Journal of the Common Council, of the city of Philadelphia, for 1869
Philadelphia (Pa.). Councils. Common Council
• -M •*" :^ :::::: ^irS^^'iiprnr^ iiillhi" O o H be a H o b(i W) br bij til fco 2 a c a = a ^a SS5P: : :R? •booo 01002 •aobobo- • oooio • -tobio ^S.S : : :g§ •.S.S.52SS :.£.= .9 •" : o'-'.sS : :.s.ai Hi;: i^i:^ ;gg^ : : g-^ : :gg P O CI) u o o; FH "he W o o o ir> P-1 H CO <! -5 a! ■ :. : T'p : : bi i : i.5 : : .S : - ' : boj : is-iiiii^i^ifis-liiilil IliJ iNit Isll ll^:^i-?ii-:g 11* 1^:1; ills 2^25 S22-2-2S3a.o ~|m ^s:°::§oo- 'A o -a "J • r I *■ o : : c "^iiSbL;;;.!"?;!;;! if: ::j;i>>Ja i^l ill! : : : 2.a : : : t:.2 : : & : : a :S : a :« : : O'^.S : c ° .as : :=5 «•§ S'S'^ J - ° = -3 S Bs g-Ss * = .5^-3.2.5>'3 Si's ^■s 2 « ii|-|2£i giii§iigtiiriiii«i§il| :|ii raSaciCo H;i.cca?ScritKUP5aaacotNy.5Srto-<to i^oS 1^ o M B <! o o t-5 J f : : : .« g : "» g g > i .1; 5 K! y pli till iSllPlifllf llSl^lil ;s?:iyps::xZcr?iHfc-rtp:;c2s25;3:l;g2:^S^c^£5s:!;d« Ssi •aaxog : :S : : i i : : :- : :iS i^S : : : ;ii : i • : igisg^ jgg ijl :| Sunj siiaa 1 ::&:::::. :«::"=':"«::::«fe::::--ns-e5-Bs-'- •lamsicr i -ioi>^tPK,-.'J<«"ron^TKm(^t=-n ■-•5 rti-roMTPN »!-.«*., -J »i ^-ffJc^coojcotooQi- i Oi — -^^-.ft^rH»Oc6«WNt>;t-l-^?ir.it-..*QdiOCS^OrHW50l>^t-"<»!CXWr-(«»OOC'io«305cO > 1 axva ■° 1 e-f cf ffj" «" :o « bJ t.r Qc" 00 ccTcrmo-'ir^'rawM'ijrflr^w^'^jf v. 1 1. J EESOLUTION Of instruction to tlie Clerics of Councils. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That tlie Clerks of Councils be and they are hereby instructed to have printed three hundred copies of the annual report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire De- partment for use of the Chief Engineer. APPENDIX No. 95. EESOLUTION Relating to proposed passenger railway on Broad street. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia^ That Councils earnestly protest against the chartering of any railroad to occupy Broad street, in this City, by the State Legislature, and that the Governor be and he is hereby requested to withhold his signature from any such bill, if passed, the same being contrary to the wishes of a large majority of the citizens of Philadelphia. APPENDIX No. 96. \ EESOLUTION To grant permission to tlie Pennsylvania Railroad Company to lay a certain track. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Pennsylvania Eailroad Company be and is hereby permitted to lay a second track on Juniper street, from Market to Olive street, in the City of Phila- delphia. of the Common Council. 373 APPENDIX No. 97. To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia: Gentlemen: — The Committee on Finance respectfully report that they have considered a resolution to enter sat- isfaction on the official bond of Joseph E. Lyndall, late City Controller, and report the same back, and recommend its passage. Jno. L. Shoemaker, Chhi, S. G. King, George W. Hall, John Cochran, John Bardsley, A. M. Fox, H. C. Harrison, A. L. Hodgdon, James F. Dillon. ' February 18, 1869. EESOLUTION To enter satisfaction on the official bond of Joseph R. Lyndall, late City Controller. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the City Solicitor be and he is hereby instructed to enter satisfoction of record upon the official bond of Joseph R. Lyndall, late City Controller, (D. 65. D. S. B., 131.) Provided, That the City Controller shall certify that no default is found in the accounts of the said Joseph R. Lyndall. APPENDIX No. 98. RESOLUTION Of request to the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania. _ Whereas, A vast amount of the capital of our citizens is diverted to other States for investment, owing to their rate of interest being greater than six per cent, per annum, and thus retarding the advantages of the use thereof within our own Commonwealth; be it, therefore. Resolved hy the Select and Gomynon Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Legislature of the State of Penn- 374 Appendix to the Journal sylvania, is hereby respectfully requested to pass an Act increasing the legal rate of interest to seven per cent, per annum. APPENDIX No. 99. To the President and Members of Select and Common Coimcils of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen: — We, your Committee on Highways, to whom was referred the petition asking for the paving of Hoffman street, from Ninth street to Tenth street, in the First Ward, most respectfully report favorably thereon, and submit for your consideration the following resolution, and ask its adoption. Daniel P. Eay, C/i'w, Patrick Duffy, John Bardsley, A. L. Hodgdon, I. W. VanHouten, Charles Thomson Jones, Hugh McIlvain, Charles H. Harkness, H. Marcus, J. W. Hopkins. February 18, 1869. EESOLUTION To authorize the paving of Hofifman street, in the First Ward. Resolved hj the Select and. Common Gonncils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Department of Highways be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with a competent paver or pavers, who shall be selected by a majority of the owners of property fronting on Hoffman street, from Ninth street to Tenth street, in the First Ward, for the paving thereof; the conditions of said contract shall be, that the contractor or contractors shall collect the cost of said paving from the property owners respectively, and shall also enter into an obligation with the City to keep the said street in good repair for three years after the paving is finished. of the Common Council. 375 APPENDIX No. 100, To the President and Members of Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia: Gentlemen: — We, your Committee on Highways, to whom was referred the petition to grade Twenty-sixth street, from Poplar street to Brown street, in the Fifteenth Ward, most respectlully report favorably thereon, and sub- mit for your consideration the following resolution, and ask its adoption. Daniel P. Ray, Clin, John Bardsley, I. W. VanHouten, Hugh McIlvain, H. Marcus, Fchuary 18, 1869. Patrick Duffy, a. l. hodgdon, Charles T. Jones, Charles H. Harkness, J- W. Hopkins. RESOLUTION To authorize the grading of Twenty-sixth street. Resolved by the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Department of Highways be and is hereby authorized and directed to grade Twenty-sixth street, from Poplar street to Brown street, in the Fifteenth Ward, to the established grade of the City, at a cost not exceeding six hundred and thirty-eight dollars. APPENDIX No. 101. To the President and INIembcrs of Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen: — We, your Committee on Highways, to whom was referred the resolution to open Thirty-fifth street from Allen's lane to Creslieim creek, in the Twenty-second Ward, most respectfully report favorably thereon, and sub- mit for your consideration the following resolution and ask its adoption. Daniel P. Ray, Cii'n, A L. Hodgdon, I. W. VanHouten, Charles Thomson Jones, Hugh McIlvain, Charles H. Harkness, H. Marcus, J. W. Hopkins, Patrick Duffy, W. F. Smith. 376 Appendix to the Journal EESOLUTION To authorize the opening of Thirty-fifth street. Resolved hy the Select and Oominon Councils of the Cily of Philadelphia, That the Chief Commissioner of High- ways be and is hereby authorized and directed to notify the owners of property through and over which Tliirty- fifth street, from Allen's lane to Cresheim creek, (in the Twenty-second Ward,) will pass, that, at the expiration of three months from the date of said notice, the said Thirty- fifth street will be required for public use. APPENDIX No. 102. To the President and Members of Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen : — We your Committee on Plighways, to whom was referred the resolution to open Ellsworth street from Twenty-second street to Twenty-sixth street, in the Twenty-sixth Ward, most respectfully report favorably thereon, and submit for your consideration the following- resolution, and ask its adoption. Daniel P. Pay, Gh''n, Patrick Duffy, John Bardslky, A. L. Hodgdon, I. W. VanHoutem, Charles Thomson Jones, Hugh McIlvain, Charles H. Harkness, H. Marcus, J. W. Hopkins. February 18, 1869. RESOLUTION To authorize the opening of Ellsworth street. Resolved by the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadeljjhia, That the Chief Commissioner of Highways be and is hereby authorized and directed to notify the owners of property through and over which Ellsworth street, from Twenty-second street to Twenty-sixth street, (in the Twenty-sixth Ward,) will pass, that, at the expiration of three months from the date of said notice, that the said Ellsworth street will be required for public use. of the Common Council. 377 APPENDIX No. 103. EESOLUTION Relative to proposed legislation increasing the powers of the Board of Health. Resolved by the Select and Common Cotmcils of the City of Philadelphia, That Councils view with alarm the proposed legislation conferring additional and extraordinary powers upon the Board of Health, and request the Legislature not to pass the same. APPENDIX No. 10-±. RESOLUTION Of request to the Committee on Police. Resolved by the Select and Common Cou7icils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Committee on Police be requested to furnish Councils with the number of public lamps lo- cated on Delaware avenue, for which bills are rendered to the Girard Estate. APPENDIX No. 105. EESOLUTION Of request to the Mayor and the Chief Commissioner of Highways. W/iereas, Recently the Legislature of the State of Penn- sylvania have incorporated a company for the construction of a passenger railway on Twelfth and Sixteenth streets, giving the said compau}^ the right to occupy those streets without the consent of the City authorities ; therefore, Resolved by the Select rend Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia^ That his Honor the Mayor, and also the Chief Commissioner of Highways, are hereby directed and requested to take the necessary measures to prevent the tearing up of said streets, and the laying of rails thereon, until the consent of City Councils is first had and obtained. 378 A2')2^endix to the Journal APPENDIX No. 106. RESOLUTION Relative to alteration to Common Council Chamber. Resolved by the Goinmon Council of the City of Philadel- phia, That a Committee of three be appointed to take into consideration and report the propriety of certain alterations to the Chamber of said Common Council. APPENDIX No. 107. Office of the Boakd of Revision of Taxes, Philadelphia, February 23, 1869. To the Pi'esidents and Members of Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia : In reply to a resolution directing the Board of Revision of Taxes to report to Councils the proportion of the assess- ment of each Ward, assessed at city, suburban and farm rates, the Board respectfully submit the following table of rates : WARDS. VALUATION, CITV. val'n, suburban. VALUATION, FARM. T >T.*L VALUE. 1 9,740,090 71,800 1,028,050 10,839,940 19 15,219,306 163,450 34,350 15,406,006 20 33,392,930 101,000 76,500 33,570,430 21 3,413,101 1,656,780 972,650 5,042,531 32 8,016,270 8,862,625 4,005.375 20,884,170 33 4,123,533 2,801,645 4,634,806 11,558,984 24 8,7G6,(iG6 3,126,332 1,710,550 13,003.448 25 7,192,601 1.095,775 3,091,935 10,380,301 26 14,336,207 937,675 3,365,318 17,539,100 37 8,754,167 2,198,650 1,544,745 12,497,562 38 6,397,645 3,610,044 751,000 9,758,689 TOTAL 118,251,516 33,634,676 19,204,969 161,081,161 The remaining seventeen Wards are assessed at full city rates. Thos. Cochran, Wm. Loughlix, Saml. Haworth, Board of Revision. of the Common Council. 379 APPENDIX No. 108. EESOLUTION Relative to the next meeting of Councils. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the stated meeting of Councils of Thursday, March 4, 1869, be and the same is hereby dis- pensed with. APPENDIX No. 109. EESOLUTION Of instrnction to the Chief Commissioner of Highways. Resolvedly the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia^ That the sum of three hundred and fifty- seven dollars, appropriated by resolution to be paid to Samuel Sharp, be taken from Item 2, for paving inter- sections, &c. APPENDIX No. 110. AN ORDINANCE To repeal the proviso in the Ordinauce making an appropriation to the Controllers of Public Schools, approved February 23, 1869. Sectioist 1. The Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia do ordain, That the proviso attached to Items 395, 396 and 400, of the Ordinance making an ap- propriation to the Controllers of Public Schools for 1869, approved February 23, 1869, be and the same is hereby repealed. APPENDIX No. Ill, To the Presidents and Members of Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia: Gentlemen": — We, your Committee on Highways, to whom was referred the petition to pave Jefferson street from 380 Ajypendix to the Journal Seventeenth street to Sydenham street, (in the Twentieth Ward,) most respectfully report favorably thereon, and sub- mit for your consideration the following resolution, and ask its adoption. Daniel P. Ray, CA'w, Samuel Miller, Egbert Armstrong, I. W. YanHouten, William Calhoun, Chas. Thomson Jones, John Bardsley, Charles A. Souder, Geo. J. Hetzell, Patrick Duffy, J. W. Hopkins, Henry Marcus. Fehruary 25, 1869. EESOLUTION To authorize the paving of Jefferson street. Resolved hy the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia, That the Department of Highways be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a. contract with a competent paver or pavers, who shall be selected by a majority of the owners of property front- ing on Jefferson street, from Seventeenth street to Syden- ham street, (in the Twentieth Ward,) for the paving thereof, the conditions of which contract shall be, that the con- tractor or contractors shall collect the cost of said paving from the property owners respectively, and shall also enter into an obligation with the City to keep the said paving in good order for three years after the paving is finished ; and the Department is hereby authorized to do the neces- sary grading at an expense not to exceed two hundred dollars. APPENDIX No. 112. To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen : — The Committee on Police, to whom was referred the communication of Charles E. Miller, for per- mission to build a temporary frame shedding for the pur- pose of storage on Swanson street above Catharine street, in the Third Ward, would respectfully report that they of the Common Council. 881 have visited the. locality named and find that it would not injure other property, as it is near the water and pro- tected by a brick wall from other properties ; they there- fore report the annexed bill and ask its passage. Geo. W. Myers, Gh'7i, John C. Martin, ■J. J. Stuhl, Nicholas Shane, Charles Thomson Jones, John A. Shermer, Jno. C. McCall, H. Marcus, Henry Huhn. Fehruanj 25th, 1869. AN OEDINANCE To authorize the erection of a temporary shed ou a certain lot of ground on the west side of Swansou street and north side of Catharine street. Section 1. The Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelj^hia do ordain, That Charles E. Miller be and is hereby authorized to erect a temporary shed on a cer- tain lot of ground on the west side of Swanson street and the north side of Catharine street : Provided, That the same shall be removed by the said Charles E. Miller, or any one occupying or owning "said property, upon three months notice being given by the Department having proper juris- diction, all Ordinances to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That the said Charles E. Miller shall pay to the City Treasurer twenty-five dollars to pay for publication of this Ordinance. APPENDIX No. 113. To the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadelphia: Gentlemen : — The Committee on Election Divisions, to whom was referred the petition of citizens of the Ninth Division of the Twenty-sixth Ward, for a division of said election division, would respectfully report that there was six hundred votes polled in said division at the last general 382 Appendix to the Journal election. They therefore report the annexed bill creating a new election division out of said Ninth Division, and. ask its passage. Wm. F. Miller, John Y. Creely, E. W. LEiaHTON", John A. Shermer, Wm. H. Fagen, a. M. Fox, Geo. J. Hetzell, A. H. Franciscus, J. W. Hopkins, Jos. H. Hookey. Fehruary 25, 1869. AN ORDINANCE To rearrange and fix the boundary lines of election divisions and places of voting in the Twenty-sixth Ward, and to create a new election division in said Ward. Section 1. Tlie Select and Common Cou7icils of tlie City of Philadelphia do ordainf^\\dX the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Election Divisions, in the Twenty-sixth Ward, shall be and remain as heretofore constituted by law. Sec. 2. That the Ninth Division of said Ward shall be bounded as follows: Commencing" at the southwest corner of Christian and Nineteenth streets ; thence along the west side of Nineteenth street to Washington avenue ; thence along the north side of Washington avenue to the Schuyl- kill river ; thence along the Schuylkill river to the south side of Christian street ; thence along the south side of Chris- tian street to the place of beginning ; and the place of voting- shall be at the house of William Glassey, southwest corner of Twenty-second and Kenible streets. Sec. 3. That the Fourteenth Division of said Ward' shall be bounded as follows : Commencing at the southwest cor- ner of Washington avenue and Nineteenth street; thence along the west side of Nineteenth street to Federal street ; thence along the north side of Federal street to the Schuyl- kill river ; thence along the Schuylkill river to the south side of AVashington avenue ; thence along the south side of Washington avenue to the place of beginning ; and the place of voting shall be at the house of Edward Parr, north- west corner of Twentieth and Federal streets. of the Common Council. 383 APPENDIX No. 114. To the Select and Common Conncils of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen: — The Committee on Election Divisions, to whom was referred the petition of voters of the Eightli Division of the Twenty-sixth Ward, would respectfully report that the former place of voting has been sold, and is now vacant, and cannot be used for that purpose. They therefore report the annexed resolution, and ask its passage. Wm. F. Miller, J. W. Hopkins, E. W. Leighton, a. M. Fox, Wm. H. Fagen, a. H. Franciscus, Geo. J. Hetzell, Jos. II. Hookey. February 25, 1869. RESOLUTION To change the place of voting in the Eighth Division of the Twenty-sixth Ward. Resolved by the Select and Common Councils of the City of Pbiladelphia, That hereafter the place of voting in the Eighth Division of the Twenty-sixth Ward shall be at the. house of James Allison, at the southeast corner of Twenty- first and Fitzwater streets ; the former place being no longer available for election purposes. APPENDIX No. 115. To the Common Council of the City of Philadelphia : Gentlemen : — The Committee on Alterations to Com- mon Council Chamber report that they have considered the i)ropriety of the alterations, and submit a plan, and request that it may be adopted. They also submit the annexed resolution instructing the Clerk of Common Coun- cil to make the alterations conformably to said plan. A. Kline, Gli'n, Saml. C. Willits^ John Hall. 884 Ap2)endix to the Journal RBSOLUTIOlSr Of instruction to tlie Cleric of Common Council. Resolved hy the Common Cotmcil, That the Clerk of Com- mon Council be instructed to have the alterations made in Common Council chamber according to the plan submitted by the Committee ; the same to be paid for out of Item 7 of the appropriation made to the Clerks of Councils for the expenses of the year 1869. APPENDIX No. 1 16. First Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fairmount Park for the year 1868. Commissioners of Faikmoukt Park. MORTON McMICHAEL, WILLIAM S. STOKLEY, N. B. BROWNE, GEORGE G. MEADE, JAMES H. CASTLE, HENRY M. PHILLIPS, THEODORE CUY'LER, ELI K. PRICE, ; FREDERICK GRAFF, J. H. PUGH, JOSEPH HARRISON, Jr., GUSTAVUS REMAK, STRICKLAND KNEASS, WILLIAM SELLERS, JOSEPH F. MARCER, JOHN WELSH. Officers of the Commission. Pi'esident, Hon. MORTON McMICHAEL. Vice-President, Major-General GEORGE G. MEADE, U. S. A. Secretary, JOSEPH F. MARCER. of the Common Council. 385 Treasurer, N. B. BROWNE. Assistant Secretary, DAVID F. FOLEY. Chief Engineer, JOHN C. CRESSON. Committees. Land Purchases and Dainages. ELI K, PRICE, Chairman. HENRY M. PHILLIPS, N. B. BROWNE, WILLIAM SELLERS, WILLIAM S. STOKLEY, JAMES H. CASTLE, Plans and Improvements. THEODORE CUYLER, Chairman. GEORGE G. MEADE, WILLIAM SELLERS, JOSEPH HARRISON, JR., JOHN WELSH, STRICKLAND KNEASS, GUSTAVUS REMAK, FREDERICK GRAFF, WILLIAM S. STOKLEY. Finance, ^ JOHN WELSH, Chairman. N. B. BROWNE, JOSEPH HARRISON, Jr., WILLIAM SELLERS, GUSTAVUS REMAK. Auditing. HENRY M. PHILLIPS, Chairman. STRICKLAND KNEASS, JAMES H. CASTLE, FREDERICK GRAFF, J. H. PUGH. 25 386 Appendix to the Journal Superintendence and Police, GUSTAVUS REMAK, Ghairraan. WILLIAM SELLERS, AYILLIAM S. STOKLEY, JOSEPH F. MARCER, J. H. PUGH. Executive. MORTON McMICHAEL, CMirman. GEORGE G. MEADE, THEODORE CUTLER, JOSEPH F. MARCER, JOHN WELSH, N. B. BROWNE, HENRY M. PHILLIPS, ELI K. PRICE, GUSTAVUS REMAK. Office of the COMMISSIONEES OF FAIEMOUNT PaRK, Phila., DecSiher 31, 1868. To the Honorable the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia : The fourteenth section of the supplement to the law es- tablishing the Park Commission, makes it the duty of the Board in the month of December, annually, to present to the Mayor of the City a report of their proceedings, and a statement of their expenditures for the preceding year. In performing this duty for the first time it seems proper to commence with a brief history of the origin of the Park. Some of the incidents connected with it will preserve, for grateful remembrance by posterity, the generous deeds of the men to whom they will be chiefly indebted for the enjoyment of wholesome water and shady groves and re- freshing breezes in the midst of a great City. The first acquisition of land by the City within the bounds of Fairmount Park, was made in the year 1812, for the purpose of obtaining a supply of water free from the impurities of City drainage, and a site for a reservoir high enough to distribute this supply to the loftiest buildings in the town. The precipitous bluff known from earliest days as "Faire Mount," was the nearest point sufficiently high for this purpose ; it was then outside of the City limits, and much too far away to be thought of as a resort for public recrea- of the Common Coinicil. 887 tion ; the most remote spot reached by the pedestrians of that day was the water basin on the Schuylkiil at the head of Chestnut street. By the first purchase only five acres were obtained, at a cost of $16,666 j'^Q^jy ; but additional ground was bought as it was needed, until the whole quantity became, in 1828, twenty-four acres, the aggregate cost of which was $116,834. When the Water Works had been established upon a scale, at that time, of unexampled magnitude and excel- lence, the good taste and judgment of the projector and life-long superintendent, prompted the adornment of the grounds by planting shade trees, and covering ihe rugged cliffs with shrubbery and vines. All the surroundings were at that time rural. The vista up the valley of the river brought in view the elegant country seats of Lemon Hill and Sedgeley on the east bank, and Solitude and Egglesfield and Landsdowne on the west. The factories of Manayunk had then no existence; and no town or cluster of houses bordered on the stream until it reached the vil- lage of Norristown, distant fifteen miles. For more than twenty years after the foundation of the Fairmount Water Woi-ks, Philadelphia reposed in the belief of their unsurpassable excellence and their perpetuity ; and indeed did not become fully awake from this pleasant dream for about thirty years. Trade and human industry had broken in upon the quiet of the rural scene, and had driven oat the descendants of the ancient dwellers at the country seats, some years before the City autliorities made the unwelcome discovery that their cup of water was in danger of becoming a poisoned chalice. No sooner did this suspicion take a tangible shape than the men of action urged prompt measures to put away the incipient evil ; but with them as with most other pioneers in social progress, the great difficulty was, not in doing the things they had liberally devised, but in getting clear of the hindrances ingeniously set up by the obstructive mem- bers of the community. But perseverance brought success. An opportunity offered for buying the estate known as Lemon Hill, containing forty-five acres, lying nearer to the forebay of the Water Works than any other large area of open land, and so located as to pour its surface waters 388 A'p'pendix to the Journal directly into the current that supplies the City reservoirs. In revolutionary times it was the country seat of Robert Morris, the patriot financier; there he hospitably enter- tained many of the most eminent of his contemporaries; and there in later life, when financial ruin overtook him, he kept out of reach of sheriffs' writs. At the close of that century, this fine estate passed into the possession of a successful merchant and man of liberal tastes, under whose embellishment it attained that beauty which made Pratt's Garden the pride of Philadelphia. Mr. Pratt sold it in the year 1836, for $225,000, to men who bought it to make money. While in their possession much of its adornment fell into ruin, but its natural beauties and many of its noble trees remained. A commercial revulsion brought it into market at a price only one-third that of its previous sale. Such a favorable opportunity was not to be lost by the persevering advocates of wholesome water ; they at once redoubled their effbrtS; and the Lemon Hill estate became the property of the City in the year 1844, at a cost of $75,000. An advanced position was now attained, but no park for the public as yet grew out of it. The officials who obtained control of the grounds which were intended to be main- tained as elysian fields, suffered them to become almost a pandemonium. The contest was again commenced, and was vigorously maintained for twenty years with variable re- sults. The first dawn of success appeared, toward the close of the year 1855, in an Ordinance of Councils approved the 28th of September, which "devoted and dedicated to public use, as a park, the Lemon Hill estate, to be known by the name of Fairmount Park." The triumph of right was, for a time, only on the statute book ; the vandal spirit that held its orgies on these fair terraces defied law, and persisted in its work of ruin some years longer. But the advocates of the Park, although disappointed, were not disheartened, and still pressed on. Councils were induced, in 1856, to make a small appro- priation for the improvement of Hunting Park, a tract of forty-five acres, situated near the southwestern corner of the Twenty-third Ward, which had been bought in 1853 by a number of citizens, and generously tendered in 1854 of the Common CoimciL 389 to the newly consolidated City, free of cost. The munici- pal acceptance of the gift appears to have been attended with some hesitation. Councils took some months to con- sider before granting consent to a conveyance of the land to the City, and allowed nearly two years to elapse before complying with its primary condition that they should, within twelve months, cause avenues and walks to be laid out so that it might be used, according to its dedication, as a public park and pleasure ground. The liberal action of these citizens, notwithstanding its somewhat ungracious reception, was followed in the year 1857 by another of greater magnitude. By a concerted eftbrt subscriptions amounting to $60,000 were obtained for the purpose of buying and presenting to the City the estate known as Sedgeley, containing about thirty-four acres, situated between Lemon Hill and the Spring Garden Water Works; the price of which was $125,000. The land was bought and tendered to the City subject to a mortgage for the balance of purchase money. The acceptance of this second gift was stoutly resisted by an opposition that did not shrink from denouncing the action and the motives of the donors. But the men who, by their own generous impulses, could best appreciate the generosity of others, achieved a complete victory in the contest. The donation was accepted with a grateful recog- nition of its munificence, and a prompt ''dedication of it to public use and enjoyment as a part of Fairmount Park." The Sedgeley tract, like Lemon Hill, had once belonged to Kobert Morris, constituting the country seat designated by its owner as the '' Hills." In following up the chain of title to these lands there is brought to view a previous connection between them and the other lands now by law included in the enlarged Park, which possesses sufficient interest to find place in this narra- tive. Among the old documents preserved in the collec- tions of the Philadelphia Library is Holme's map, dated Anno Domini 1681, on which is marked "Fair Mount," located within the manor of Springettsberry, a large pro- prietary tract situated north of Vine street, and extending from the river Schuylkill to some distance east of the road to Wissahickon, (now Ridge avenue,) containing 1,830 acres and allowance. In the year 1718, the commissioners 390 Appendix to the Journal of William Penn sold 1,084 acres of tbis manor, on the por- tion which lay north of a line subsequently known as Francis' Lane, (now Coates street,) and west of the line of Kidge avenue, to Jonathan Dickerson, who, by his will, devised the same to his son by the name of, the "Vine- yard." In 1768 Tench Francis became owner of 400 acres of the "Vineyard," and in 1770 sold to Eobert Mor- ris several parcels of the land, including with others Lemon PI ill and Sedgeley tracts. The part of Springetts- herry manor between Vine and Coates streets was, in 1787, divided between John Penn and John Penn, Jr., and a part of this tract, called the " Springettsberry Farm," lying between the Schuylkill and what is now Twenty-first street, which was allotted to John Penn, Jr., was by him made subject to an agreement of sale to Eobert Morris for the sum of £5,^20. A record of the names of the donors of these two tracts entered on the journals of Councils shows that the contri- butions to " Hunting Park " were mostly in sums of $1,000, while those to Sedgeley were in various amounts ; two of them, from sons of an early and efficient champion of the Park, were for $10,000 each, others of $5,000, and under ; the greatest number of contributions being in sums of $100. One of the two largest subscribers to the fund had on previous occasions tendered through an agent the sum of $100,000 for Sedgeley, and $40,000 for another tract, which he deemed important for maintaining the purity of the water : intending to convey them to the city as his sole free gift. His generous design was frustrated by the refusal of the owners to sell on the terms he offered. From this period the forward movement met with diminishing impediment : action was soon after taken by Councils for laying out and improving Fairmount Park, and making it more accessible for public use ; plans were invited and received ; one of them was accepted and of the Common Council. 391 obtained the premium offered. Proceedings were insti- tuted for obtaining possession of the neck of land between the Water Works and Lemon Hill, resulting in its con- veyance to the City under a jury award for $55,000. By these acts did the City first effectually comply with the injunction of its Charter of Consolidation, "to obtain adequate areas of ground, and lay them out and maintain them as open public places for the health and enjoyment of the people forever." Resuhs evinced the wisdom of this legislative injunction. Public opinion, when once brought to face squarely the subject of parks for the people, pronounced in favor of immediate action. It was, therefore, no longer safe for any one desiring to keep pace with popular sentiment to make an issue against the movement. Numxcrous memorials urged upon the City Councils and the Legislature of the State measures for securing land upon the western bank of the Schuylkill; small in area as first asked for, but growing from time to time in the area demanded, in proportion as the public mind expanded to the full grasp of the important question at issue. A party of four citizens, upon learning that a large tract, which they deemed indispensable to the complete protection of the water, was to be had at a price which would probably make it a desirable object for private speculation, and, if so disposed of, would retard or even frustrate an essential part of the general plan, bought it on their individual responsibility and tendered it to the City at the price they paid. Happily there was no hesitation at this time. The matter as presented in a message from the Mayor was at once referred to a Special Committee, composed of the joint Standing Committees on Law, Finance, Water Works, and City Property, who, at the next stated meet- ing, reported an Ordinance to buy the property, and a vote of thanks to the four patriotic citizens. This prompt action secured to the public the noble estate of Landsdowne, containing over one hundred and forty acres, at a cost of $84:,95o.30, being a less price per acre than was paid for any other piece of land bought for this purpose during the fifty-five years included in our narra- tive. 392 Appendix to the Journal The proceedings in whicli the Park Commission origi- nated were the ultimate result of advancing public senti- ment. A relation of them comes next in order. By an Act of the General Assembly of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania, approved the 26th of March, 1867, entitled "An Act appropriating ground for public purposes in the City of Philadelphia," it is provided that "the title to and ownership of the area of ground" therein described, " shall be vested in the City of Philadelphia, to be laid out and maintained forever as an open public place and park, for the health and enjoyment of the people of said City, and the preservation of the water supply of the City of Phila- delphia." This act was passed with the entire concurrence of the municipal government, by whom its provisions had been carefully examined and perfected. It was intended to supply what had long been felt as a great public want, and the unanimity with which it was adopted, both by the local and State Legislatures, gives proof of the favor in which the proposition it embraced was held. That proposition was the creation of a public park, on a scale corresponding to the present magnitude and probable future development of the City, and under such management as would ensure to it the best chances of suc- cess. To accomplish this latter result, the Act further pro- vides, "that the Mayor, the Presidents of the Select and Common Councils, Commissioner of City Property, the Chief Engineer and Surveyor, and the Chief Engineer of the Water Works, of said City, together with ten citizens of said City, who shall be appointed for five years — five of them by the District Court, and five of them by the Court. of Common Pleas, of said City — be and the same are hereby constituted Commissioners of said Park." In pur- suance of the authority thus bestowed, the District Court appointed Eli K. Price, John Welsh, William Sellers, Jo- seph Harrison, Jr., and John C. Cresson ; and the Court of Common Pleas appointed N. B. Browne, Theodore Cuyler, Henry M. Phillips, Gustavus Eemak, and George G. Meade. The Commissioners ex- officio were Morton McMichael, Mayor of the City ; Joshua Spering, President of Select Council ; Joseph F. Marcer, President of Common Council ; Charles Dixey, Commissioner of City Property ; Strickland of the Common Council. 393 Kneass, Chief Engineer and Surveyor; Frederick Graff, Chief Engineer of Water Works. In the fifth section it is enacted that as soon as the said Commissioners shall have fully organized, they shall have the care and management of Fairmount Park on both sides of the river Schuylkill, and all plans and expenditures for the improvement and maintenance of the same shall be un- der their control, subject to such appropriations as Councils may from time to time make. Accordingly, on the 8d of June, 1867, the organization of the Commissioners was effected by the election of Mor- ton McMichael, President of the Board ; George G. Meade, Vice President; Joseph F. Marcer, Secretary; and N. B. Browne, Treasurer; all of them Commissioners, and there- fore serving without compensation. An Assistant Secretary was required who could give all his time to of&ce duties, and I)avid F. Foley was ap- pointed to the position. To secure a proper distribution of the work of the Com- mission, various portions of it were assigned to several Standing Committees, under the following designations : Committee on Land Purchases and Damages, Mr. Price, Chairman ; Committee on Plans and Improvements, Mr. Cuyler, Chairman ; Committee on Superintendence and Police, Mr. Speriug, Chairman ; Committee on Finance, Mr. Welsh, Chairman ; Committee of Audit, Mr. Cresson, Chairman; and an Executive Committee, composed of the elective officers of the Board and the chairman of the five Standing Committees. A Special Committee, consisting of Frederick Graff, as Chairman, John C. Cresson, Strickland Kneass, William Sellers, and George G. Meade, was appointed to consider and report upon the subject of "the preservation of the purity of the water supply." This Committee gave immediate attention to the duty, and presented a report in detail at the earliest period con- sistent with due examination. Some of the most prominent facts, and the conclusions reached by the Committee, are all that need be presented in this place. They show that the "quality of the water is of undoubt- ed excellence when free Irom impurities introduced by hu- man agency," standing in the "first rank as a water proper 394 Appendix to the Journal and desirable for ordinary domestic uses, perfectly soft, pleasant to the taste, and remarkably free from organic matter." A tabular statement is presented of the analysis of wa- ters supplied to other American cities from fourteen dift'er- ent sources, and to. European cities from thirteen sources, which exhibit by comparison the good quality of the Schuylkill water. The increase of organic impurities in twenty years has been at the rate of 1|- grains weight of solid matter to the gallon per annum, an amount very small in each year, yet sufficient, if continued, to render the wa- ter eventually insalubrious and unfit for use. Effective plans are suggested for removing the causes of organic impurities, and the question of the sufficiency of quantity is carefully examined. The facts adduced upon this point show that there need be no distrust respecting it, if suitable measures be adopted for raising and storing a part of the water now running to waste. The expense of carrying out the suggestions for these objects, so far as may be needed in the ensuing twenty years, is estimated to be much less than the annual interest upon the cost of obtain- ing a supply from the remote sources that have been pro- posed. In conclusion the report recommends that " the Chy re- tain the Schuylkill as a source of supply," and that the Commission shall urge upon Councils "the importance of carrying out the plans suggested for the preservation of the purity of the water." From this report, made by a Committee of Practical Engineers, it fortunately appears that, with proper precau- tions, the water in the Schuylkill can be preserved in all its purity, and furnished in abundant quantity for any popu- lation that Philadelphia is likely to have for many years to come, and that at a cost far below any of the estimates for procuring a supply elsewhere. One, and the principal of these precautions, is to guard its banks on either side, for a sufficient distance from the pumping apparatus at Pair- mount, against filthy deposits and polluting drainage; and to effect this the ownership of these banks and the adjoin- ing lands must be vested absolutely in the City, so that it can apply and enforce measures of protection. The grounds necessary for this purpose are to constitute the Park, and of the Common Council. 395 thus while their possession will give to the people the op- portunity of breathing the fresh, free air, in the midst of rural surroundings, their acquisition is indispensable to the health and comfort of the people, as connected with the water supply of the City. The Standing Committees entered upon their duties so far as was practicable with the limited means appropriated by Councils. The Committee on Land Purchases and Damao-es was appointed soon after the organization of the Commissioners, to negotiate, agree upon, and report to the Court of Quarter Sessions of the County of Philadelphia, for approval, the price to be paid by the City, for grounds within the Park taken for public use. That Committee consisted of Eli K. Price, as Chairman, Henry M. Phillips, William Sellers, N. B. Browne and Joshua Spering, and was subsequently increased by adding to it, James 11. Castle. The Committee began their sessions in June, 1867, but their meetings were infrequent during that year, as it became apparent that a Park commensurate with the wishes of the people of Philadelphia required very different boundaries from those contained in the original Act of 2 6th of March, 1867. The Park Commission prepared a bill for the Legislature of 1868, and submitted it for the appi'oval of the Councils, with boundaries on the west side of the Schuylkill as they are now established ; and the Councils, in a very liberal spirit toward the Park, and with a view to other water basins, extended the boundary on the east side of the river, from a line about four hundred feet eastward of the Reading railroad, and striking the river avenue near Dauphin street, as far eastward as Thirty-third street, thence to the Ridge road, and thereby to South Laurel Hill, adding thereby to the east side of the Park three hundred and ten and one- half acres. The Act of 14th of April, 1868, established these boundaries, and after May 5th, 1868, the Committee on Land Purchases and Damages met twice a week until the middle of September, to receive and hear claimants for compensation ; and since that time have met each Friday morning at 11 o'clock. After the first of the year William S. Stokley, as Presi- dent of Select Council, came into the Commission in place 396 Ajypendix to the Journal of Joshua Spering, and was appointed on the Committee on Land Purchases, Under the Act referred to, Joshua Spering became Assistant City Solicitor ; and he and Samuel S. Smedley, Surveyor, &c., have been in constant attendance on the Committee, rendering indispensable services. The Commission had deemed it wise that communica- tions from the claimants should be received as confiden- tial, and they have reason to believe that the observance of the rule has operated advantageously for the Citv, since under it the claimants were more free and open in their communications, knowing that they would not be used against them. The following is the resolution of the Commission : "Resolved, That all offers of property to this Commission, and negotiations as to price, shall be taken to be confiden- tial and privileged communications, as efforts of compro- mise and amicable settlement, and shall not be ariven in evidence against any land owner in any judicial proceeding to value property taken for the Park," By the above it will be perceived that the Commission have not been at liberty to report their proceedings in the ascertainment of prices for lands, &c,, to any body except the Court of Quarter Sessions, When made there they became accessible to the public; but were still under the restriction of confidence, since if the Court should reject the claims as agreed, the claimants had the right to go before a jury to be appointed by the Court, unprejudiced by the mutual effort to attain a compromised price between the owner and the City, As a general rule the Committee were met by a com- mendable disposition on the part of the claimants to treat the City fairly, and with no feeling of hostility against the Park. The negotiations have been satisfactory, both as regards price and quantity of land acquired for the City. 