The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-03
The Birthday of Philadelphia
By Frederic J. Haskin.


To-uAorrow the City of Philadelphia will celebrate the garth anniversary of its foundation. The third city Of the Western hemisphere and the ninth city of the whole world the area of its mail delivery Is exceeded only by London. Founded as an asylum for the persecuted of Europe. where "the good and oppressed of all nations might find a home" Philadelphia has ever remained "the city of homes" Built by William Penn to show all people how free and happy they could be" the City of Brotherly Love has been, for more than two centuries, the aib'iding place of a people who love their homes and their city--a city in which there Is contentment. Philadel- ,phia's very vices are those which spring from the contentment of the people. The particular brand of bad politics with which the city has been cursed is not possible save in a com- munlty in which the vigilance of the people is relaxed by reason of their individual well-being.
 Philadelphia Is inseparably connect ed with the glorious romance of the early days of this republic. Here met the Continental Congress of the Brit ish Colonies which uttered the Dec- laration Of Independence and, as Co., lumbus had added a new world to geography, created a new world in history. Here lived Robert Morris and Michael Hillegas, who financed the war of independence. Here lived Thomas Paine who broke the shackles of century old conservatism and taught Americans to think for them selves. And here met the convention which adopted the Constitution of the nH nf | which has been much abused at home, | perhaps, but which was the first in- | stitute of it's kind in history { and which has been the model for every nation on, earth which has a written constitution.
 so, too, Philadelphia has been the pioneer of American cities in the field of industry. Here Benjamin Franklin pursued his trade of printer, became master of diplomacy, and made the experiments with electricity which re- suited in the annihilation of distance and the wedding of the East with the West. Here was started the first American paper mill in 1890. Here was launched the first Americans war vessel. Here was born the mod ern navy of steel. Philadelphia pro- duced the first American flag, the first American coins, founded the first American art school, the first college exclusively for teaching medicine. and collected the first American geological exhibit.
 Now. after a little more than two centuries of usefulness. Philadelphia is the second wealthiest city of the United States and ranks third in the value of its manufactured products. It has more than a half billion dol lars invested in manufacturing plants, and It turns out. annually products to the value of $500. 0.00O,OOO. In the manufacture of leather and carpets Philadelphia heads the list of the cities of the world Its fresh water navy yard is the largest in the world. It's area being more than the aggre- gate of all the yards of England.
 For many years Philadelphia was the commercial center of the whole United States. New York saw PhiIa- delphia's great growth and being am bilious to be at the top, dug the Erie canal and brought through New York the great products of the East. That was before the days of rapid rall transportation and the canal made New Xork AS matter of fact when the canal was dug. 1t was believed that Albany would become the chief Amer lean city. But Manhattan seceive.l the benefit and became the metropolis Of the Western world. Although not the first. Philadelphia is a great sea port. A deep ship canal from Chesa- peake Bay to the Delaware river would add to It's advantages. and plans for 1t may some day be accomplished. William Penn proved his fAr-sighted- ness when he said that the site was a Spot which seemed to have been appointed for a town" and that Of all places in the world I remember not one better seated" Philadelphia has outgrown and multiplied the fondest ifs this opinion still holds good
 Philadelphia has about $50 900 build ings, and of these there are 300 900 homes More people live in heir own homes in Philadelphia than in any other city on earth. Its system of building and loan associations. and general program of encoura cement to home-builders has resulted in this admirable condition of affairs. Fur thermore. Philadelphia has a larger percentage of bAth-tubs per capita than any city in the world
 Philadelphia homes are fitted in every degree of comfort and luxury of course. but even the richest of them make no ostentatious display of wealth The Quaker influence os colonial days is clearly marked in the architecture of the city's finest homes
 Not only Is Philadelphia a city of homes but it Is a city of home low CTS. mere IS no great white way" and one looks In vain for alI-nieht restaurants and lobster palaces The people attend to their business In day time and go home to their wives and babies at night. Which whole some condition has caused the un thinking to say that Philadelphia at- mosphere makes a live American feel like the Seven Young Men of Ephesus.
 Physically, Philadelphia Is one of the few large cities which was intended 10 be a city. Like Washington, it was laid out on a generous plan and 30 per cent of It's area devoted to streets. Phila- delphia's City Hall"-and a true Phil adelphian will not permit the use of the qualifying adjective the" In con nection therewith-ls one of the show places of the city. Its high tower sur mounted by a statue of William Penn | may be seen for miles and miles. City | Hall clock has four faces. its minute | hand is eleven feet long and weighs