USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 36
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These facts show also that Mr. Girard never did con- template a public highway along the Delaware front east of Water street. Another fact is deserving of no- tice. There is no city in the United States so well pro- vided as Philadelphia with the means to immediate egress and regress from the whaves into a public street like Water street, which is to be improved for this very purpose.
Between Cedar and Pine streets there are eight alleys. Between Pine and Spruce streets there are five alleys. Between Spruce and Walnut streets there are eight al- leys, beside the Drawbridge. Between Walnut and Chesnut streets there are two thorough cuts, besides other alleys leading into them. Between Chesnut and Market there are three thorough cuts besides alleys leading into them. Between Market and Arch streets there are six alleys. Between Arch and Race streets there are five alleys. Between Race and Vine street there are six alleys. These alleys are only from one hundred and eight feet to one hundred and six feet in length, and lead directly from the wharves at very con- venient distances into a public street.
The wharves are intended simply for commercial pur- poses, and no interference whatever with them can be permitted without a sacrifice of the commerce of the city. All that is wanted is a convenient method of get- ting from the wharves when paved, cleaned, and con- nected, and this is afforded by those numerous avenues already provided by the wisdom and foresight of our citizens. At present a variety of charges on trade are avoided, and the commerce of the city increased, by the conveniences afforded of landing flour, whiskey, linseed oil, mackerel, cotton, sugar, coffee, molasses, grain, salt, and western produce generally, besides a large amount of foreign and other articles landed at wharves fronting the stores where they are ware- housed. These advantages have also increased the va- lue of wharf property, and have induced many persons, in various branches of business, to locate themselves in stores immediately adjacent to the wharves. A public highway like the one proposed, would cut off all direct communication between the vessels and the stores, and at once render the employment of additional hands ne- cessary to discharge or load a vessel, and thus increase the cost, and of course diminish the commercial advan- tages of our port. Philadelphia maintains her present commerce only by her superior economy, and if that is taken away, business must naturally flow to New York and other ports more favourably situated than this city for commercial business.
Your memorialists, for these and other reasons which
121
PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCILS.
1833.1
they do not deem it necessary to press at this time, do not hesitate to say, that such a measure as that now be- fore your honourable bodies, would reduce at once the value of all wharf property, and strike a fatal blow at the commerce of our flourishing city.
It will be recollected, that the whole Delaware wharf front within the limits of the city, including the public as well as private wharres, is about 5,400 feet, and that it cannot be increased. Destroy its present accommo- dations, created at the expense of private individuals, and with private capital, and not by public liberality, and you injure this noble city, but you do not fulfil the will of Stephen Girard, who was too able a merchant not to have foreseen the consequences of such a mea- sure.
In his emphatic language, he says-" But if the said city shall knowingly and wilfully violate any of the con- ditions hereinbefore and hereinafter mentioned, then I give and bequeath the said remainder and accumula- tions to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the purposes of internal navigation. But your memorialists feel confident that this will never be done by your ho- nourable bodies.
Your memorialists, having thus stated their objections to the plan before Councils, beg leave (reserving all their rights to a full compensation for all damages which may be sustained by any of them) respectfully to sug- gest one which they believe will entirely fulfil the inten- tion of the testator.
1 To make the west line of the Delaware Avenue agreeably to a dotted line marked on the draft accompa- nying this memorial. This will save the front of the Fish market, S. Girard's new store, and several other valuable buildings.
2. Make the width only twenty-one feet, without any foot pavement.
3. Lay it out as a passage merely, agreeably to said plan, but not as a public or common highway, reserv- ing all the rights of the owners of wharves, together with the undisturbed use of them, for all commercial purposes as heretofore.
4. Let all the other directions of the testator relative to it be strictly fulfilled.
If this plan is adopted, the expense will be compara- tively small. The passage could be laid out without delay throughout the whole extent, and within a very short period could be made, curbed, lighted, and paved.
Your memorialists, therefore, most respectfully re- new their remonstrance against the passage of the pre- sent ordinance, and pray your honourable bodies to ask of the Legislature such amendments to the Act of the 24th March, 1832, as will make it conform to the Will of our deceased fellow citizen.
DESCRIPTION
Of the western line for Delaware Avenue, proposed by the owners and occupiers of wharf property on the river Delaware.
Beginning on the north side of Cedar street, at the distance of about twenty-one feet from the southeast corner of the building at the corner of Cedar street and the wharf, and continuing in a straight line so as to strike the northeast corner of the most projecting store be- tween Cedar and Lombard streets, and from thence in a continued straight line to Lombard street wharf. This gives twenty-one feet clear throughout.
Beginning on the north side of Lombard street, in a line with the building at the south-west corner of Pine street and the wharf, and continuing that line to Pine street. This gives twenty-one feet in the clear, except at the part of the head of the first dock above Lombard street, which will only require a wharf-log or two to give the width of twenty one feet.
From Pine to Walnut take the line understood to be proposed by the plan of the Committee of Councils, which takes the fronts of the stores as they now stand VOL. XII. 16
between these streets as the west line, except in the cases of Paul Beck's stores next to Pine street, and Richard Willing's above Spruce street, the projections of which are to be cut off, and of the stores at the south- west corner of Walnut and the wharf, which are a few feet west of this line. This gives twenty-one feet throughout, except in one or two instances where an additional wharf log will be required, and at the Draw- bridge, which the city authorities are now filling np.
From Walnut to Chesnut take the east line of Tho- mas P. Cope's stores, and the adjoining stores, to Ches- nut street, as proposed by the Committee of Councils.
Then beginning on the north side of Chesnut street, in a line with Paul Beck's stores between Chesnut and Market,and continue that line to the division line between Paul Beck and George Blight, then curve so as to re- move the five feet of wall projecting from Geo. Blight's southern building, and so as to leave untouched all his other buildings, until you bring it in a line with his tavern, and continue that as the west line to Market street.
This fills up the Crooked Billet dock, and saves a very valuable and expensive building on Market street.
Take the line of the present buildings on the north side of Market street until you reach the property late Bickley's now the City's. This will leave the whole front of Market street and the Fish Market as they now stand, forming a projecting centre in the line of the wharf front. Take down so much of Bickley's stores as will bring them on a line with S Girard's new store, then curve at the corner of said store, and take the east front of S. Girard's old store as the west line, and con- tinue that line to Arch street.
This leaves S. Girard's stores and wharves untouch- ed, and fills up the heads of the two docks to the north of them.
From Arch to Race street take the line proposed by the Committee of Councils, which leaves all the stores and buildings untouched, and fills up the head of one dock, and will add only a wharf log or two in some other places to get the twenty-one feet.
From Race to Vine street take a line beginning at the southeast corner of Sarchet's store, and running to the southeast corner of Jacob Ridgway's store, late Flintham's, and from thence in a straight line to Vine street.
Wherever the width of the wharves will permit to leave the foot pavements as they now stand, between the west line and the stores, and where the width per- mits and there are no foot pavements, to leave from three to five feet between the west line and the stores, which the owners may use for that purpose if they deem it expedient.
It will be perceived that this is the cheapest and most commodious location for Delaware Avenue that can be adopted.
The subjoined communication was received and read, but was not acted on.
To the IIonorable the Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia.
Gentlemen -- The subscriber having taken a part in the deliberations of the holders of property on the De- laware Front, whose memorial will be before you this evening, has reason for dissenting from the committee in the line they have proposed for Delaware Avenue in two places; but approves of the proposed line every where else. The first objection is to the line proposed in the square between South and Pine street, the second to the line between Chesnut and High street. I offer at present no reasons why I dissent from the line pro- posed by the committee for those two squares, and only say that I have full confidence that Councils will pro- tect the rights of individuals and show no partiality.
I am with great respect,
Your humble servant,
PAUL BECK, Jr.
122
PITTSBURG AND HER COAL SMOKE.
[AUGUST
COMMON COUNCIL.
The President submitted a certified statement of the accounts of the Executors of the last will and testament of Stephen Girard, from December 20, 1831, to May 15, 1833, by which it appears that the money and pro- perty by them received was $4,664,619 80; amount ex- pended $4,194, 168 40-leaving a balance in the hands of the Executors of $470,451 40. Appended, was the following
SCHEDULE
Showing the cost of the Real Estate of the late Stephen Girard, purchased between the years 1785, and 1832, viz:
Cost of the real estate in the city and Li-
berties, including banking house and bank estate $1,291,198 53
Cost of the real estate in Passyunk and
Moyamensing townships 230,944 45
1,522,142 98
Cost of 200,370 arpens or acres of land in Ouachita county, Louisiana, 42,680 91
Cost of 29,4942 acres of coal land in Schuylkill county 175,246 32
Cost of 6,000 acres of land in Erie coun- ty 1,764 25
1,741,834 46
Amount of the personal property which has passed through the hands of S. Gi- rard's Executors, up to this date, as per account filed with the Register
4,577,330 02
Cost of the real estate as above
1,741,834 46
6,319,164 48
Assessed value of the real estate in the city and county of Philadelphia, for the purposes of ascertaining the collateral inheritance tax thereon.
Walnut ward 167,000 00
Pine ward
119,300 00
Middle ward
285,776 CO
Chesnut ward
69,500 00
Iligh street ward
293,480 00
Passyunk township 94,410 00
Unincorporated part of Penn township
30,000 00
First ward, Spring Garden
16,500 00
Third ward, Spring Garden
2,400 00
Sixth ward, Northern Liberties
88,300 00
Moyamensing township 16,935 00
South Mulberry ward 6,000 00
$1,189,631 00
Philadelphia, May, 1833.
Mr. Smith presented a communication from Paul Beck, Jr. expressing his dissent, in part, from the pro- ceedings of property-owners and others, on the river front, in relation to Delaware Avenue, which was refer. red to the committee having that subject in charge.
Mr. Maitland presented a long memorial from citizens owning property on the river front, praying that Dela . ware Avenue may not be opened as a public highway. Referred to the committee on Delaware Avenue.
On motion of Mr. Lapsley,
Resolved, That the committee on Washington and Rittenhouse Squares be directed to make report on all matters referred to them, at the next meeting of Coun cils.
On motion of Mr. Aken,
Resolved, That the committee on the State House and Independence Square, be directed to act on all
matters referred to them, and make report at the next meeting of Councils.
On motion of Dr. Huston,
The consideration of the resolution from Select Coun- cil, in reference to changing the name of South Alley to Commerce street, was, after some debate, in which Dr. Huston, and Messrs. Chandler, Haines, Smith, Aken, and Maitland, took part, postponed for the present.
On motion of Mr. Lapsley,
The Select Council was informed that the Common Council was in waiting to receive the members of Se- lect Council, for the purpose of proceeding to the elec- tion of a Trustee of the Girard College, in the place of John C. Stocker, Esq. deceased.
The Select Council being introduced, the President, Joseph R. Ingersoll, Esq. took the chair. Messrs. J. P. Wetherill of the Select Council, and Joseph Smith, of the Common Council, were appointed tellers, and an election for Trustees of the Girard College was entered upon by ballot.
The result of the first balloting was reported by Mr. Wetherill, as follows-
Alexander Bache, 9 votes.
Josiah Randall, 5 do.
Nathan Bunker, 3 do.
R. E. Griffith, 1 do. -
James S. Smith, 1 do.
-
19
Neither of the candidates having received a majority of the whole number of votes, the President declared there was no election. A second ballot was entered upon, which resulted in the choice of Alexander Bache, Esq. to wit -:
Alexander Bache,
10 votes.
Josiah Randall, 4 do.
Nathan Bunker, 2 do.
R. E. Griffith, 1 do.
James S. Smith, 1 do.
John H. Dullis, 1
do.
19
Whereupon Councils adjourned.
PITTSBURG AND HER COAL SMOKE.
The opinion that the sulphur, disengaged by the con- sumption of stone coal, serves a valuable purpose in checking the progress of disease among us, is by no means a new one, got up to prepare our citizens to meet with confidence, the advance of the Asiatic Cholera. In 1826, Mr. Samuel Jones prepared a Directory of this city, and Dr. W. H. Denny, furnished him a communi- cation upon the salubrity of this place, from which we make the following extracts, which will probably be interesting to many. What was then theory, or at least founded on a more limited experience, has, we think, been recently strongly substantiated. We believe if the Doctor had said " there is no ague and fever," in- stead of " scarcely any," he would have more precise- ly expressed the truth. It does seem, to us, that a case of ague and fever has not occurred here within the range of our recollection, which is by no means short .- Pitts- burg Gazette.
"Of all the great western towns, Pittsburg is the farthest removed from the baneful exhalations of the swampy margin of the Mississippi, and accordingly enjoys a greater exemption from those diseases, which, during the summer and autumn, prevail even as high up as Cincinnati. Surrounded, too, by hills and cultivated lands, and free from stagnant water, there are no local sources of disease. The smoke of bituminous coal is antimiasmatic. It is sulphurous and antiseptic, and hence it is, perhaps, that no putrid disease has ever been known to spread in the place. Strangers, with
123
BIOGRAPHY OF F. A. O. PASCALIS, M. D.
1833.]
weak lungs, for a while find their coughs aggravated by the smoke, but nevertheless, asthmatic patients have found relief in breathing it. The prevailing complaints are those which characterize the healthiest situations of the same latitude elsewhere in America-in winter, pneumonia and sore throat, and in summer, billious af- fections. The goitre, or swelled neck, has disappear- ed; the few cases which formerly excited the appre- hensions of the stranger, no longer exist to gratify his curiosity. In comparison with the eastern citics, there is much less pulmonary consumption; less scrofula and less disease of the skin. There is scarcely any ague and fever, and no yellow fever. In comparison with western cities, including Cincinnati, there is less bilious fever, less ague and fever, and less cholera infantum, or the summer complaint of children. We are the inter- mediate link of disease, as well as of commerce, We have less hepatic disease than the west, and less pulmo- nic disease than the east.
" The abundance, cheapness, and consequent general and even profuse use of the best fuel, is certainly one great cause of our superior healthfulness. The low fevers so prevalent in the large cities, among the poor, during a hard winter, and the ague so common in wet seasons, in the eastern counties of the state, where wood is scarce, are here in a great degree avoided by the universal practice of keeping good coal fires late in the spring and early in the autumn, and indeed at all seasons when the weather is damp or inclement.
"Our exemption from the ague, and epidemic dysen- teries, in comparison with the settlements in the lower counties, and the eastern vallies, may be accounted for also, in part, by the scarcity of mill dams and stagnant water, in a country where in the summer, milling for the most part, is done by steam, and where the mill streams generally dry up at the season most likely to produce disease.
' In the whole, with regard to the health of Pittsburg, and indeed, of the whole western section of Pennsylva- nia, it may be said, that no part of the United States is more healthy,and that the greater part will bear no com- parison with it in point of salubrity."
From the New York Commercial Advertiser. BIOGRAPHY.
Felix Alexunder Ouviere Puscalis, M. D., &c., whose death was recently mentioned in this paper, was born at the town of Aix, in Ancient Provence, in 1762, and was educated in the excellent schools of that place until he was prepared to enter the University of that city. When he graduated, he took the first prize of honour, which distinction introduced him to the celebrated Professor Darluc, a botanist and professor of Natural History, who lost his life in a tour to the Alps in making some experiments on electricity. Although at this time inclined to the study of medicine, Mr. Pascalis accepted a clerical benefice which was then in the gift of his family. After this he studied divinity three years, on a foundation established by the Archbishop of that de- partment ;- still his partiality for medicine and natural philosophy was so strong, that his mind was occupied with the thoughts of this science while he was on a tour through France and Italy. He was now licenced to preach, and delivered several eulogiums and charity discourses; but he was drawn, however, from his cleri- cal pursuits, by attending his older brother's lectures on physical science.
He was indulging in the pursuits of general know- ledge, and making himself a physician, when the revo- lution of 1789 broke out in the South of France. His brother was decidedly attached to the royal party-but the subject of this sketch was an advocate of liberal principles, and with youthful ardour joined the demo- cracy of the country. His active mind could never be quiet, and he dashed out into the literary world, in a work, on the celibacy of the clergy. The essay made
a great noise, and the Archbishop of Belloi excommu- nicated the young ecclesiastic, who had dared to speak his mind on such a delicate subject. In a few days the Reverend Prelate was obliged to fly his country. The subject of this sketch now determined to make medi- cine a profession, and on becoming acquainted with a surgeon of the army, he went with him to Port au Prince.
In this place he became known, and was engaged by Boyer and Chanlatte as a commissioner to repair to France to solicit aid for the whites and mulattoes against the insurgent slaves. The commissioners arrived at Paris just two months before the arrest of the King. They were introduced to the Assembly, but soon the flood of Jacobinism overwhelmed every thing, and Pascalis thought himself fortunate in effecting his es- cape to London, and from thence he sailed to Jamaica; -here he was suspected and underwent a rigid exami- nation which resulted in his release and honour. The governor, understanding his whole course, found him a passage to the United States in an English brig. The war was raging between England and France. On his voyage, as he came near the American shores, the brig was chased by a French Republican frigate, and believ- ing it impossible to escape from her, he and several passengers stepped into an open boat, with a few arti- cles of clothing and food, and left the brig.
She was taken, but the next day the adventurers in the boat arrived at Philadelphia, or its vicinity. Wben he left the English brig he destroyed his papers and charged his paternal to his maternal name which he has ever since retained. This was in the year 1793. He had letters of recommendation to President Washington from several French gentlemen of distinction, and soon became acquainted with the medical faculty of that ci- ty, who have long been distinguished for their learning. In about two months after the Doctor's arrival, the yel- low fever broke out in Philadelphia and spread death and terror through the land. Pascalis had become ac- quainted with Dr. Deveze, who liad fied from St. Do- mingo, and who had the reputation of being skilful in cases of the yellow fever, having practised many years at Cape Francaise. The hospital was put under his care and Dr. Pascalis was made an associate, for he was deeply read in the history and nature of the disease, as it had appeared in different ages and countries. He had satisfied himself that the yellow fever was not con- tagious, and he wrote several essays upon the subject which did much towards allaying the fears of the peo- ple; and such was the effect of the writings of Pascalis and others, that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in 1802, altered their quarantine law, a majority of that body having become non-contagionists.
In 1805, Doctor Pascalis was sent by Mr. Jefferson, in the United States' ship John Adams, to Spain, to get further light upon the yellow fever. How much infor- mation he derived from this medical voyage, the writer is unable to say, but on such a mind as his, nothing could be lost.
On his return in 1806, Doctor Pascalis took up his re- sidence in New York. The next year he was made physician to the public charities. In 1812, he became one of the three editors of the Medical Repository, and continued his labours for five years. This work is too well known to the public to require any observations on its merits in this place. Doctor Pascalis received the two prizes from medical institutions, in this country, offered for the best essays on given subjects; one from Yale College, and the other from the University of Pennsylvania, which, in both instances, were followed by honorary degrees from those highly respectable insti- tutions.
For several years past, Dr. Pascalis has been indefa- tigable in introducing into this country the Chinese mulberry tree, and in giving the public the most exten- sive information on the proper methods of feeding the silk-worm, and winding the silk.
124
NOTES OF A TOUR .- HUNTINGDON COUNTY, PA.
[AUGUST
His thoughts were occupied upon the subject until the hour of his death, even when his senses had fled. He was a man of genius-fruitful in suggestions, and persevering in research. He left but few subject un- touched, and it will be confessed by all, that he threw much light on many obscure matters. He loved his profession to enthusiasm, and pursued it every day of his existence. He considered it as embracing all the laws of matter and mind, and he thought that a physi- cian should interrogate nature at noon-day and at mid- night, and faithfully record her responses, however startling they might seem to the timid, or however much opposed to professional dogmas.
NOTES OF A TOUR. To the Editors of the Philadelphia Gazette.
BLAIRSVILLE, June 18th, 1833.
Gentlemen,-I address you now from a town, which as you see it marked on the map, is a place of minor consideration, but which in reality, considered as a point in the chain of public improvements which connects the eastern and western parts of the state, is of vast import- ance. Blairsville, a few years since, consisted of a so- litary public house, at which the traveller across the mountains might stop to refresh himself and his beast- now it contains a large number of substantially built and handsome brick edifices-several churches-a market and school house, and not less than four or five well kept hotels. It has sprung up suddenly, but its dura- tion will not be the less permanent.
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