cottage, the first brick house built in this state, from its original location on Letitia street, near Second and Market streets to Fairmount Park. Many of the business and commercial interests were gradually working westward from the Delaware River and the government recognizing this change removed the General Postoffice in 1884 from Chestnut street below Fifth to the new building at Ninth and Chestnut. The Pennsylvania Railroad station at Broad and Market streets was formally opened in 1883 and trains of the entire system brought passengers from every point of the country to the very heart of the city. On March 12, 1888, one of the greatest blizzards of the century occurred. It was general in its scope and did great damage throughout the entire country. In this city business was completely paralyzed. The railroads were unable to remove a train for several days while the street car traffic was completely stopped for a long period. Always the originator and leader in matters pertaining to medical science, Philadelphia was the first to have an Institute of Anatomy. This was made possible by the Wister Endowment to the University of Pennsylvaina and in 1892, this useful and necessary school, the first of its kind in the world, was founded. In 1893, the Reading Railroad Company, which had for a long time been endeavoring to reach the centre of the city, formally opened the Reading Terminal, and the two great trunk lines reaching the main business street, near the City Hall, were a great convenience to travellers. One of the noteworthy events during the year 1895 was the visit of Li Hung Chang, Viceroy of China and his suite to Philadelphia. As personal representative of the Emperor of that country he had come to America to investigate the institutions of the Western hemisphere with the idea of installing modern methods into the effete East. He had special instructions to visit Cramp's ship yard, but through some error in the plans of reception, he was unable to view that great industrial plant. Baldwin's Locomotive Works were also given the go-by because the illustrious guest would not forego his afternoon tea in order to visit the establishment. Thus was lost to China a personal knowledge of two great industrial works of the world. Despite these breaks in the programme Li Hung Chang greatly enjoyed his visit. He was accorded every honor by the city officials and the prominent gentlemen who had been selected to receive him, and left the city with the highest opinion of its hospitality and the greatest respect for its institutions and industries. The same year marked an epoch in the city's commercial history. This was the opening of the Philadelphia Bourse which was erected on the site of the old Fifth Street Market. The Bourse, the only one in America and the largest in the world, was the creation of George E. Bartol, who after visiting all the Bourses of Europe organized a company for the erection of a building to shelter all the exchanges of the city. While the original plan was not consummated several of the exchanges now use the building. The upper floors are used for office purposes and the basement for machinery displays and it has come to be one of the busiest marts in the entire country. The dedication of the Washington Monument brought President McKinley to the city when that handsome shaft was unveiled at the Green street entrance to Fairmount Park, and he was also present at the dedication of the Grant Monument. Both these occasions were notable events in the city's history and the large gatherings demonstrated the love for the President who was renominated at the first National Republican Convention held here in many years. That convention, it might be said, made Theodore Roosevelt an international characHe had been discredited by the controlling political powers in his own state, but had developed a strength that his opponents could not ignore. It was deemed expedient by them to give him the second place on the national ticket, the belief, based on previous experience, being that a man consigned to the Vice-presidency, was virtually relegated to obscurity, as few of the incumbents of the office were heard of during their term and never afterwards. The unfortunate death of President McKinley brought Roosevelt to the Presidency, however, and he quickly upset precedent, and was nominated and elected to succeed himself four years later. Speaking of the visit of President McKinley, recalls the visit of President Cleveland to this city. He had come to Philadelphia to participate in a celebration and was afterwards given a reception at the City Hall. The rooms then occupied by the Building Commission, now used by the Recorder of Deeds, had been set aside for the purpose and the long line of people who had come to shake the distinguished visitor's hand entered by the door leading from the Broad street corridor and the exit was by a temporary stairway placed at one of the windows opening on South Penn Square. The usual greetings, sedate and dignified, were given the President as each visitor grasped his hand, but it remained for a red-haired woman of large proportions, to enliven the otherwise quiet proceedings. This she did by throwing her arms around the President's neck and kissing him squarely in the mouth. Mr. Cleveland blushed and the vast throng, after it had recovered from its surprise, broke into applause and laughter, while the bestower of the hearty kiss hastily departed, perhaps in after years to tell her offspring how she had kissed the President of the United States. The successful ending of the Spanish-American War was an occasion of thanksgiving in Philadelphia. Many of her sons had entered the army and navy and the events of the fortunately short conflict was a matter of great interest in the city. When peace was declared it was decided to appropriately observe the event and on October 25th and 27th, 1898, a "Peace Jubilee Celebration" was held. The following year the National Export Exposition was held. It was the first event of its kind in the commercial history of the United States, and accomplished more for the extension of American trade in foreign, countries than had resulted from half a century of previous effort. The City Government had removed to the new City Hall in 1895, and in 1899 the building was magnificently illuminated by thousands of electric lights, the occasion being the starting of the great clock. The officials and large corps. of employees had by this time adjusted themselves to their handsome and commodious offices and the vast business of the municipality was moving smoothly and without friction. The immense building has never ceased to be a sort of wonder to visitors, who daily flock to the tower, where the magnificent view of the vast city and the surrounding territory, teeming with industrial activity is one of the finest in the entire country. The first mayor under the Bullitt Bill was Edwin H. Fitler, a manufacturer who had previously taken little interest in politics. As the new charter made many changes in the city government it was deemed expedient to start the new regime under the direction of a man of known business ability, and Mr. Fitler was selected. He was succeeded by Edwin S. Stuart, afterwards Governor of the State. Then followed Charles F. Warwick, a lawyer who had previously been Assistant District Attorney and City Solicitor. The next incumbent of the office was Samuel H. Ashbridge who had been Coroner for several years, and he was followed by another lawyer, John Weaver. These were all Republicans in politics, but the control of the city government by that party passed with the election of Rudolph Blankenburg. Mayor Blankenburg was a merchant who had been identified originally with the Commitee of One Hundred and every reform movement since. Of the coterie of ex-mayors under the Bullitt Bill, but three survive: Stuart, Weaver and Reyburn, while William B. Smith is the sole survivor of those who sat in the mayor's chair previous to that period. Since the adoption of the form of government provided by the Bullitt Bill, there have been some changes effected by legislation, but as a whole it has withstood criticism. It is, however, a question whether the one term it stipulates for the mayor, is a good feature. Of course, it is conceded that an astute politician, with a control over all the political machinery incidental to the office, could remain indefinitely in power, but on the other hand, a sound and progressive official finds the fouryear term too short to institute and carry out the reforms or changes to which he may have been pledged for no sooner are his policies fairly under way than he must retire. CHAPTER XXIX. EDUCATIONAL ERECTION OF LOFTY BUILDINGS. CITY CLUBS. BIRTHPLACE OF THE FIRST BUILDING S RE-UNION OF BLUE AND GRAY IN 1913. TEEL construction made the erection of lofty buildings possible, and, advanced artistic taste completely changed the old style of exterior decoration so that in the decade following the closing of the Centennial, the appearance of the centre of the city was entirely changed. An appearance of plain solidity had previously been sought after but the new school of construction was productive of buildings of great beauty and grace and what was more essential, better light and ventilation. In this class are the Land Title and Trust Company building, that of the Real Estate Trust Company, the Stephen Girard, the Lafayette, the Franklin Bank, the Morris, the Commonwealth Trust and scores of other structures that the constantly increasing army of professional and business men has made necessary. The hotels have also undergone a wonderful change, the most improved type being represented by the Bellevue-Stratford, the Ritz-Carlton, the Walton, the Adelphi and many commercial hotels, the latest of these to be erected being the Vendig. The churches have kept pace with the spirit of progress and many beautiful edifices have been erected in various parts of the city. The colleges, hospitals and charitable institutions have spent large sums in erecting new buildings or adding to and remodeling old ones until those essential adjuncts to a large city are as complete as it is possible to make them. The city parks are being constantly added to, either by bequest or purchase and the movement for a "city beautiful" has resulted in the opening of several boulevards that give Philadelphia a decidedly European appearance. The clubs of the city are among the best and most select in the United States and many of them have most luxurious homes. The Union League with its new addition, running through to Fifteenth street, is one of the largest, most homelike and the best patronized of any in the city, while the handsome new home of the Manufacturers' Club, costing $1,000,000, at Broad and Walnut streets, is possibly the most advanced in appointments and conveniences. This building was erected on the site of the old Bellevue Hotel, where the Clover Club met for many years and it was at the dinners of that famous organization that the celebrities of the world gathered in the old building which passed out of existence when the magnificent Bellevue-Stratford was erected. The property adjoining on the west, where the Manufacturers' Club was formerly located, is now occupied by the new Stock Exchange Building, the advent of which is gradually changing the character of the locality. When the Stock Exchange removed from Third street on a former occasion and then returned to that one-time famous financial centre, it was thought it would never again depart from what was conceded a permanent home. No one dreamed 1 it would go so far westward and when the move was finally decided upon it was thought many of the old financial firms and institutions would follow, but there has been no general movement along that line and the district east of Fifth street remains the money centre, although Third street, long referred to as the Wall street of Philadelphia, gives little evidence of its once great power in the financial world. The ceaseless changes in localities has naturally been attended by changes in the character of the population. New and advanced methods have brought new schools of professional and business men and this is especially noticeable in the last score of years which has witnessed an evolution in politics and the passing of such leaders as Stokley, McManes, Leeds, Rowan, McMullen and Ryan. In running over the names of some of those prominent in political life of the past decade, Col. William B. Mann is recalled. He was noted for his wit and keen repartee and was a raconteur of great merit. On one occasion he attended a dinner at the House of Correction at which George H. Stuart, an ardent temperance advocate, was also present. The occasion was one where an Ohio Legislative Delegation was visiting the city's penal institutions, and Mr. Stuart, in explaining the absence of any liquor on the dinner table, stated that never within the history of the institution had wine or other strong drink been served. He commended the managers for this exclusion and quoted Scripture to justify it. After Mr. Stuart finished his remarks, Colonel Mann arose and said that he had read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and found no instance where the Patriarchs of old asked for water. "With but one exception," said Colonel Mann, "and that was Dives who was in hades where he ought to be." The state has also received the attention of the Grim Reaper and there are but few survivors of its once notable men. Out of its list of Governors there are but three living who retired after serving their terms. These are William A. Stone, Samuel W. Pennypacker and Edwin H. Stuart. The name "City of Homes" as applied to Philadelphia is no misnomer. The desire to own property which began in the days of the thrifty colonists has been fostered by the building associations which had their birthplace here. The first in the United States was organized here in 1831, and since that time ownership in 300,000 homes and other buildings has been acquired by members of these cooperative associations. The number of these societies in the Commonwealth is now about 1,800, with nearly $250,000,000 assets-a wonderful aid to the thrifty in husbanding savings and acquiring homes. Naturally a city of large population and immense business interests, requires a complete banking system and this Philadelphia possesses, having thirty-two banks and sixty trust companies. These concerns are all prosperous, which is not wonderful when it is realized that according to the last census Philadelphia had an annual production of $746,076,000. The number of establishments were 8,379, and the number of employees was 251,884, and the wages paid $126,381,000. When this is added to the millions of dollars invested in stocks and outside corporations, it makes a sum total that requires a vast amount of bank care. While Philadelphia has been forging ahead and keeping pace with the commercial marts of the world, the trade and industrial centres throughout the state |