Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/413

 PHILADELPHIA 399 city gas works to secure the best improvements then effected in the manufacture of coal gas in European cities, and they have from the outset furnished gas cheaper than in any other American city. Philadelphia has a large num- ber of markets, some of which are of large size and superior character. The city owns some of them, but most have been built by in- corporated companies. The assessed value of property in 1875 was $575,283,968, of which $520,594,067 was city property, assessed at $1 90 per $100; $33,985,746 suburban, as- sessed at $1 26-|; and $20,704,155 farm, as- sessed at $0 95. The tax produced by these rates amounted to $10,518,462 86. The true value of property in 1874 was estimated at $1,025,785,831. The receipts into the city treasury during that year amounted to $15,- 535,918 15, of which $10,755,726 42 were derived from taxes, $2,135,950 from loans, and $2,644,241 73 from miscellaneous sources. The payments amounted to $16,148,099 59. The principal items were as follows : warrants of previous years, $2,378,042 72 ; loans, $3,- 036,714 21 ; interest on city loans, $3,654,466 58; interest on indorsed warrants, $116,945 07 ; judgments, executions, &c., $122,723 70 ; sinking funds, $681,987; city commissioners, $353,507 76 ; markets, &c., $102,151 99 ; city solicitor, $179,416 54; fire commission, $299,- 567 23; highways, $1,118,096 12; board of health, $200,209 13 ; lighting the city, $332,- 676 06 ; police, $632,704 28 ; guardians of poor, $355,169 26 ; schools, $859,781 17 ; water, $416,386 29 ; park commission, $108,- 168 57; public buildings, $618,293 76. The funded debt on Jan. 1, 1875, was $55,272,- 132 40 ; debt guaranteed by the city for gas loans, $4,999,400; floating debt, $4,018,931 25 ; total, $64,290,463 65. The sinking fund amounted to $9,047,556 50, and the' cash in the treasury to $1,976,019 60. The entire assets of the city, including public buildings, public grounds, &c., were estimated at $77,- 624,025 10. The post office department, be- sides the main office, embraces 20 stations or sub-offices, designated by letters of the alpha- bet, and also known locally by separate names. There are 880 letter boxes and 207 carriers, 157 attached to the main office and 50 to the stations at West Philadelphia, Port Richmond, Frankford, Germantown, Chestnut Hill, and Manayunk, the area covered by the carrier service being 67f sq. in. The other 14 sta- tions have only a superintendent, viz. : Ta- cony, Holmesburg, Torresdale, Byberry, Bus- tleton, Somerton, Oxford Church, Olney, Cres- centville, Fox Chase, Milestown, Verree's Mills, Wheat Sheaf, and Falls of Schuylkill. The benevolent institutions of Philadelphia are numerous. The Pennsylvania hospital, founded in 1752, has spacious buildings occu- pying the square bounded by 8th, 9th, Spruce, and Pine streets. It is supported almost en- tirely by voluntary contributions, and since its origin has expended more than $1,200,000 in 656 VOL. xni. 26 the support of the sick and injured. A sepa- rate insane department (Pennsylvania hospital for the insane) was established in 1841 ; it has fine buildings and grounds in West Philadel- phia. The Friends' asylum for the insane at Frankford, opened in 1817, has large and beau- tiful grounds and accommodations for about 100 patients, who are chiefly supported by their own means, but in some cases receive as- sistance from the funds of the asylum. There are more than 40 hospitals, dispensaries, and lying-in asylums, among which may be men- tioned the hospital of the university of Penn- sylvania and the Philadelphia and Presbyte- rian hospitals, in West Philadelphia; the Wills ophthalmic hospital, in Race street opposite Logan square ; the children's hospital, in 22d street near Locust; the German hospital, in Corinthian avenue on the corner of Girard avenue; the Jewish hospital, in West Phila- delphia; the charity hospital of Philadelphia, in Hamilton street; the Episcopal hospital, in Front and Huntingdon streets; St. Joseph's (Roman Catholic) hospital, in Girard avenue* near 16th street; the homoeopathic hospital, connected with the Hahnemann medical col- lege; the woman's hospital, connected with the woman's medical college ; the Philadel- phia dispensary, in S. 5th street ; the southern dispensary, in Bainbridge street; the northern dispensary, in Fairmount avenue ; and the Preston retreat (lying-in charity), in Hamilton and 20th streets. The Blockley almshouse is in West Philadelphia near the university. The buildings, four in number, are each 500 ft. long and enclose a square. A well cultivated farm of 130 acres surrounds them. This institution embraces a department for the poor, a hospital, an insane asylum, and a children's asylum. The average number of inmates is more than 3,500, of whom about 1,000 are insane. It is supported by the city at an annual expense of more than $300,000. The Pennsylvania insti- tution for the deaf and dumb, in Broad and Pine streets, was opened in 1820. There are a few paying pupils, and some are supported by the states of Delaware and New Jersey, but the greater number are maintained at the expense of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania institution for the instruction of the blind is similarly supported; it was founded in 1833, and is at the corner of 20th and Race streets. The United States naval asylum, built in 1832, is on Gray's Ferry road below South street. The main building has a marble front, 380 ft. long, 150 ft. deep, and three stories high, approached by a flight of marble steps. The grounds are large and finely ornamented. About 130 superannuated sailors are main- tained here. In the rear of the asylum is a large hospital for the care of sick and wounded sailors. Among other benevolent institutions and associations, besides numerous lodges^ of freemasons, odd fellows, and similar societies, may be mentioned the Presbyterian home for women, in 58th street and Greenway avenue ;