Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/230

 186 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [Sept., by the efforts in this direction — baffled oft and long — that the noble and patri- otic spirit of the people is deadened. What Americans do, must be done quickly. Let us organize ; procure a charter ; and go to work ! What say you? Yours, for Monumental History, GEORGE F. GORDON. Philadelphia, Pa., August 21th, 1868. No. 240 South Fifth street. Charles J. Ltjkens, Esq. Dear Sir : The corvette Kensington was par- tially owned by my late father, Mark Richards; and, owing to the inability of the Mexican Government to pay for her, the vessel was so long at the wharf, that some of her timbers rotted, and she underwent extensive repairs. I have been aboard of her several times; and her make, equipments, and general appurtenances were worthy of the eminent mechanics by whom she was launched. Horace Marshall, of Virginia, formerly a merchant of Fredericksburg, a long- tried friend of my father, was sent to the Dey of Algiers, to offer the vessel ; but this gentleman — who was the nephew of Chief Justice Marshall — never re- turned, the ship being supposed to have foundered at sea ; and then — after wait- ing a long time — the vessel was, through the intervention of Baron Krudener, then the representative of the imperial government, sold to Russia for $200,000. Beyond cavil, she was a magnificent little man-of-war, thoroughly adapted to her object, and yet apparently better fitted for a pleasure yacht. She, literally, " Walked the waters, like a thing of life. " This in satisfaction of your late re- quest. Very respectfully yours, G. W. RICHARDS. THE WANTS OF WEST PHILADELPHIA. " j^. MPLE drainage is now needed in ! J_A_ West Philadelphia: the whole of that part of the city south of Market street, and as far west as Thirty-eighth, is without a culvert, the water finding its way to the Schuylkill, through trunks, under cellars and streets, and by the tor- tuous windings of some old water-course. The great improvements now being made, from Thirty-second to Thirty- fifth, and from Chestnut to Walnut street, have no sewers wherewith to connect the drainage. We understand, t'.iat Walnut street, from Thirty-second to Thirty-fourth, was vacated for the city, and a petition for a sewer therein granted by Councils, some time ago. Why is it not commenced, and the street graded and put in condition at once, so it can be paved before cold weather? What is the reason the city does not grade and pave Woodland street, from Market street south to Woodland Ceme- tery, as authorized to do by act of As- sembly ? The rapid growth of the Twenty-fourth Ward demands it at once. Water-pipes, in all those streets where improvements are making, should be laid at once, so that parties can finish grading, and pave before cold weather. Great complaint is made bjr builders, in. the Twenty-fourth Ward, that the3 r are met, in every City Department, with delays and obstacles to important city improvements. One party that we know, is actually grading streets at his own expense, because it is impossible to get city officials to do their duty. West Philadelphia is to-day the most rapidly improving section of our city. Beautiful and costly residences are springing up, ,as if by magic. Good sewers, water-pipes, gas-pipes, grading, curbing, and paving, are absolute neces- sities, and now, instead of red-tapism throwing obstacles in the way of ; this great expansion, destined to swell the revenues of the city, it behooves every Councilman and city official to assist the projectors of these great enterprises in the full and rapid completion of all be- longing to the best finished streets. B.