Year: 1871

the brick court house, at the intersection OF King
and Queen streets, the two principal streets until
its removal to Harrisburg, in 1872 The cOurt-houses
in Reading, York, Easton, and other county towns
were similarly situated.


could only be obtained by including Broad and
Market streets; but this can make no difference,
for the Legislature is simply appropriating the
square was originally dedicated. But the power Of
the Legislature over the streets cannot be matter
Of discussion, and It is provided that In the event
Of the ultimate selection OF Penn Squares as the
site for the said public buildings, the said commits
powered to yscate so much Of Market and of Broad
streets as they may deem needful; provided, how
ever that the streets passing around said buildings
shall net be OF less width than 100 feet"


1t is objected that this act is a law impairng the
obligation OF contracts and therefore unconstitu-
uonal by the Constitutions OF the United States and
on the 2eth March, 1866 the Legislature passed an
act authorizing the Improvement Of Broad street.
the real object of which was the removal of all rail-
road tracks from it. and their prohibition in 1t for
the future. These railroad tracks were to be re-
moved by money voluntarily subscribed by the
citizens to compensate their owners, and the Inn
provements on said street. such repaving by Nico
son pavement were to be paid for by the owners of
property abutting upon the said street, and in con-
sideration OF either one or the other, or both, no
railway tracks or other obstructons preudioial to
the purposes OF said act sRoud be laid, constructed
or maintained upon IL. IL is clear this act has no
application to such building as the present; and II
It had, no voluntary subscription or single dollar
ever has been made, and the Nlcols0n pavement
never has been paid for, but the city is left to pay





OF the plaintiffs there are but two who have paid
cent for any part OF the Ncolson pavement and
they the owners OF 100 200 feet front this
great street. eleven and half miles long, having
front OF $40 feet and who seek TO represent all
the other owners OF properly on It, There is moth
ing in the act of 1866 preventing this erection either
In Its language or its spirit, and the two plaintiffs
have shown no case for the interference OF this
court.


The city OF Philadelphia has expended, and is
still expending, large sums of money for great
public park for the health and recreation OF her
citizens whilst she has entirely neglected the
fort and convenience of the Inhabitants In the daily
transaction OF judicial and municipal business. Our
courts are not adequately provided with proper
court-rooms. consultation and retiring rooms, or
rooms for jurors and for witnesses, and have no
1re-proof offices for the preservation OF valuable
records the Recorders office is in the second story
OF bank, and the various city onices so scat
tered in every direction to require special direc-
tory for citizen having business with the city
authorities


This site has been selected by the public voice,
and 1t should now be the business OF every fair
minded citizen to see the buildings pushed to a
speedy completion.


Injunction dissolved