USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1794 > Part 16
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Thomas Anfley, Runner.
100
PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
INSURANCE COMPANY of NORTH AMERICA. Office 119, So. Front St.
This refpectable company began bufinefs in December 1792, and was incorporated by an Act of the Legifla- ture, in April 1794. Its capital confifts of fixty thoufand fhares, of ten dollars each, amounting to 650,000 dol- lars, payable by eafy initalments, the whole of which, with the amount of premiums, is a fecurity to the perfons infured, in cafe of lofs.
The operations of this company was at firft confined to infurance on veffels and cargoes, and any valuable property gone or going by land or water; it is howe- ver now extended to different objects.
For the management of the company's affairs, the ftockholder's annually choofe fifteen directors, who elect a prefident out of their own number, and the remaining fourteen divide thenifelves into feven committees, who, with the prefident, fit in weekly rotation, at their office.
The directors declare dividends of their profits femi- annually.
The following Rules are to be obferved in tranfacting bufinefs at the company's office, viz.
I. All orders for infurance muft be given in writing, figned by the applicant , and as minute a defcription of the veffel is expected, as the perfon ordering the infu- rance can give, refpecting her age, built, how found and fitted, and whether double or fingle decked.
II. All policies will be ready for delivery in twenty- four hours after the order for infurance is accepted at the office, and the policy mult be taken up in ten days.
III. Notes, with an approved endorfer, for all premi- ums, muft be given in ten days, payable as follows, viz. For American and Weft India rifques, in three months after the date of the policy.
For European rifques, in fix months.
For China and Eaft India rifques, in twelve months. For rifques by the year, in eight months.
For rifques for fix months, in four months.
And, for rifques for any leffer time, in three months.
IV. Loffes will be paid in ten days after proof and ad- juftment : but if the note given from the premium shall not have become due within that time, the amount of it fhall neverthelefs be deducted from the lofs to be paid.
The Directors, have likewife lately iffued the follow- ing Table of Rates of Annual Premiums, to be paid for affurance againft fire. The laying it before our readers, we truft will be acceptable.
PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
No. I. Upon common infurances, or hazards of the firft clafs, within the city of Philadelphia, and the North- ern and Southern Liberties.
Brick or Stone houfes, or Stores.
Furniture or Merchandize not hereafter fpecified as extra hazardous, contained in Brick or Stone Houfes.
For fums not exceeding 8coo dollars at and after the rate of 30 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding 16cco dollars at and after the rate of 45 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding 25cco dollars at and after the rate of óo cents for every hundred dollars.
N. B. As the neighbourhood of framed buildings, or other circumftances, may render a rifque ineligible which is within the letter of thefe propofals, the company re- ferve a right to reject fuch an afiurance at pleafure.
No. II. - Upon hazards of the fecond clafs.
Houfes or Stores of which the walls are not wholly of Brick or Stone.
Furniture or merchandize, including extra hazardous Goods, as Pitch, tar, Turpentine, Wax, Hemp, Oil, Tallow, Spirituous Liquors, contained in houfes or ftores of which the walls are not wholly Brick or Stone.
Thefe laft recited extra hazardous articles in any building whatfoever.
Ships whilft building; the premifes and property therein contained of Carpenters, Joiners, Coopers, Ta- vernkeepers or Innholders, Stable keepers, Bakers, Ship Chandlers and Boat Builders, Malt Driers, Brew- ers, Tallow Chandlers, Sugar Bakers, Apothecaries, Chemifts, Diftillers, Printers, Oil and Colourmen, Chi- na, Clafs and Earthen ware Sellers.
Mills and Machinery ; Porcelain, Glafs and Pottery Wares in trade.
For fums not exceeding 8000 dollars, at and after the ate of 75 cents for every hundred dollars.
For fums not exceeding!16cco dollars, at and after the rate of 75 cents for every hundred dollars.
Conditions.
Ift. A written application muft be left at the Com p.a . ny's Office, ftating the fum defired to be infured, by whom, and a defcription of the kind of property, whe ther Buildings or Goods; what kind of Goods, and lotr much upon each Building, or the Goods in each, where there are out Houfes or Stores. "When Houthold Goods are intended to be infured, the application fsonld fpeci- fy as follows :
„192
PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
Dollart.
Ou Houthold Furniture & Linen
On Wearing Apparel
On Plate
On China and Glafs
On printed Books
On Liquors
2. The Premium muft be paid when the order is given and accepted, the Infurance to commence the inftant it is paid, and to continue in force fo long as the payment fhall be annually made at the Office before 5 o'clock, P. M. on the day when each revolution of the term is complete ; or if that day fhall happen on a Sunday or 4th July, or any other Holliday kept at the Office, then on the day preceding.
3. If any other infurance fhall be exifting on the fame property, notice thereof inuft be given with the order; otherwife the policy will be void.
4. Goods held in truft, or on Commiffion, muft be de- clared to be fo held, otherwife the Policy will not cover fuch property.
5. This company will not be accountable for any lof's or damage caufed by any Foreign invafion, or by any Mili- tary or ufurped Force, or by reafon of any Civil Con- motion.
6. Bills of Exchange, Bonds, Securities, Title Deeds, Ready Money, and Bank and Promiffory Notes, are not included under any Infurance. Paintings, Medals, Jew . els, Gems, Antique curiofities, and Mirrors, above Iol. each, mav be infured by fpecial Agreement.
7. No Iufurance will be made for a lefs term than one Year.
8. Perfons choofing to Infure for feven years, fhall be allowed one year's Premium by way of difcount ; alfo one-third of a year's Premium upon a triennial Infurance.
9. When any lofs by Fire is fultained on property in- fured at this Office, the Sufferer fhall in thirty days fur- nifh the beft documents he is able of the value of the Goods damaged or deftroyed; this afcertained, the lofs within the fum infured shall be paid without deduction, in thirty days after proof thereof.
N. B. It is expected a little experience may authorize the Company to extend affurance from Fire to other Ci- ties ; at preient they confine this branch of their bufi. nef's to Philadelphia and its vicinity in Pennfylvania. Fohu MVI. Nefbit, prefident. Joseph Ball, John Craig,
193
PHILADELPHIA REGISTER.
John Leamy, John Swanwick, Walter Stewart, Samuel Blodget, Magnus Miller, Thomas Fitzsimmons, William M' Murtrie, John Vaughan, Charles Pettit, John Rofs, Robert Ralfton, Francis Welt, Standish Forde, Peter Blight, Thomas M. Moore, Robert Smith, John Fry jun. Febu Hollingsworth, John Wilcoks, Thomas Tingey, Ar- chibald M.Call, Philip Nicklin.
Ebenezer Hazard, fecretary.
C c
A
SHORT ACCOUNT
OF
THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA 3c.
T H E city of Philadelphia, capital of the fate of Pennfylvania, and feat of government of the United States of North America, lies in Lat. 390 56 North and Long. 75° Weft from the meridian of London, upon the Weltern bank of the river Delaware, which is here about a mile in breadth, and about one hundred and twenty miles from the Atlantic Ocean, by the courfe of the bay and river, and about fifty -five miles from the fea, in a South-Eaftward direction. The Delaware is navigable from the fea to the falls of Trenton, about thirty miles above the city, by veffels of confiderable burthen; and by boats of twenty and thirty tons, in the time of frethes, near two hundred miles into the fate of New York.
It was laid out by William Penn, the firft' proprie- taxy and founder of the province, in the year 1683, and fettled by a colony from England, which arrived in that and the preceding years, and it was increafed by a con- ftant and regular infinx of foreigners to fo great a de- gree, that in less than a century, and within the life- time of the first perfon born within it of European pa- rents, it was computed to contain 6,coco houfes and 4o,coo inhabitants.
195
PHILADELPHIA.
The prefent number of boufes is about 9,000, and there are at prefent building in the city and fubarbs not lef's than 400.
The ground plot of the city is an oblong fquare, a- bout one mile North and South, and two miles Eaft and Weft, lying in the narroweft part of the ifthmus between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, about five miles in a right line above their confluence. The plain is fo nearly level, except upon the bank of the Delaware, that art and labour were neceffary to dig common few ers and water courfes in many places to drain the ftreeis. In the beginning of this fettlement it was expected that the fronts on both rivers would be firft improved for the convenience of trade and navigation, and that the buildings would extend gradually in the rear of each in- till they fhould meet and forin one town extending frem Eaft to Weft, but experience foon convinced the fettlers that the Delaware front was alone fufficient for quays and landing places, and that the Schuylkill lay at two great a diftance to form part of the town upon its banks ; whence it followed that the town increafed Northward and Southward of the original plot, upon the Delaware front, and now occupies a fpace near three miles in length, North and South, while the buildings in the middle where they are moft extended do not reach a mile from the Delaware.
The city has been twice incorporated, and the li - mits thereof reftrained to the oblong, originally laid out by William Penn without including the Northern or Southern fuburbs. This plot is interfected by a num- ber of ftreets at right angles with each other, nine of which run Eaft and Weft from Delaware to Schuylkill, and twenty-three North and South croffing the firft at right angles, forming one hundred and eighty-four fquares of lots for buildings. The ftreets running Laft and Weft are named (except High Street near the mid- dle of the city) from the trees found in the country on the arrival of the colony : Vine, Saffafras. Mulberry High, Chefnut, Walnut, Spruce, Pine, and Cedar ftreets, and thofe running North and South from their numeral order, Front, Second, Third, Fourth &c. to Broad Street, which is midway between the two rivers. In deeds and other defcriptive writings which require ex. actnefs, thefe ftreets have the Delaware or Schuskill prefixed to their numeral names, to diftinguifh to which they belong; as Delaware Second Street, &c. but as there are very few buildings Weltward of Broad Street this addition is never made in common converfation, but
196
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF
when they are named they are always underftood to be Delaware front unlefs Scuylkill is added.
Of thefe High Street is 100 feet, Broad Street 113, Mulberry 60, and all the others 50 feet wide. Within the improved parts of the city they are paved, in the middle with pebble ftones for carts and carriages which ufually contain three fifthis of the whole breadth, and on each fide with bricks for foot paffengets. Between the brick and ftone pavements are gutters paved with brick to carry of the water, and the foot-ways are defended from the approach of carriages, by rows of pofts plac- ed without the gutters, at the diftance of 10 cr 12 fect from each other.
Befides the forementioned main ftreets, there are ma- ny others not originally laid down in the plot ; the meft public of which are Water Street and Dock Street Water Street is abont 30 feet wide, running below the bank, at the diftance of about 40 feet Eaftward from the parallel to Front Street, extending from the North line of the city Southward, to the bridge over the dock, which was formerly a draw bridge, and retains that name in common ufe, altho' it was converted into a ftone arch above thirty years fince. From the bridge it is 40 feet wide in a right line to Pine Street, and leaves a row of houfes without yards, on the bank, in its whole length, between it and Front Street.
Southward of Pine Street there is an offset of about 80 feet Ealtward, and the ftreet from thence to Cedar Street is 45 feet wide and called Penn Street. This ftreet in the original plan was intended only for a cart way to accommodate the wharves and ftores to be erec- ted under the bank, and not to rife more than four feet above ir, fo as to leave the river open to the view from the Weft fide of Front Street : but the inhabitants were foon convinced that the ground on both ftreets was too valuable to be kept unimproved, in any degree, merely for the fake of a profpect, and now it is clofe built with lofty houfes (except a very few vacancies here and there ) throughout the whole front on both fides, and commo- dious wharves are extended into the river, that the 1 ... geft fhips that ufe the port, can lie in fafety to difcharge and receive their cargoes, and are defended from ile ice in the winter by the piers, made of logs, extending into the river, funk with ftone and filled with earth: fo as to be equally firm with the main land. This Street has been called in different parts King Street and Plumb Street, but thofe names are now difefed, and the whole
197
PHILADELPHIA.
ftreet is called Water Street, except that part called Penn Street between Pine & Cedar Streets.
Dock Street is the only crooked ftreet in the city ; beginning at the bridge in Front Street and extending North-Weftward in a ferpentine track, through two fquares acrofs Second and Walnut Streets, and termina- ting at Third Street. Another branch of it extends South-Weftward acrofs Spruce Street, and terminates at Second Street. The ground occupied by this Street and by an open fpace between it and Spruce Street, below the bridge was formerly a fwamp, and was given by Willi- am Penn to the corporation for the ufe of the city. It was intended as a place to dig a bafon and docks to fhel- ter the fhipping, but experience proved that fhips could be defended from the ice by the piers extended into the river, and that the dock could not be kept clean but at an expence far beyond its utility, it was therefore neglected till it became a nuifance offenfive to the fmell and injuri- ous to the health of the inhabitants and was by act of Af- fembly ordered to be arched over and covered with earth whereby the city has acquired a beautiful ftreet more than Ico feet in breadth towards the water, and not lefs than go in the narroweft part.
The number of the ftreets, lanes and alleys, laid out by the owners of the lots before they were built on, is too great to be enumerated here, there being fcarce a fquare that is not interfected by one or more of them, fome of them continued in a right line through feveral fquares and fo fpacious as to be eafily miftaken for main ftreets, others; only through one fquare .
This city was firft incorporated by charter under the great feal of the province, in the year 1701 : before which period it was called the town of Philadelphia. By this charter William Penn nominated the firft mayor, recor- der, aldermen and common councilmen, and granted them, amongft other privileges and franchifes that of electing others to fupply vacancies, and even to increafe their own number at pleafure. The public grounds were granted to them by the name of the mayor and commonalty of the city of Philadelphia, but the com- monalty had no fhare in the government or eftate of the city, the whole body being felf-elective, and not ac- countable to the citizens in any refpect. It would be difficult to account for fo extraordinary a charter from the wildom of William Penn did not tradition inform us that among the firft fettlers. were a confiderable number from the city of Bristol in England, whofe charter, gran-
198
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF
ted at an early period before the rights of the common- alty were well underftood, had been familiarized by ha- bit, which, induced them to requeft a fimilar one. A co- py of the Briftol charter was accordingly procured, and with little variations adopted. It was not long how- ever before the commonalty began to be diffatisfied with it, and to make frequent complaints to the affembly, of the abufes that were practifed ,under it ; many appear upon the minutes of the houfe. At an early period af- ter the charter, the legiflative powers of this corpora- tion were very limited. They could not levy a fhilling by taxes, for any ufe whatever, and could employ the in- come of the city eftates only for the ufe and embellifh- ment ofthe city, here we fee few monuments rai- fed to preferve the memory of that corporation. Al- though men highly diftinguifhed for integrity and abili- ties were elected into the office of the body politic, yet fuch is the nature of unlimited power, not accountable to the people, that it will divert the beft men from purpofes, which before they were invefted with that power, they would have highly approved. The jealou- fy which the citizens entertained of the corporation, pervaded the general affembly of the province, and when the lighting, watching and paving the city, became a de- firable object, the reprefentatives of the freemen would not entroft the corporation alone with the power of rai- fing or expending the money neceffary for thefe purpofes. They could not however caft fuch a reflection on the re. spectable characters of which that body was compofed, as wholly to veft thefe powers with others : they pur- fued a middle line, and conftituted two feperate bodies by the names of the city wardens and ftreet commiffio- ners, to the former of whom the lighting and watching, and to the latter the paving of the Streets was commit- ted. The mayor or recorder and four of the aldermen concurring with each body, in laying the taxes and pre- fcribing the mode of expending them ; and thus the ci- ty legiflation for thefe purpofes became compounded of two branches. The wardens and commiffioners im- mediately elected by the people in the fame manner as their reprefentatives in affembly, conftituted the do- mocratic, and the mayor and aldermen the ariftocratic branch. Thefe bodies, thus compounded, conducted the bufinefs committed to them, with great harmony, nor is there the leaft recollection of any difagreement between them. The taxes were laid with equality, col- ected with moderation, and expended for the real
19
PHILADELPHIA,
ufe and improvement of the city. One complaint only, had foundation which arofe from the nature rather than from any abufe of power ; the number of wardens and ftreet commiffioners was fo great, as at very moderate wages, to render thofe boards too expenfive.
For the honour of the late corporation it ought not to be omitted, that the mayors court was always filled with an able lawyer for the recorder, and another for the profecution of criminal offences ; and fuch was the orderly and upright administration of juftice in it, that no court in the province or perhaps in any other coun- try exceeded it.
The prejudices under which the old corporation laboured from its original conftitution, were fo ftrong that upon the revolution, the general affembly declared by an act paffed during their firft feffion. " That the powers and jurifdiction hitherto exercifed by the may- or, recorder and aldermen of the city of Philadelphia, were not founded on the authority of the people, and are therefore become null and void." Wherefore by that and feveral fubfequent acts, the powers of the cor- poration were diftributed between the fupreme execu- tive council, the city mnagiftrates and the wardens and ftreet commiffioners, who exercited them from the year 1777, to 1789. The prejudices which had no foundati- on as againft corporations in general, but only againft the conftitution of the late corporation of the city, were however fo ftrong, that it was with difficulty the people could be prevailed on to fubmit to a new incorporation of the city. The defects in the administration of juftice and governing the police of the city at length became fo glaring, that they were feen by all claffes of people, and their minds prepared for an act of incorporation. The general affembly in the winter feffions of 1789, fa- vouring the wifhes of the citizens, paffed an act intitled an act to incorporate the city of Philadelphia, which with a fupplement paffed in 1790, conftitutes the prefent city charter. By thefe acts
The magiftracy confifts of two branches : fifteen al- dermen are chofen by the freeholders to continue in office for feven years; who chufe a recorder from the citizens at large for feven years, and a mayor from their own number for one year. Thirty common coun- cil men are chofen by the citizens at large, enti- tled to vote for reprefentatives in affembly, to continue in office for three years ; thefe were intended to form'a balanced government upon the principle, that the choice by freeholders, and for a longer term would
200
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF
produce a more felect body of aldermen, and that the citizens at large would choofe characters fitter to repre- fent and form the popular branch of city government. Eight a dermen and fixteen common council men form a quorum or board to tranfact bufinefs, at which the may- or or recorder prefides ; they fit and deliberate together, but no act is legal, unleis, a majority of the aldermen, a majority of the common council men prefent, and the mayor or recorder concur.
That the gentlemen who have hitherto reprefented the citizens agreeably to this charter, have difcharged their duty with credit to themfelves and advantage to their constituents, is not difputed. Their impartial and expeditious adminiftration of juftice, and the very im- portant improvements which have fo rapidly taken place in Philadelphia, reflect upon them the higheft honour ; and indeed it may perhaps with fafety be afferted, that under their direction, the police of the city has become equal, if not fuperior to that of any other on the con- tinent. Some uneafinefs has however, arifen in the brealts of many individuals, with refpect to the mode of electing aldermen, which ,they reprefent, as being fub- verfive of republican principles-Every freeman fay they has the previledge of voting for members of the com- mon council, reprefentatives in the Affembly and fenate of the ftate and even for the governor and reprefentatives in Congrefs ; why then fhiould the right of electing al- dermen be vefted in the free holders alone ?
How far this reafoning may be juft, it is not for us to determine. It may however, be added, that on this fub- ject a petition was during the laft feffion prefented to the legiflature ; and there is no doubt, that when it fhall finally be difcuffed, it will be decided in fuch a manner as to give general fatisfaction.
A city court is held by the mayor, recorder and al- dermen four times a year, and holds cognifance of all crimes and mifdemeanors committed within the city.
A court of aldermen having cognifance of debts above forty fhillings, and not exceeding twenty pounds, is held every week beginning on Monday morning, and fetting by adjourments until the bufinefs of the week is finifhed.
Each alderman has feperate cognifance of debts under forty fhillings.
The number of inhabitants including the city and fu- burbs (including the diftrict of Southwark and the com. pactly built part of the Nothern Liberties, which to e.
221
PHILADELPHIA.
every purpofe but as their governments, are confidered. as parts of the city ) if found by the late cenfus to be 42, 400, there was then about 7oco houfes, ftores and work- fhops. The number has now increafed to about occo and there are at prefent about 400 building .- Hence if the number of inhabitants has increafed in the fame ratio as the houfes, which is at leaft highly probable, the number of citizens may be eftimated at about 55,000.
The buildings appropriated to public worfhip in the city and fuburbs are in number 28, and are as follows viz.
Of the Baptift Church one, German Calvinift one, Pro- teftant Epifcopal Church three, Friends meeting houfes five, of the German Lutherans two, Swedish Lutherans one, of the Hebrews one, of the Moravians one, of the Prefbyterians of different denominations fix, of the Ro- man Catholics three, and of the Univerfalifts one.
There are alfo lately erected two buildings by the blacks ; the one denominated the African Proteftant Epifcopal Church ; in which the minifters of the Epifco- pal churches occasionally officiate. At other times the ufual prayers & Liturgy are read by one oftheir elders. We are however informed that a young black of very confiderable abilities, who is now finithing his ftudies in the State of Maryland, will be foon ordained by the bithop of this ftate, and appointed to the care of that congregation.
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