Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-02

~ personal institutions with financial
aims, are not given to celebrating his
torical events in their career.
This is true Of the Pennsylvania Rail
road particularly, which today is the
of equipment, financial strength and cf-
fciency.
Nevertheless. the 18th of next Octo-
Der will witness the SEVENTEEN anniver-
sary of its corporate existence.
On that day, in the year 1850, was
celebrated the opening Of its lincs-or
completed from Harrisburg. its then
point of departure, to Altoona.
There was an excursion over the line,
with crowds at every station greeting
the train, and general period of re-,
joicing throughout the central counties
of the state.
1t was then known as the Pcnnsyl-
vania Central Railroad, called into ex-
istence on the Sd of April, 1916, by,
legislative enactment.
Violent and acrimonious debates
marked the passage Of the charter bill
by the Legislature. The men behind
the project were stigmati2ed as mad
APPS. They were looked upon as wholly
irresponsible because they were willing
to engage in such n project.
The act required that $4,000. 900
ent should be issued, and of this sum
$3.50, 900 should be paid in cash.
In view of the magnitude and pros
poets of the undertaking. it might be
presumed that the cash was forthcoming
in jiffy. Not bit of 1t.
The efforts to raise this sum were
harder than trying to collect money for
Armenian child relief sixteen months
after the close of the world war.
TT WAS a crucial period for the Penn
L sylvania Central Railroad. For
time the scheme threatened to go the
way of the recent Interchurch Move
ment.
Town meetings were held and "block"
were appointed to beg citi-
zens to subscribe on the basis of the
public spirited character of the venture.
Even draymen and porters were con-
shown that If each were to take share
t would not only help the enterprise,
but. IL the road should prove a success.
they would get good interest on their
money and great increase in their
business.
1t was not until the Both of March,
lS47, three days less than one year
after the enabling act. that the insig-
lificant sum was obtained, charter |
ssued and a board of directors Or
,anized.
1t was three years and six months
ater, in October, 1850, that this link in |
The now mighty, system known as the
Railroad was completed |
Ind celebrated by the people with ora
.ory. feasting and rejoicing.
If the members of the Legislature of |
IS46 who so reluctantly granted the |
'hartcr could rehabilitate their astral !
personalities long enough to return and |
Tiew the undreamed- of result of their
work, they doubtless would dematerial.
re so rapidly from mere shame of their
short sightedness that to the finest |
,piritual medium they would appear
Ike a streak of heat lightning on a
'ultry night.
DROTHONOTARY HENRY F.
l WALTON is president OF the board
If trustees of the State Hospital for the
Insane at Fairview.
lie has watched It's growth, and, in |
/ way, directed its development from
Is inception. 1t is the one thing about |
which he is ready to talk upon any |
and all occasions. He has direct, |
personal and intimate pride in the in
,titution, which Is regarded as the finest
Institution Of it's kind not only In the
United States, but possibly in the entire
world.
Director Of Public Welfare Tustin
was one OF the party, consisting of |
Mayor Moore, President Weglein, of
Hity Council, and Councilman w. w.
Roper. who recently made a pilgrimage
% Fairview.
1t was in connection with the idea
II transferring some of PHILADELPHIA
criminal insane to the hospital. Di- |
'ector Tustin pays this remarkable
.ribute TO Fairview:
"The institution at Fairview deyel-
,ped by President Walton, Superinten-
lent Lynch and the board of trustees "a
,ne Of the marvels of the age. Hum
ireds of criminal insane of all degrees
luietly walking into the dormitories
Joining in the Lords prayer and then
retiring to sleep under the supervision
If couple of guards presents a sight
hat Is almost incredible"