The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-07
The Benevolent Philadelp hi a ms.

Several weeks ago we contraSted the
occasional contributions to the treasury
OF the city of New York, and the lack Of
established funds for the promotion OF
charitable organizations and various
forms of assistance to needy and deserv-
ing individuals, with the abundant pro-
vision made by Bostonians of past and
present generations for the aid of their
fellow townsmen. Many and varied are
the forms of these benefactions, but the
method OF their administration is uni
form, in every case the income of fund
being directed by the city government
into the channels selected by the founder.
In that article we stated that "no other
city of the country has an assortment
of funds comparable either in variety of
intent or in amount and practical advan-
tages to the beneficiaries.
To that assertion loyal Philadelphia
now rises to take exception. He has,
however, with a wise patience and a
patient wisdom rarely NANTES ted by
those who take up the cudgels for the
honor of their native cities, postponed
the presentation of his claim until it
might receive the sanction and support
of indubitable authority. His claim that
"the minor trusts of the city Of Phila-
delphia are much more important and
larger in number and amount than
those Of Boston may. easily be settled
by partizans of the rival cities, involving
but a simple process of elementary math-
ematics; but our Quaker correspondent
is correct in believing that the facts and
figures of the thirty-fifth annual report
of the Board of Directors of City Trusts,
which he lays before us, will be Of inter
est to us and to our readers.
And first we notice that Philadelphia
like Boston, and perhaps even more
appropriately, possesses BENJAMIN
Franklin Fund, with present invested
capital Of sl54,200, ito be loaned to Young
Married Artifcers under the age of 80
years, who have served an apprentice
ship in Philadelphia and faithfully full
filed the duties required in their inden-
lures, and who will furnish two salts
factory securities. Furthermore, after
100 years from the date of its estab-
lishment, 1OO-13l of the accumulated
fund a is to be expended in Public
Works, such as Fortificatons, Bridges,
Aqueducts, Public Buildings, Baths,
Pavements, or whatever may make living
in the Town more convenient to its peo-
pie, and render it more agreeable to
Strangers resorting thither for Health
or temporary residence,
Other funds there are. devoted to this
list of objects: Hospitals, schools and
scholarships, medals dor scholars and
in one case for ingenious men and
women who shall make useful inven-
tions y, fuel and food and various forms
of practical assistance to the worthy
poor; and, of course that great essential
and indispensable group always in such
lists classified as Miscellaneous.
The oldest of these funds was created
in 1880, the William Carter Fund "to and
for We use and Service Of We aims houses
belonging to We sd City, and for We re-
liefe of We poor people in the Same for
ever" Others bear date Of 1853, 1915,
1890 (the Franklin foundation) and 1897
The smallest is the Roberts School Fund,
created in 1893, with an invested capital
of 500; and the largest charity COM
prised in the list of minor Trusts" is
the Wills Hospital, founded in 1925, with
present invested capital of $57l $50,
and an income of close upon s35 900.
The finest of these institutions how
ever, is the magnificent foundation of
STEPHEN GIRARD, a "monumentum acre
perennius. The report of the Girard cs-
tate shows an income for 1904 of 81, 533, 677,
an increase over the previous year of
more than sl2O,o0O. The total expendi-
ture for the maintenance Of Girard Col
lege for 1904 was $466, $50, and the aver
age number of pupils on the rolls during
the year was 1919. During the year
1856 cases were treated in the college
, infrmary
Certainly, if there is anything in fig
,,roe Db;Io dol Min hoe ,,rovaI hor m a