockholders themselves should pass
| upon all measures relative to leasing rail-
ways, legislation, &C., and that such
matters should not be exclusively entrusted as
| they have hitherto been to the Board of Direc-
tors. The resolutions virtually claimed that the
aggressive policy Of the Road of late years arose
| from the stimulus OF a very few men who did
not truly represent the company, and that their
| theory of railway management was vicious and
destructive. Nothing more important than the
offering of these resolutions can be imagined to
railway interests, for il they had carried they
would have revolutionized the transportation
business. But they did not carry, it need hard
ly be said. The liberal element among the
stockholders is steadily growing but it not yet
strong enough to outrde the Directory-the
men who have for years been running the ma
chino These men are among the sharpest to
be found, and they give their whole time and
| energies to the road the opposition come to-
gether once year to talk matters over but they
hQu not and untt Ey,aV
edge of railway affairs. The fight was therefore
too unequal. No reference of any sort was
made to the troubles between the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore 4 Ohio rail roads. In relation
thereto further correspondence is published
this time between Colonel Scott and Mr.. Jewett,
of the Erie road. Scott is willing to submit to
the arbitration which MIR. Garrett declined, and
these last letters make Phadelphians believe
more than ever that tine president Of the Seen
tral If much put upon person.
The commandments of the Medical Colleges
we're held this week and attracted the usual
amount of attention. IL has been wondered by
unthinking persons what attraction these dry
medical proceedings can have for the fair sex,
which makes mp the bulk of the attendance? But
when that wonder is expressed it is surely forgot
ten that these commencements concern, for the
most part, young unmarried men, The whole
thing IL governed by instinct. Tho Hallnemann
Homeopathic College led of on Wednesday
Jefferson College and the Woman's Medical
College followed on Thursday and the
University of Pennsylvania closed the
main series of commencements to-day. Be-
tween whiles the Alumni of the various
colleges held their anniversary meetings, the Wo-
mans college inaugurated its new building and
the University had an opening celebration of its
new hospital. With all this 1t can be seen that
the week has been busy one for medical men
aud their friends. 'Jef bore away the honors
regarding the strength of the graduating class,
its new doctors numbering ITO. The University
class numbered 100, that of the Hahnemann
a1lla at,Hth nf In Wnman'. aptia
The condition of the last named institution ID
declared by parties interested in it to be most
satisfactory. The State of Delaware did not
contribute as largely to these commencements
as in some former years. Three Delewareans
graduated from jefferson College and five from
the University.
Among the most important matters concern
ing the Centennial now talked about is that of
the improv ement of the Park III season for the
opening of tie Exposition. Strange it may
appear there are members of Councils who seem
to think the Park is well enough as it is and who
are not willing to spend cent for beautifying
the grounds which we have invited the world to
come and inspect. This is good sample
of sham repubhcanism. Imagine the English,
French, or German Expoaitions administered in
such spirit Fortunately there IL another side
to the case. There are Philadelphians of suf-
icient liberality and farsightedness to
understand that money occasionally spent
upon Paramount is as well invested
as it IL possible to invest public funds; that i'm
provements to the Park will not only be a con-
slant pleasure to the frequenters of the grounds
but an evidence to whoever comes here in the
Centennial year that the Quaker City is one of
| the leading capitals of the world The proposed
loan of 200 900 for this purpose ID not to be
classed with gas loan jobs or the many other
lattor-day raids upon the city Treasury. We
| have undertaken this Centennial business and it
must be done right We have the finest park
| in the world and it must appear to the best ad-
vantage. Without the park the Centennial
| l1xr, ,,nt hn ataA nd nU-
| ing much to it we must develop all its possi-
| bilities
| Various other Centennial matters have
claimed attention during the week, one OF them
being the visit of the Legislative Committee to
| the grounds. The gentlemen of the Committee
| expressed surprise and qualification at seeing
the works 80 well advaaced. This is the univer-
| val testimony of all who have the temerity to
brave ''the cold winds of March and to pros
pect about Belmont Avenue. Work goes on
| constantly and to an extent that very few peo-
Pile have any idea Of The contract for the
building for offices, &c, was given this
| week to MIR. Aaron Doane of this city.
The amount bid by Mr.. Doane was
$4,000. This building will be of frame, rusti-
cally ornate in appearance, with porches, &c. 1t
| ia TO be 40 feet long by 80 feet in width. The
| grand hotel project has fizzled out. The parties
having it in view think that it is too late to
begin the construction of a building to be COM
| peted in May 1876, and which would cost mil
| lion and a half of dollars. Probably the time is
short, Dut IL would nave Deen Jllht year longer
| if work had been commenced when the project
was fret mentioned How to house the people
| who will come to the exhibition ia certainly one
of the toughest problems in the whole affair.
| The important news that streets are not to be
cut through the Girard College grounds came
| Just too late for last weeks letter. A jury had
| found to this effect but exceptions were taken
| thereto which were carried into the Court of
| Common Pleas for consideration. Judge Bddle
| dismissed the exceptions and confirmed the jul
| rvs opinion, and DO the matter may be consld-
| cred settled Although some persons residing
in the northwest section of the city contend that
| the College wall is nuisance the predominant
feeling ia undoubtedly that the will of Philadel-
phias great benefactor should be respected.
! There is strong conviction that to tamper
with the provision of will-the conditions there
of having been legally accepted and ratified
would be to prejudice persons of wealth against
making public testamentary bequests
| The fears of a disastrous freshet on the
Schuylkill happily grow less. The " Ice Gorge"
is standing topic with our papers but there is
| good reason for believing that the gorge itself
| will not stand much longer, it being insidionsly
eaten into by this very wearing weather. The
| great danger was from heavy rain, the water
resulting from which-being held back by
the ice as long as possible-hnally
bursting through and inundatin long regions
| below Now however by reason of the gradual
thaw the ice has become 30 weakened AZ not to
materially obstruct the river There are many
| olanr stretches and water evidently flows