FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE 
OF 
ALEXANDER HENRY, 
WITH THE 
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. Crissy & Markley, Printers, 
Goldsmiths Hall, Library St., Philadelphia. CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Message, . ► ■ ■ • - . 5-40 
ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. 
Department of the City Treasurer: 
Statement of the City Treasurer, - 41-43 
Department of the Receiver of Taxes: 
Statement of the Receiver, - - _ - 43,44 
Department of City Property: 
Report of the Commissioner, - 44-54 
Department of Market Houses, Wharves and Landings: 
Statement of the Commissioner, ... 54-57 
City lee Boat: 
Statement of the Trustees, - 57-59 
Gas Works: 
Statements of the Chief Engineer and Cashier, - - 60-63 
Water Department: 
Reports of the Chief Engineer and Register, - - 64-69 
Board of Health-Report, - 70-81 
Department of Poor: 
Report of the Board of Guardians, - - - 81-84 
C Prison: 
Statement of the Clerk, - - - - 84 
Department of Surveys: 
Report of the Chief Engineer and Surveyor, - - 85-94 
Department of Highways: 
Statement of the Chief Commissioner, - - - 95-100 
Ci ty Railroad: 
Report of the Superintendent, - - - 100 4 
Girard Estates: 
Statement of the Superintendent, - . _ 101,102 
Law Department: 
Report of the City Solicitor, ... 103 
Building Inspection-Report, - 104 
Fire Department: 
Statement of the Chief Engineer, ... 105-107 
Police Department: 
Report of the Pay Clerk, .... 108-111 
Report of the Chief of Police, - - " - 112-115 
Police Telegraph-Report of the Superintendent, - - 115-120 
Fire Detective Branch-Report of the Marshal, - 121-172 FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE. 
To the Select and Common Councils 
of the City of Philadelphia, 
Gentlemen :-A review of the past year affords abundant 
cause of congratulation for the unwonted exemption of the 
city of Philadelphia during that period from public calamities. 
No general tumult has disturbed its quiet; no extended con- 
flagration has consumed its wealth; the lives of its citizens 
have been spared from unusual casualty, and desolating pes- 
tilence has been withheld from its midst. 
It is of the great goodness of Him who ruleth over all men 
and who holdeth the elements in his keeping, that our city 
has been thus favored, and our thankful acknowledgments 
should be rendered for such, His merciful Providence. 
The duties imposed upon the Councils of Philadelphia are 
of a peculiar, and perhaps unprecedented nature. The con- 
solidated city includes an area of greater extent and diversity 
than has heretofore been brought under one municipal govern- 
ment. Public interests of more than ordinary magnitude 
are hence devolved upon the City Councils, and are calculated 
to engross their attention to the neglect of those lesser con- 
cerns of municipal legislation which are necessary for the im- 
mediate welfare of the citizens, whilst the circumstances and 
wants of different portions of the community are so dissimilar. 6 
that it is impracticable to establish regulations for universal 
observance. Ordinances well adapted to the thickly settled 
and permanently improved parts of the city would be unmean- 
ing or injudious if extended over its rural districts, and the 
special enactments that may be required for these latter, 
would in the former be wholly inapplicable. The great num- 
ber and contrariety of Ordinances relating to the same sub- 
jects, some of which are in force throughout the city, others 
only within the bounds of the municipalities in which they 
were enacted, whilst a few are restricted in their operation to 
parts of such municipalities, must necessarily produce con- 
fusion and difficulty in their due administration. An early 
revision and codification of existing ordinances is recom- 
mended as highly important to the welfare of the city. Al- 
though a distinction must be maintained between the built 
and rural districts, all ordinances should respectively be of 
general obligation throughout such districts, and different 
laws should not obtain on opposite sides of the same street, as 
is the case in many instances at present. Additional power 
should be vested in the appropriate authorities for the better 
enforcement of the city ordinances. With but few exceptions, 
the only punishment for their infraction is a fine, which in 
many cases cannot be collected from the offender who thus 
may, and frequently does, persist in their violation with im- 
punity. A moderate fine in each instance, and in default 
of its payment, the penalty of a short imprisonment, would 
greatly promote the observance of municipal regulations. 
The enactment of such penalty is not within the power of 
Councils, but if in their opinion its provision would be salutary, 
it should be asked for from the Legislature of the State. 
Among the important powers entrusted to the Mayor is that 
of the entire appointment and almost unrestricted control of 
the police. The administration of this department of the city 
government, as at present constituted, necessarily occupies 7 
his chief attention, and in a measure interferes with that gene- 
ral and constant supervision of the municipal affairs which 
was designed by the act of consolidation to characterize his 
office. The selection of a police force, whether from former 
incumbents or from the numerous applicants for appointment, 
necessarily requires much of the time and attention of each 
Chief Executive for a long period after entering upon his 
duties. The grave responsibility which attaches to the dis- 
charge of this duty, does not permit of its being properly 
devolved by him upon others, yet his opportunity for making 
inquiry of the merit and capability of applicants for this pub- 
lic trust, is far less than would content any prudent man in 
the selection of agents for his individual business. 
The system which I have recently adopted of requiring all 
applicants for police appointments to undergo a careful ex- 
amination by the Chief of Police and two Lieutenants, has 
afforded a more reliable estimate of personal qualifications 
than could otherwise be readily obtained. The present police 
arrangements and the general efficiency of the force will, it is 
believed, compare favorably with those of any preceding 
period since the consolidation of the city. But after a care- 
ful examination of the existing system of police, and in view 
of its serious and manifold defects, I cannot forbear from 
urging upon the attention of Councils the importance of a 
change in the mode of its organization. It is made the duty 
of the Mayor to recommend the adoption of such measures 
as he may deem expedient for the security and welfare of 
the city-and no measure will, in my estimation, tend more 
to the advancement of these important interests than the 
appointment of a police force to serve during individual capa- 
bility and good conduct. The sole object of every system 
of police should be the maintenance of public peace, and the 
safeguard of person and property. Such object, to its full 
extent, can only be attained by a well informed and thoroughly 8 
disciplined body of men selected for their moral and physical 
qualities, and induced by certainty of position and remune- 
ration to devote themselves to the duties of their office. If a 
situation on the police force is sought only as the temporary 
means of livelihood, or is, at the best, regarded as an appoint- 
ment of uncertain duration, it cannot be expected that its 
officers will feel that interest and complete identification with 
the service which is essential to its efficiency. 
A modification in the appointment of the police force, which 
under the Act of Consolidation is vested solely in the Mayor, 
and the exercise of that power by a Board of Commissioners, 
I deem of primary importance. It must be readily apparent 
that no chief magistrate, however earnest and single may be 
the devotion of his time and energies to the public welfare, 
can, in the proper discharge of his other important duties, 
give that careful scrutiny to the merits and qualifications of 
the numerous applicants for appointment, which shall insure 
a correct choice. If his w'hole time and undistracted atten- 
tion could be dedicated to this single duty, the selection of 
712 officers, the number constituting the present force, must 
still prove a task of more than usual perplexity. But when 
he is, to a great extent, compelled to rely upon the partial 
testimony of those advocating the appointment of friends- 
is continually deceived by the misrepresentation of interested 
advisers-and is unable to have more than a momentary inter- 
view with each one of several thousand applicants, it will 
require a superhuman intuition to avoid mistaken estimates of 
individual fitness. A police board, constituted of four or 
more experienced citizens, of which the Mayor should be, 
ex-officio the president, could bring to the discharge of this 
momentous duty the advantages of leisurely action, careful 
inspection, and prudent deliberation. In the creation of such 
Board of Commissioners, care should be had that it should be 
composed of those whose intelligence, experience, and above 9 
all, whose integrity should be the guarantee of their faithful 
administration. Such Board should fairly represent the in- 
terests of the whole community to the exclusion of all parti- 
zanship or political bias, that the appointment of officers may 
be made with sole reference to their individual qualification. 
The views of a policeman upon the policy of a State or 
National administration, cannot make him either a better or 
a worse guardian of the public peace, or the more or less 
careful watchman over private property, whilst nothing can 
be more reprehensible than his employment for the purpose 
of influencing or interfering with the political rights or opi- 
nions of his fellow citizens. A judicious standard of physical 
and other requisites being adopted, and in all cases strictly 
conformed to, the appointment of officers should be for such 
length of time as their good conduct and personal capability 
shall warrant, subject to no dismissal but for adequate cause. 
As soon after the organization of the force as may be 
practicable, all appointments to the higher grades should be 
made from those who have served a prescribed term in the 
rank next subordinate, thus holding out to every officer a 
constant inducement for zeal and diligence in the perform- 
ance of duty. Appointment by a competent commission, 
continuance in office until removal for just cause, and pro- 
motion for merit, are deemed the three principal essentials to 
the organization of an efficient police. 
A thorough military discipline and drill, an appropriate 
uniform for the, whole force, excepting those employed in 
detective and special duty, a corps of substitutes from whom 
to fill temporary vacancies, through sickness or necessary 
absence, and from whom the permanent force should be 
recruited, and the provision of a fund for those disabled in 
the service, would greatly increase the individual and collec- 
tive efficiency of its officers. The power of removal for pro- 
per cause, the general supervision of the police stations, and 10 
other property of the Department, and the control of moneys 
appropriated for its use, should be devolved upon the pro- 
posed Police Board. The appointment and removal of all 
detective officers, their control and direct accountability, 
should be reserved to the Mayor. In recommending to Coun- 
cils the consideration of these important modifications of the 
present system, I would leave to their discretion whatever 
measures may be required, under the authority of the Legisla- 
ture, to carry them into effect. 
The police force, when organized soon after the consolida- 
tion of Philadelphia, comprised 916 officers, but was reduced 
on the first of March, 1856, to 710, its present complement. 
My lamented predecessor, the late Robert T. Conrad, in 
reluctantly signing the ordinance by which this reduction was 
effected, clearly demonstrated its inexpediency, and depre- 
cated the feebleness which must thence pervade the police 
system of this city. If such views and forebodings were jus- 
tified by existing circumstances, they must apply with added 
cogency to the relative condition of the city and its police at 
the present time. In 1855, the number of miles of streets 
and alleys under police supervision was computed to be 600; 
their present extent, as shown by a recent estimate, is 739 
miles, an increase of nearly twenty-five per cent. 
Within the last four years more than six thousand build- 
ings have been erected in this city, which, if closely situated, 
would cover an area of 100 squares, and would thus add 
50 miles of 'beats' to those previously patrolled; but, from 
the isolated position of many, have more than doubled such 
length. Notwithstanding this additional extent of property 
committed to the care of the police, the patrol force since 
its reduction in 1856, has been further decreased by the un- 
avoidable detail of 18 men as turnkeys of the several stations, 
and of 35 others for the management of the Police and Fire 
Alarm Telegraph. By the subtraction of this number with 11 
the allowance of 14 for the sick and absent, from the general 
force of 650, but 583 officers are left for active duty, of whom 
123 are in service during the day, and 460 compose the 
patrol at night. Of these latter but one-half are employed at 
the same hour, and thus 230 men are charged with the super- 
vision and protection of dwellings, warehouses and other valua- 
ble property along the extent of 739 miles. 
The four wards, comprising the larger part of the rural 
districts are almost without a police,-although the recent im- 
provements within their limits exceed in value those in many 
of the other wards. The urgent necessity of protecting those 
districts in which are the largest quantities of merchandise 
and other property most subject to depredation, has occa- 
sioned a decrease of the number of police in the rural wards, 
disproportioned to the general reduction of the force. But 
however impracticable it may be to extend the guardianship 
of the police over every portion of these outer wards, there 
are within their bounds localities which from the nature and 
value of their improvements require and are entitled to more 
adequate protection than can now be afforded them. 
By abolishing the discrimination between the built and ru- 
ral districts in the assessment of taxes for police purposes, the 
number of officers might be sufficiently enlarged to admit of 
due provision wherever their services are needed. As the 
incidental advantages of the police force are shared by all 
parts of the city, there does not appear to be any valid rea- 
son why common contribution should not be made towards 
its support. The arrest of offenders in one district is, to some 
degree, a safeguard for every other-whilst, on the other 
hand, if a preventive police is maintained over only portions 
of the city, it must tend to the increase of crime in others 
which are destitute of the like protection. 
With the large area included within the city, it must be 
impracticable to adopt generally a preventive system of police, 12 
which, by adequately guarding every locality, may render the 
commission of crime either impossible or of but rare occur- 
rence. At present, the utmost zeal and vigilance cannot 
enable a single policeman to watch effectually over persons 
and property throughout the limits of a beat extending for one 
or more miles in length. The fear of discovery in the actual 
perpetration of crime, may in some measure deter from its 
attempt; but the certainty of detection and punishment will 
operate with greater power. The experience of every one 
conversant with police details, abundantly proves that crime 
against property, especially in large communities, is a system- 
ized pursuit. It is seldom that the offences of burglary, 
pocket-picking, thieving and counterfeiting are committed, ex- 
cept by adepts, constantly associating with each other, and 
well acquainted with facilities for the disposal of their gains. 
Nor is it less certain that such crimes are rarely perpetrated 
by any one person indiscriminately, but that there is a distri- 
bution of object, as well understood and as strictly adhered to 
as in the legitimate occupations of society. Where accurate 
information can be had concerning the persons, associations 
and movements of those who are in the regular practice of 
crime, it not only renders the detection of each offence more 
certain, but frequently serves to forefend its perpetration. 
Although in default of a suitable preventive police force, a 
well organized detective system is indispensable, the present 
force is singularly deficient in its provision for this branch of 
the service. The entire detective aid under the ordinance 
regulating the police department, consists of four special offi- 
cers, a number altogether inadequate to the duties which they 
are designed to perform. To remedy such defect, as far as 
practicable, it has been customary to employ for this service 
at least four1 of the high constables, with others selected from 
the general force for their particular fitness. An increase of 
12 officers for this service would allowr of the proper classifica- 13 
tion of the detectives for such special duties as might be 
assigned them-an arrangement now unfeasible from the 
limited number, but which would greatly conduce to their effi- 
ciency. 
In these representations of the insufficiency of the present 
police force, and in thus recommending its increase, I am not 
unmindful of the expense with which it would be attended. 
But I cannot believe it to be compatible with the welfare of 
this city, that the most important function of its government 
should be stinted to an arbitrary limit, regardless of every 
consideration but that of assumed economy. True economy 
consists in the careful adjustment of means to the accomplish- 
ment of a proposed object-but not in that outlay, whether 
much or little, which is insufficient for its attainment. The 
primary duty of every government is to provide suitable pro- 
tection for all persons and property within its care-and such 
protection must be ever co-extensive with the growth of the 
community and its corresponding necessities. 
The current expenses of the Police Department for the 
past year amounted to $387,541 48, besides appropriations 
for special objects of $3,668 00. There has also been ex- 
pended during that period the sum of $4,512 73 for debts in- 
curred prior to 1858, together with $8,916 90, through the 
Commissioner of City Property, towards the cost of erecting 
the Station house in the eleventh district. The estimated ex- 
penses of the Department for the present year amount to 
$390,150. New Station houses are greatly needed for the 
first and ninth districts, for the construction of which an 
additional appropriation will be required of $20,000. 
In June last, the Station house of the first district was de- 
clared by the Board of Health to be a public nuisance, and 
at their instance its cells were unoccupied until the cold 
weather admitted of their renewed use. It would be imprac- 
ticable, without great expense, to adapt this building, formerly 14 
known as Moyamensing Hall, for the wholesome accommo- 
dation of prisoners. The value of this property is too great 
to justify its permanent use as a police station, and whenever 
other accommodations for that purpose can be provided, a due 
regard for the finances of the city will demand its sale. The 
building rented by the city as a station for the ninth district 
is ill adapted for the confinement of prisoners, or for the 
comfort of the police, and is in every respect discreditable 
to the service. The peculiar requirements of a police station 
can only be had by the special erection of a building for that 
purpose, and the attempt to adapt any other edifice for such 
use must lead to injudicious and continued expense. 
The report of the Chief of Police exhibits the number of 
arrests during 1858, amounting to 22,367, of which 5,986 
took place prior to the 1st of June, and 16,381 during the 
remainder of the year. 
Among the more numerous offences were- 
Breach of the peace and disorderly conduct, 11,143 
Intoxication, _ _ _ 4,453 
Assault and battery of various kinds, 1,761 
Larceny, - - - - 1,004 
Misdemeanors, - - - 640 
Biot and inciting thereto, - - 332 
Passing counterfeit money, - 153 
Robbery, - - - - 93 
Picking pockets, - - 79 
Gambling, - - - 33 
Murder, - 20 
Vagrancy, - 1,352 
Other offences, - - - 1,304 
Other arrests were made by the police of which no record 
has been kept, the parties being discharged by magistrates 
upon bail or otherwise, without detention at a station house. 15 
The nativities of those included in the report of arrests 
were as follows :- 
United States, _ _ - 9,925 
Ireland, - - - 9,662 
Germany, - - - - 1,608 
England, _ _ _ 902 
Scotland, - - - - 129 
France, 85 
Other countries, - - - 56 
The duties of the detective branch have been ably per- 
formed by its several officers, and have been attended with 
gratifying results. Much valuable property has, through 
their agency, been recovered and restored to owners, and 
society has been relieved from the depredations of many noted 
offenders by their detection and conviction. 
The arrests by detective officers, not included in the fore- 
going report of the Chief, are as follows :- 
Larceny, - - - - 85 
Burglary, - - - 43 
Picking pockets, - - - 37 
Conspiracy, - - - 14 
Fugitives from justice, - - 9 
Forgery, 7 
Other offences, - 125 
Total, - - - 320 
The want of a magistrate at the Central station, before 
whom charges of more than usual importance might be heard, 
greatly restricts the efficiency of the detective police. The 
act of 13th May, 1856, provided "That the Mayor shall not 
hereafter sit as a committing magistrate, but as the executive 
head of the city and its police, may issue warrants and cause 
arrests to be made in accordance with law, returnable before 16 
any Police magistrate." A careful consideration of the 
several acts relating to the powers and duties of the aidermen 
of this city has induced the belief that their jurisdiction can 
be legally exercised only in their offices in the wards for 
which they have been elected. Although the Mayor may 
issue warrants, they must be made returnable before a com- 
mitting magistrate, upon whom he can confer no power to act 
elsewhere than is provided by law, and I have accordingly 
forbidden the hearing of cases at the Central office, until pro- 
perly enabled to appoint some magistrate for that purpose. 
It is highly advisable that every opportunity to become 
acquainted with the persons and characteristics of those in 
the methodical pursuit of crime, should be furnished to de- 
tective officers, but the detention of offenders in the several 
station houses, and the investigation of the charges preferred 
against them by different aidermen, deprives these officers of 
this important aid. It is but reasonable that the authority 
to issue warrants and to cause arrests, should be accompanied 
with a supervisory power over the proceedings of the magis- 
trate before whom such warrants have been made returnable, 
and it is of much consequence to the furtherance of justice 
that some legislative enactment should be had by which the 
Mayor may be authorized to provide for the hearing of cases 
at the Central station. In connection with this subject, I feel 
constrained to allude to the culpable neglect by many of the 
aidermen of this city of the payment into the City Treasury 
of fees and penalties received by them in criminal or penal 
cases. By the 24th section of the Act of Consolidation it 
was enacted, that it should " not be lawful for any aiderman 
in said city to take fees in criminal cases." The 25th section 
of the supplementary act of 21st of April, 1855, repealed the 
foregoing enactment and made it "lawful for any aiderman 
or justice of the peace in said city to receive fees in criminal 
or penal cases, but said costs and penalties shall be paid over 17 
to the City Treasury monthlyand by the 27th section of 
the same act, it was further provided that "any such aider- 
man neglecting or refusing to make return and pay over as 
aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor in office." 
Notwithstanding the plain purport of the law, it appears 
by the return of the City Controller, that of the 79 aidermen 
commissioned in this city, but 39 have made any return dur- 
ing the past year of the fees and penalties thus received by 
them for the use of the public treasury. The sums returned 
by such 39 aidermen, range in amount from 40 cents to 
$427 62, making an aggregate of $3,658 86. I entertain 
no doubt that the receipts by the aidermen of this city, 
of fees and costs in criminal cases, and of penalties in penal 
cases, which are the lawful dues of the city, amount to 
more than $25,000 annually. In making such representa- 
tion, it is but justice to add that some of the aidermen refuse 
to entertain criminal business, and that others make full and 
true returns of all moneys thus received by them. 
Every effort has been made by this department to correct 
and prevent this retention of public moneys, but without suc- 
cess. If those who are charged with administering the law 
are themselves in the constant violation of its requirements, 
it cannot be expected that justice in its purity and integrity 
will be meted out to the community. It is well worthy of 
consideration whether the removal of criminal jurisdiction 
from the aidermen and the appointment of persons learned 
in the law, to exercise the same by the courts, would not be 
productive of incalculable good to the community. The law 
admits of no compensation to aidermen for their services in 
criminal cases, except to those elected by Councils as Com- 
mitting magistrates. Erroneous decisions of questions touch- 
ing only dollars and cents, can be revised by the courts with 
but little inconvenience to the parties interested; but 
charges involving the loss of personal liberty and reputation, 18 
are too momentous for adjudication by those who have not 
been fitted therefor by a legal training. 
The increase of vagrancy and street begging, mostly by 
children, demanded special efforts for its suppression. In 
October last two officers were assigned to this duty exclusive- 
ly, and notwithstanding the great extent of their charge, the 
result has been most evident and satisfactory. From the 5th 
of October to the end of the year, their report shows the 
number of arrests made by them (and not included in the 
general report of the Chief of Police) to have been 51 boys 
and 29 girls, of whom 28 boys and 26 girls were sent to the 
House of Refuge, 12 boys and 18 girls to other charitable 
institutions, and the remainder were reprimanded and dis- 
charged by magistrates. In addition to these arrests, 90 
vagrant children were accompanied by the officers to their 
respective homes, and caution given to their parents to keep 
them from the streets. These two special officers also ar- 
rested, during the same period, 50 women and 20 men for 
begging and vagrancy. 
The Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph is an indispensable 
branch of the service, and of constantly increasing usefulness. 
It has been in active operation for nearly three years, under 
the charge of its constructor and Superintendent, Mr. W. J. 
Philips. During 1858 it transmitted 36,359 messages 
through its different circuits, being an increase of 2,152 
over the number for the preceding year. Through its agency 
3,087 lost children, 379 missing adults, and 1,003 stray or 
stolen cattle, have been traced and recovered. The facilities 
of the Police Telegraph for the transmission of messages has 
enabled me to dispense with one of the messengers allowed 
by ordinance; and I recommend that hereafter but one such 
officer be attached to the Mayor's office. The rooms provided 
at the Central Station for the operators of the telegraph and 
for purposes connected therewith are without the conveni- 19 
ences required for its management, and both in location 
and size, are unworthy its important services. Signal 
boxes are still needed in various parts of the city, and 
should be introduced into the houses of many of the fire 
companies, particularly such as have the steam fire engines in 
use. 
The Fire Detective branch of the Police, originally estab- 
lished by my immediate predecessor, has been continued under 
the supervision of Fire Marshal Blackburn, and is one of the 
most useful branches of the city government. From the able 
and elaborate report of its services during the past year, and 
of statistical information collected in their pursuit, it appears 
that the total loss of property by fire within the city for that 
period, has been $285,729, of which $172,315 was covered 
by insurance, being a decrease of nearly 50 per cent., as com- 
pared with the loss of the previous year, for like cause. 
Whilst such unprecedented immunity from serious loss may 
be partly attributable to several causes, it is in no small de- 
gree consequent upon the vigilance and judicious efforts of 
the officer charged with the investigation of the circumstances 
attendant upon the breaking out of all fires within the limits 
of the city. A very marked decrease of the crime of arson in 
this community has already resulted from the services of this 
department. I would suggest that Councils should duly 
recognize the fire detective service, and should provide for the 
officer charged therewith a more adequate remuneration than 
is now given him by the salary of High Constable. 
In the month of October last, an appropriate uniform was 
adopted for the Reserve Corps, numbering 30 men, who are 
attached to the Central Station. The cost of such uniform 
was willingly defrayed by the officers, in default of any 
public fund for that purpose. The efficiency of this division 
of the police has been promoted by their distinctive dress and 
military appearance, enabling its members to be easily 20 
recognized when their services are needed, and imparting 
to them that semblance of authority which is never without 
its due influence in the enforcement of the law. It is deemed 
very essential that power should be given for the appointment 
of substitutes, in cases of the temporary absence of officers, 
from sickness or other causes. The number prescribed by 
ordinance has never been exceeded during this adminis- 
tration, but the sudden and unexpected withdrawal of officers 
from duty, it may be to the extent of twenty or more at one 
time, with no authority to supply their places, is not only 
embarrassing in the disposition of the force, but necessarily 
leaves much valuable property without protection. As pay 
is withheld in all cases of absence for other causes than 
sickness or injury occasioned by exposure or accident in 
the performance of duty, the additional expense of substitutes 
would be very trifling in comparison with the advantages 
which must result from their employment. 
The finances of the city during the past year have been 
embarrassed, owing to the insufficiency of taxes provided for 
the payment of the appropriations to the different depart- 
ments, and for the discharge of the outstanding liabilities of 
the preceding year. Besides the revenue of the city derived 
from other sources, the net amount of proceeds from taxation 
needed to provide for the appropriations of 1858 and for the 
deficiency of 1857, was about $2,959,000, ■whilst the net 
amount to be received from that source, under the rate as 
fixed by Councils, could not exceed $2,550,000. The de- 
ficiency thus caused, together with the inadequacy of the 
appropriations for the necessary current expenses of the 
government has been provided for by the creation of a loan 
of $450,000, thus unavoidably adding to the funded debt of 
the city. The municipal revenue of each year should always 
suffice for its current and contingent expenditures. Whatever 
rate of taxation, in addition to other income, may be needed to 21 
yield the full amount of the annual appropriations to the seve- 
ral departments, with a reasonable surplus for probable con- 
tingencies, should be unhesitatingly enacted and levied. Any 
other policy must be detrimental to the credit of the city, and 
is unquestionably dishonest to its citizens. 
One of the most obvious defects of the present municipal 
system, is that of assigning to the Councils, for one term 
of service, the duty of determining the taxes which are mainly 
to be expended during the term of those that succeed them. 
The desire of conciliating popular favor by limiting taxa- 
tion to a low rate, offers a strong inducement to fix the 
annual appropriations below the amount necessary for the 
several departments. The Councils upon whom in turn 
the expenditures of these appropriationsis devolved, disown all 
responsibility for the inadequacy of revenue, and feel justi- 
fied in supplying the deficiency by new loans; or else they 
must suffer the embarrassment of an empty treasury, and 
be forced to increase the taxes of the ensuing year by the 
sum which should have been raised by their predecessors. 
The record of each year since consolidation, warrants the 
assertion, that until some change takes place, by which the 
responsibility both of raising and of expending the annual 
revenue can be devolved upon the same Councils, there will 
be reason to anticipate the constant increase of the funded 
debt of Philadelphia, by loans to be used for the payment of 
its current expenses. 
The receipts of the City Treasury during the past year 
amounted to §4,744,963 44, which, with the balance on hand 
January 1st, 1858, made a total of §5,233,001 54. Of this 
sum §5,035,618 33 have been expended, leaving on the 1st of 
January, 1859, a balance of §197,383 20. A temporary 
loan of §200,000 negotiated in November last, will mature in 
March of the present year-but will be amply provided for 22 
by outstanding taxes. Many of the warrants issued in 1855 
and 1856 are withheld from presentation at the Treasury 
until provision is made for the payment of the interest which 
has accrued upon them. The appropriation of $10,000 made 
in March last for such interest has already been exhausted 
upon the warrants redeemed during 1858, and it is recom- 
mended that a similar appropriation be made, which it is 
believed will suffice to discharge all the remaining liabilities 
of this description. 
The statement of the City Controller exhibits the entire 
funded debt of the city, to mature after the 1st of January, 
1859, to be $20,338,705 31-of which amount $3,173,423 52 
are of five per cent, and $17,165,281 79 of six per cent, 
loans. In addition to such amount the sum of $86,368 42 
has already matured, but has not been presented for payment. 
This amount of $20,338,705 31 will be increased by the 
loan of $200,000 authorized for the construction of culverts, 
but not yet issued. Of this amount of indebtedness there will 
fall due in 1860 $945,234 64, and in 1861 $448,108 55, for 
the payment of which some other provision must be made 
than by resort to the investments of the Sinking Funds and 
their accumulations. 
By the report of the Commissioner of the Sinking Funds 
provided for the redemption of the city debt, it will appear 
that nine several accounts have been opened for as many dis- 
tinct loans, and that to each respectively is credited the 
amount appropriated for its redemption under the terms of 
the ordinance by which it has been created. 
The amount standing to the credit of each Sinking Fund 
on the 1st of January, 1859, was as follows: 23 
Loans. 
Cash. 
Sinking fund of loan of $10,000,000 
$166,993 74 
$7,466 79 
Cl U Cl 
1,000,000 
41,800 00 
54 63 
ll IC cc 
800,000 
20,500 00 
10 05 
cc cc It 
96,900 
4,200 00 
76 50 
Cl cc cc 
675,000 
27,100 00 
55,75 
cc cc cc 
1,050,000 
35,300 00 
47,25 
ll CC Cl 
100,000 
2,400 00 
34 25 
Gas Works loan, 
38,400 00 
4,526 00 
$336,693 74 
$12,271 22 
No appropriation has yet been received to the sinking fund 
of the recent loan of $450,000. The present amount of in- 
vestments and cash belonging to the Sinking Funds which 
might be used for the redemption of the debt maturing in 
1860 and 1861, and any accumulation thereof prior to such 
period, will prove totally inadequate for such purpose, and 
it should engage the early attention of Councils to devise 
some measures by which this indebtedness shall be duly and 
promptly met. The operations of the Sinking Funds would 
be greatly facilitated, and the liability of improper issues 
much diminished, by requiring all certificates of city loans to 
be countersigned and registered by some officer connected 
with that department. 
The imperfect condition of the tax duplicates for 1858, fur- 
nished by the City Commissioners, makes it impracticable to 
ascertain with accuracy the amount of taxes assessed during 
the present year for municipal purposes. 
The most careful estimate that can be given by the Receiver 
of Taxes makes their gross amount $2,806,896 88, from 
which $40,000 must be deducted for exempted estates, and 
$117,298 43 for the discount allowed to tax payers, which 
makes the revenue from taxation for 1858, $2,549,598 45. 
The ordinance fixing the rate of taxes for 1858 at one dol- 
lar and eighty-five cents on the hundred dollars of assessed 
value, was approved February 12th, and the books of the Re- 
ceiver were opened March 8th for payment thereof. 24 
The monthly receipts from that date to the end of the year 
were as follows : 
March, - - - $524,988 42 
April, - - 239,462 28 
May, - - - 143,803 18 x 
June, - - 125,026 82 
July, - - - 142,951 36 
August, - - 60,773 16 
September, - - 68,730 23 
October, - - 110,302 74 
November, - - 135,673 85 
December, - - 468,000 21 
$2,019,712 25 
leaving $529,886 20 outstanding on the 1st of January, 1859, 
or nearly 20 per cent of the entire tax levy, of which there 
has since been received, to the 22d instant, $224,059 96 to 
avoid the additional charge of 5 per cent, imposed by legal 
process for collection. The amount of discounts allowed to 
tax payers during the past year, as previously stated, was 
$117,298 43, or about 4J per cent, of the taxes. The 11th 
section of the act of consolidation provides that all tax payers 
who shall pay their taxes in the year for which they are 
assessed shall have an allowance thereon at the rate of 12 per 
cent, per annum from the date of payment until the end of 
the year. Notwithstanding the seeming liberality of the in- 
ducement thus offered for the prompt payment of taxes, it has 
hitherto proved unavailing to keep the treasury duly replen- 
ished, and a constant resort to temporary loans has been 
unavoidable, the interest upon which has necessarily increased 
the public expenditure. The provisions of the act are in 
some degree illusory, and the benefit to be derived by the tax 
payers who avail themselves of its terms are apparent rather 
than real. The annual rate of taxation must be fixed with 25 
reference to the probable deduction from the gross income for 
allowances to tax payers, thus making it 4 to 5 per cent, 
higher than would otherwise be required. The citizen whose 
allowance upon the payment of his tax does not amount to 
this additional percentage, although nominally obtaining the 
proffered discount, is actually contributing to the public 
revenue a larger sum than would be demanded under a dif- 
ferent system of collection, whilst he who avails himself of 
the earliest practicable moment, and thus obtains the largest 
discount, must, in computing the sum which he has saved, 
deduct the percentage by which his quota of taxation has 
been increased. It is suggested that a system of collection 
which should make allowance to tax payers at the rate of 
one-half per cent, a month from the date of payment until the 
1st of July, and which would impose an additional charge of 
one per cent, a month from the 1st of July until payment be 
made, would decrease the amount now annually estimated for 
allowances, and thus diminish the annual rate of taxation, and 
would save the interest which is payable upon temporary 
loans. 
The efficiency of the Law Department is seriously impaired, 
as will appear by the communication of the City Solicitor, 
from the want of well defined legislative enactments relative 
to the registration, lien and process of collection of over-due 
taxes and other municipal claims. The duties of this depart- 
ment are numerous and varied, comprising not only the 
management of its immediate responsibilities, but also advis- 
ing upon the legal questions continually submitted by other 
branches of the city government. The imposition of a penalty 
for non-payment before a designated period, has been found 
to produce a prompt yield of the annual water rents, and there 
is no good reason why it should not be adopted in the col- 
lection of municipal taxes. I would recommend that Councils 
apply to the State Legislature for the repeal of the pro- 26 
visions of the act of consolidation on this subject, and for the 
enactment of some other system more equitable to the whole 
community, and better calculated to afford a prompt supply 
of the City Treasury. 
The total valuation of real estate and of personal property 
assessed for taxation for municipal purposes for 1859 is 
$155,697,669, of which the personal property amounts to 
$2,697,433. The number of taxables in the entire city is 
stated at 103,850. The assessment of real estate by the name 
of the owner, instead of by local and numerical designation, 
is productive of much confusion in the collection of taxes, and 
not unfrequently of loss, and a change in such method is 
deemed of great importance. 
During the last year strenuous efforts have been made to 
furnish a supply of water more commensurate to the necessi- 
ties of the community than before afforded, and the average 
daily supply has reached 18,738,153 gallons, being an increase 
of 1,428,835 of such previous average. New water pipes have 
been laid to the length of 67,293 feet, exceeding the extent 
in any former year. 
The receipts of the Water Department in 1858 amounted 
to $457,518 48, and its expenditures to $186,570 58, leav- 
ing a profit of $270,947 90, applicable to the general expenses 
of the city. The profits of this department have always 
exceeded those of any other branch of the government, and 
have since consolidation been steadily increasing. They 
amounted in 1855 to $131,141 35; 1856, $212,981 64; 
1857, $224,820 29 ; 1858, $270,947 90. It has become in- 
dispensable to the comfort of the community, that the various 
works for the supply of water should be much enlarged, and 
that many of the present street mains should be replaced by 
others of greater capacity. When it is considered that upon 
a proper supply of water depend both the protection of pro- 
perty from conflagration and the immunity of citizens from 27 
disease, no requisite expenditure for the accomplishment of 
such end should be grudged, but when the increased profits 
to be derived from such measures are taken into calculation, 
all objection must give way. 
The entire amount of unredeemed loan issued for the con- 
struction of water works is now but $672,700; and whatever 
addition may be made thereto can readily be repaid, by de- 
voting a part, or all of the increased annual profits resulting 
therefrom, to its extinguishment. The re-assessment of 
water rents, which has engaged the attention of the depart- 
ment for some months, will yield the city an increased revenue 
of from sixty to seventy-five thousand dollars annually. 
Until some means shall have been put into operation, by 
which the present insufficient supply of water can be made 
equal to the demand, stringent measures should be taken by 
Councils to prevent its waste. An ordinance districting the 
built parts of the city, and restraining, under severe penalty, 
the washing of pavements in such districts to certain hours 
and days, respectively, would serve to check such waste, and 
which is more important, would tend to the preservation of 
the general health of the community. There are few subjects 
of municipal regulation that deserve earlier and more vigorous 
action, than the abatement of the present unrestricted prac- 
tice of cleansing pavements and house fronts, alike wasteful, 
inconvenient, and unhealthy. 
The rental of property belonging to the city and not used 
for public purposes, together with other revenue collected by 
the Commissioner of City Property, has amounted during the 
past year to $27,618 63. The various expenditures for re- 
pairs and improvements of the public buildings and squares 
have been $82,434 65. The small appropriations for beau- 
tifying and adding to the number of trees, &c., in the several 
squares, has precluded any very perceptible improvements 
within their limits. Fairmount Park, Hunting Park, and 28 
Norris Square especially, require such appropriations as shall 
render them the resort and enjoyment of our citizens. 
The insufficient and discreditable accommodations provided 
for the county and State courts, and for the deposit of public 
records, should be a subject of humiliation to every citizen of 
Philadelphia. Prior to the consolidation of the city, the local 
jealousies of the several municipalities may have prevented 
the erection of suitable buildings for those purposes; but 
Philadelphia is, or should be, a unit in every undertaking for 
its common welfare, and it still remains a matter of reproach 
that its edifices for great public objects are far inferior to 
many erected in its midst for the business of different corpora- 
tions, or even to those of the several county towns throughout 
the State. 
The probable receipts from the rental of markets and 
wharves is estimated for the present year at about $105,000. 
The enacted removal of the stalls and houses from Market 
street will occasion a permanent loss of revenue of more than 
$20,000 per annum, for which, however, the city will be amply 
remunerated by the removal of such obstructions from its 
chief business thoroughfare, and by the increased facilities 
thus offered for the extension of trade. The policy of pro- 
viding at the public expense accommodations, however profit- 
able they may be to the common revenue, for carrying on any 
individual business, must be very questionable. Ordinances 
regulating the measure, quality, and seasonableness of all 
descriptions of meats, fish, vegetables and fruit, should be of 
general obligation, whether the sale of such articles be made 
in private markets or upon the public highways. The various 
enactments now in force relative to the sale of provisions, 
are in many instances in conflict with each other, and are 
by far too voluminous, occupying nearly seventy pages of the 
digested municipal laws. 
The expenditures of the Department of Surveys during 29 
1858 have been $24,517 34. Under the direction of this de- 
partment several small bridges have been erected for public 
highways, and very essential repairs have been made to the 
bridge over Gunners Run and to that over the Schuylkill at 
Girard avenue. Four main lines of culvert have been placed 
under construction in accordance with the ordinance autho- 
rizing the same, which will not only benefit the vast extent of 
property in their immediate vicinity, but must tend to pro- 
mote the general health of the community. The construction 
of the culvert in the north-western part of the city, which is 
designed to drain the large area on the eastern side of the 
Schuylkill above its dam at Fairmount, is of special import- 
ance, as it will in a great measure prevent the flow of impuri- 
ties from slaughter houses, manufactories and public buildings, 
into the body of water from which is taken that used for 
daily consumption throughout the city. Due regard for the 
purity of the water furnished to citizens demands the enact- 
ment of an ordinance prohibiting the erection of buildings in 
the vicinity of the Schuylkill above Fairmount to be occupied 
for noxious purposes, unless ample provision be made for the 
drainage of all impurities into culverts that shall empty them 
belowr the reservoirs. The system of municipal drainage is 
yet but imperfectly understood, and its great importance not 
sufficiently comprehended ; but the ordinances of the last year 
relative to branch culverts, and providing for the new main 
culverts, must lead to its thorough consideration and per- 
fection. 
A plan recently prepared by the Board of Surveyors, for 
the construction of a bridge over the Schuylkill at Chestnut 
street, will be submitted at an early day for the action of 
Councils. The cost of such bridge, it is believed, will very 
far exceed the amount of $125,000, originally appropriated 
for that purpose. 
During the year 1858 the system of City Passenger Rail- 30 
ways has been introduced for the first time into our city-cars 
for such mode of conveyance having passed over the Frank- 
ford and Southwark Railway on the 20th of January. There 
are now six different lines of railway in active operation 
through various parts of the city, and others in progress of 
construction. Perhaps no public improvement ever occasioned 
more contrariety of opinion than the occupation by the pas- 
senger railway system, of the streets of this city, and per- 
haps none has ever promised more general benefit to the 
community. Whilst it is believed that the utility and conve- 
nience of this system have commended it to the favor of the 
great mass of the community, there are many obvious reasons 
which demand that it shall be carefully regulated and firmly 
controlled by the City Councils. The powers delegated by the 
State Legislature for such purpose, and embodied in the acts 
of incorporation of the several railway companies are ample, 
if judiciously exercised, to prevent those railways which origi- 
nated under the plea of public accommodation from being 
made conducive merely to the self-interested purposes of capi- 
talists. There should be no unnecessary delay in the adop- 
tion of an ordinance which shall clearly define the obligation 
of the several companies to keep in constant repair the entire 
width of streets respectively occupied by them, regulate the size 
and capacity of the cars, provide for the time for which they 
may be allowed to stand at designated points, require the use 
of bells or other methods of notifying their approach, and 
determine the right of general travel along the railways in 
the direction of the passage of their cars. 
It is suggested that no car should be allowed to carry pas- 
sengers upon its top, and that some restriction be placed 
upon the common practice of over filling cars to the serious 
inconvenience of passengers and to the inhuman treatment of 
the horses employed for their conveyance. The almost simul- 
taneous construction of the several lines of city railway has 31 
precluded the adoption of improvements which the defects 
apparent in those first laid out might have suggested in the 
arrangement of others. It is much to be regretted that a 
wider gauge has not been uniformly adopted which might 
admit of a tramway within the line of the rail for the use of 
vehicles generally, and which would thus obviate one of the 
most serious objectious urged against the utility of the sys- 
tem. If the legislature shall require the assent of Councils 
to be obtained by projected railway companies before occupy- 
ing other of the public streets, such assent should only be 
given after careful inquiry and deliberation. 
The passenger railways now in operation are either directly 
or readily accessible to the greater portion of the community, 
and it is exclusively for its welfare that Councils are to legis- 
late, and not in furtherance of the interested schemes of those 
who would attain their selfish purposes regardless of the 
wishes or comfort of their fellow citizens. 
No final action has been had by Councils concerning the 
occupancy by a passenger railway of the free bridge over the 
Schuylkill at Market street, which has continued for nearly 
eight months unauthorized by law, and in direct violation of 
the trust under which that bridge was granted to the city. No 
corporation, whatever its purport or by whomsoever it may be 
managed, should receive greater consideration in its disregard 
of law than the humblest member of the community. The 
system of passenger railways, if properly controlled, is des- 
tined to confer great benefits upon Philadelphia, to expand 
its improvements in every direction, and to promote the general 
convenience of the people, but if from the magnitude of its 
interests and influence it shall hereafter acquire undue ascen- 
dency over those legislations for the common good, it will 
prove in no ordinary degree obnoxious to the community. 
The Highway Department has expended during the past 
year $441,542 40, and has received $16,667 15 from various 32 
sources. Besides the general supervision, construction and 
repairs of streets and roads, it is charged with the cleanliness 
of the public highways, and yet, owing to the system of cleans- 
ing by contract, it has no effectual control over a subject so 
intimately concerning the comfort and health of the community. 
The Board of Highway Commissioners is annually required 
to recommend to the Mayor three suitable persons in each 
supervisor's district, one of whom the Mayor is to appoint as 
supervisor. This method of appointment is highly objection- 
able, as devolving upon the Mayor a serious responsibility 
which should properly pertain to the Board of Commissioners. 
It not unfrequently happens that all of the nominees for one 
district may, in the estimation of the Mayor, be disqualified 
for the office of supervisor, and yet his appointment of one 
of them is made obligatory by the Act of Assembly. Unless 
the power of rejecting nominees who may be considered un- 
suitable is vested in the Mayor, the Commissioners should be 
charged with the undivided responsibility of every appointment. 
The Supplement to the Consolidation Act, of May 13, 1856, 
in its 27th section, requires that all goods, merchandise, labor 
and service for the city shall be by contract, as prescribed by 
ordinance; and accordingly the duty of cleansing the city by 
districts has been awarded to those who are willing to under- 
take it for the lowest sum. The cleansing of streets by con- 
tract is necessarily at variance with the public good, as the 
profit of the contractor will be greatest when the least service 
has been performed. If it is indispensable that this service 
should be under contract, the obligation entered into should 
be for the supply of the requisite number of men and of carts, 
and the labor to be rendered by them should be designated 
by the Department of Police, to whom the cleansing of the 
city most appropriately belongs. If the specifications inserted 
in the contracts were strictly adhered to, and the stipulated 
services properly rendered, there would no cause for the con- 33 
stant and well founded complaints which are addressed to the 
Mayor, without any power on his part to remedy the evil. 
The present regulations for cabs and hackney coaches do 
not suffice to protect either citizens or strangers from fre- 
quent extortion. The provision of the ordinance requiring 
the authorized rates of fare to be placed in a conspicuous 
part of the vehicle is seldom complied with, and the number 
which should be distinctly marked upon the panel of the door 
is frequently concealed by surrounding ornament so as hardly 
to be discernible. The driver of every carriage that stands 
upon the public streets for hire, should be compelled to pro- 
vide himself with small cards setting forth his name and resi- 
dence, the number of his vehicle, and the established rates of 
fare, and should be required, under penalty of the forfeiture 
of his license, to hand one of such.cards to each person by 
whom he is employed. If special licenses to await the arrival 
of steamboats and railway cars were issued in limited number 
to drivers of known honesty and good demeanor to the exclu- 
sion of all others, the comfort of travelers would be greatly 
promoted, as well as the fair repute of the city. 
The ordinance requiring the cleansing of pavements from 
snow is only obligatory within the limits of the former city 
east of Broad street, and for the unimproved property west 
of that street, and in the districts of Spring Garden and 
Southwark. Its provisions should be extended over every 
paved street within the consolidated city, and the penalty for 
non-compliance therewith should be proportioned to the ex- 
tent of pavement neglected. 
The city railroad has been kept in good condition by the 
expenditure of $7,303 43, and has returned for tolls and 
other receipts $12,868 12. Great difficulty is experienced 
in removing ice and snow from its rails, which might be 
readily accomplished by the use of the recently invented salt 
car, at but small additional expense. 34 
The report of the Building Inspectors shows the issue of 
6,153 permits for the erection of new buildings since June 5, 
1855, to the end of 1858. The law' regulating the erection 
of frame buildings, is only partial in its extent, applying to 
the former city, and in a modified degree to the district of 
Southwurk. The act of May, 1855, providing for the regu- 
lation and inspection of buildings in the city of Philadelphia, 
does not explicitly prohibit the erection of frame buildings within 
its bounds, although its manifest spirit and purport w'ould justify 
the building inspectors in refusing permits for such purpose. 
Councils are fully empowered to extend over all parts of the 
consolidated city that may be deemed advisable, the prohibi- 
tory ordinance which is now' in force only in the old city pro- 
per, and such enactment, or one of like import, is of immediate 
and urgent necessity to the safety of property in various dis- 
tricts. 
The appropriation for the repair and management of the 
city ice boat, during the year 1858, was $11,475 00, of which 
amount the trustees have expended $9,052 97. The im- 
portance of this enterprise to the city, both directly and 
incidentally, is beyond any estimate. If no other advan- 
tage ensued from the employment of the ice boat, than the 
opening of the river channel for the arrival and departure of 
vessels, there would be abundant reason to continue the neces- 
sary appropriation for its service; but when it is considered 
how many of the community depend for their daily mainten- 
ance upon occupations connected with- the lading and dis- 
charge of these vessels, the benefits accruing from its use can 
hardly be overrated. 
The past year has been the commencement of a new era in 
the Fire Department of Philadelphia by the introduction of the 
Steam Fire Engine into common use. Four of these engines 
are in active service, and several others are in progress of con- 
struction. The superiority of the steam fire engine to all 35 
other apparatus for the extinguishment of fires can no longer 
be disputed; and whenever their number shall suffice for the 
adequate protection of property throughout the city, a com- 
plete reorganization of the fire department should be made 
with special reference to their increased efficiency. With but 
few exceptions the numerous engine and hose companies have, 
to a commendable degree, maintained peace and good order, 
and have striven to remove the stigma which had been brought 
upon the volunteer system by previous strife and turbulence. 
The report of the Chief Engineer of the Gas Department 
exhibits the prosperous condition of the various works under 
his control, and the increasing demand for participation in 
their benefits. The superiority of gas over all other means 
of artificial light is so well established, that considerations of 
economy and of safety commend its use, wherever it can be 
furnished. At the present time, 28,897 customers are pro- 
vided with more than 375,000 lights, supplied through 255 
miles of street mains. The revenue from the Gas Works is 
fully adequate to their current expenses, besides the due 
provision for the redemption of loans created for their con- 
struction, but it does not enable the trustees to increase the 
capabilities for production, or to furnish the service pipes and 
meters required for additional consumption. The advantages 
of these works should be liberally extended to every part of 
the city, in which the demand for gas will justify the expense 
of its introduction. 
The accompanying statement of the income and expendi- 
tures of the Girard Estates, exhibits the usual annual balance 
to the credit of that trust. The proper disposition to be 
made of such balance, is a question of some interest to the 
communi ty. Whether it should be appropriated towards defray- 
ing the cost of the police, and otherwise diminishing the 
burden of taxation, or should be devoted to the improve- 
ment of the real estate belonging to the trust, cannot be 36 
determined by past experience, as it has heretofore, in con- 
formity with the provisions of Mr. Girard's will, been at dif- 
ferent times made use of for each of these purposes. The 
impracticability of appropriating it for the exclusive benefit 
of that portion of the city, which was designated by 
Mr. Girard as the special object of his liberality, greatly in- 
creases the difficulty with which this question is involved. 
The present Councils, as the successors of the original trus- 
tees, should enact such disposition of the annual balance, as 
upon careful inquiry may be required by the proper construc- 
tion of the will, and should not devolve upon a committee the 
unrestricted control of that sum. 
The Girard College for Orphans has completed the eleventh 
year of its successful organization and management; and 
the last annual report of its Directors contains a gratifying 
account of the advantages which it affords, and of the large 
number of orphans who are the recipients of its munificent 
bounty. 
The expenditures of the Guardians of the Poor for the past 
year have been $243,139 99, exclusive of $16,514 34 paid 
by them for liabilities previously incurred. The Blockley 
Alms House has contained an average monthly population of 
2,650 persons, among whom were at least 350 able-bodied 
men, who have been maintained at the public expense, w'ith 
little or no opportunity to contribute their services towards 
the support of the institution. The Hospital connected with 
this establishment has received and treated 6,063 patients, of 
whom 4,532 have been discharged, cured or relieved, 630 
have died, and 801 were under its care at the beginning of 
the year. The lunatic department has, during the same 
period, had 882 inmates, of whom 255 were discharged, 111 
died, and 416 remain. 
From statistics furnished by the Chief Resident Physician, 
it appears that the ratio of mortality among the inmates of 37 
the Alms-house has annually decreased during the last five 
years, having been reduced from 21.89 per cent, in 1854, to 
14.50 per cent, during 1858. There has been, at the same 
time, a large increase of the average monthly number of 
inmates, such average in the former year being 2,130, and in 
the latter reaching 2,650. The inquiry is naturally suggested 
whether this progressive increase of pauperism is to be suffered 
without limit, or whether the adoption of some other system 
is not imperatively demanded, by which the community may, 
in some degree, be relieved from its heavy annual expense 
for the maintenance of the unfortunate, the dissolute, and 
the vagrant. 
Independently of the actual disbursement from the public 
treasury, the great value of the premises occupied for an Alms- 
house must be considered in computing the cost of the present 
system for the relief and support of the poor. 
The Alms-house limits comprise 187 acres, which were pur- 
chased for $57,766 91, but which by their sale would unques- 
tionably produce a ten-fold return. The expense of the ori- 
ginal construction of the main buildings amounted to 
$859,743 84, which, with subsequent alterations and repairs, 
would make the capital actually invested for this establishment 
but little short of one million of dollars. Various plans have 
been suggested by which this expense might be diminished, the 
most feasible, in a mere financial view, being the sale of so much 
of this property as is not absolutely essential to the use of the 
institution. A large amount of unproductive capital would thus 
yield a revenue towards the general expenses of the city; but in 
no other respect would such plan tend to the desired result. The 
only effectual mode through which any permanent relief can 
be expected must be by the establishment of the House of 
Correction and Employment authorized by the act of 28th 
April, 1854. The inadequacy of the sum to which the Mana- 
gers of that Institution are limited for the cost of its con- 38 
struction, has for five years deprived the community of its 
benefits. Its early establishment I regard as of more vital 
importance to the city of Philadelphia than any other measure 
of municipal economy that could be suggested, and whatever 
expense may be required for its proper construction and man- 
agement should be unhesitatingly authorized. 
The commitments to the County Prison during 1858 num- 
bered 14,931, or 627 less than those of the year preceding. 
The maintenance of prisoners, with other incidental expenses, 
amounted to $56,820 42, being a decrease of $3,255 11 when 
compared with the last annual expenditure. The judicious 
and economical management of the County Prison since its 
supervision by the Board of Inspectors appointed by the 
courts, has been the theme of constant and well merited com- 
mendation. A similar result, it is confidently believed, would 
be accomplished in the department of the poor, by placing it 
under the control of officers selected in the same manner. 
The report of the Board of Health will show the extent of 
its operations during the past year. Its affairs have been con- 
ducted with energy, and with due regard to their economical 
administration. The condition of the public docks and of the 
sewers emptying into them, requires the early attention of 
Councils, and should have due provision for their periodical 
cleansing as a sanitary measure of great importance. The 
building on Coates street, formerly known as the City Hos- 
pital, having been sold in conformity writh an ordinance pro- 
viding for its removal, it has been necessary to obtain other 
accommodations for those patients whose disease or circum- 
stances entitle them to such public provision. 
A building has been rented on Islington lane and fitted up 
for the reception of such patients ; but this expedient is but 
temporary, and the wants of the community demand the erec- 
tion of an edifice specially adapted for hospital use. 
The tables of mortality in Philadelphia during 1858, exhibit 39 
a decrease of 201 in the number of deaths, compared with 
those of the preceding year, the total number having been 
10,964, of whom there were 5,716 males and 4,978 females. 
For more detailed information regarding the several sub- 
jects of municipal concern, I refer to the accompanying docu- 
ments. The message, which it is the duty of the Mayor to 
address annually to Councils, must to a great extent, be pre- 
pared from the statements supplied by the various depart- 
ments ; but, as it is not made obligatory to furnish him with 
an account of their respective transactions, the requisite infor- 
mation is in some cases but scantily as well as tardily afforded. 
I therefore renew the recommendation made by my immediate 
predecessor, that the head of each branch of public service 
should be required by ordinance to present to the Mayor, 
within a definite period after the beginning of every year, a 
full and circumstantial account of the affairs of his depart- 
ment since its preceding annual report. 
Several of the foregoing recommendations, which in view of 
their manifest importance I have felt constrained to submit 
for your consideration, will, if adopted, necessarily be at- 
tended with an increase of the annual expenditures, and in 
some instances, even of the municipal indebtedness. The 
establishment of a House of Correction, the building of suita- 
ble accommodations for the courts, the enlargement of the 
capacity of the water works and of the gas works, would each 
require for its accomplishment a sum that could not expedi- 
ently or justly be raised by direct taxation. The two last 
mentioned projects, would from their peculiar nature be 
immediately remunerative, and instead of adding to the 
burthen of taxes, would contribute to its relief. The 
citizen who is ignorant of the horde of vagrants and drunk- 
ards daily thrust upon the community from an over-crowded 
prison-whose pursuits do not call him into the fetid atmos- 
phere of a pent-up court room, whose property is suffi- 40 
ciently guarded, and who is in the enjoyment of the conve- 
niences of water and of gas, may perhaps demur to any in- 
crease of the public debt. But it is the true design of every 
government, and especially of one for municipal purposes, to 
afford equal protection and common advantages, so far as 
practicable, to all within its care; and to this end, whatever 
means it may demand should willingly be contributed to its 
treasury. The citizen who feels identified with the progress 
and reputation of his city, will never, through selfish conside- 
rations, seek to retard its advance, or suffer merited reproach 
to attach upon its name. 
With you, gentlemen, rests the responsibility of fostering 
and promoting the welfare of Philadelphia, and on the wisdom 
of your measures may depend its advancement and prosperity. 
But above all reliance upon the counsels of man, we should 
unfeignedly look to that Almighty Being whose watchful 
Providence has been vouchsafed in the past, for His con- 
tinued protection through the future. 
ALEXANDER HENRY. 
Office, of the Mayor of the City of\ 
Philadelphia, January 27, 1859. J ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. 
DEPARTMENT OF CITY TREASURY. 
City Treasurer's Office, Girard Bank, 
Philadelphia, January 13, 1859. 
Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor of Philadelphia, 
Dear Sir :-In reply to your inquiries of 18th ultimo, I 
beg leave to present the following general statement of the 
receipts and disbursements of this department during the past 
year: 
On the 1st of January, 1858, the balance in 
the Treasury amounted to - - $488,038 10 
The total receipts during the year were - 4,744,963 44 
$5,233,001 54 
Total payments during the year, - 5,035,618 33 
Leaving a balance on the 1st Jan., 1859, of $197,383 21 
To the credit of the Girard Trust there was on 
hand January 1st, 1858, - - $75,763 12 
Total receipts during the year, - - 190,662 31 
- 
$266y425 43 
Disbursements during the year, - - 193,659 66 
Leaving a balance January 1st, 1859, of - $72,765 77 42 
The several other trust accounts showed a 
balance January 1st, 1858, of - - $5,094 48 
Receipts during the year, - - 19,783 45 
$24,877 93 
Payments during the year, - - 15,925 15 
Balance on hand January 1st, 1859, - $8,952 78 
The total receipts into the City Treasury for the past year 
exceed those of 1857 by $072,696 33, which increase was 
made up in part by the loan of $450,000 authorized by ordi- 
nance of October 1st, 1858, and a temporary loan of $200,000 
negotiated on the 8th November under authority of an ordi- 
nance of November 6th, 1858. This amount was borrowed at 
that time at four months' date, for the purpose of relieving the 
necessities of the holders of the city warrants, and of course 
still remains unpaid. The receipts from taxation at the time 
of its maturity will no doubt provide for the payment of this 
loan. 
The total payments for the year 1858 exceed those of 1857 
$719,904 85. 
The warrants of 1857, outstanding on the 1st January, 
1858, as shown by the annual statement of the City Controller 
January 14th, 1858, amounted to $540,992 98. The out- 
standing warrants of 1858 on the 1st instant did not, I sup- 
pose, exceed the sum of $130,000, made up mainly of school 
warrants, which have since been presented and paid. 
In my report to his honor the Mayor in the beginning of 
last year, I called attention to the fact that a large amount 
of the warrants of 1855 and 1856 was then outstanding, be- 
cause no provision had been made for the payment of the in- 
terest which had accumulated on them. On the 15th 
March last, Councils appropriated the sum of $10,000 for this 
purpose, the whole of which has since been exhausted. 43 
A similar appropriation the present year I am confident 
will cancel all these outstanding evidences of the city's indebt- 
edness, which I do not doubt Councils will make as soon as 
they believe the revenue of the city will justify it. 
Very respectfully, 
WM. V. M'GRATH, 
City Treasurer. 
DEPARTMENT OF RECEIVER OF TAXES. 
Office of the Receiver of Taxes. 
To the Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Dear Sir :-Subjoined you have a statement of the amount 
of taxes assessed for city purposes for the year 1858; also 
the amount collected of same to the 15th instant, inclusive, 
and of the amount received since the 1st January, 1858, to 
this date, of the outstanding registered taxes prior to 1858. 
In consequence of the imperfect state of the duplicates fur- 
nished to this department by the City Commissioners for the 
year 1858, (five wards having no summary of the amount 
charged therein,) I am obliged to adopt the amounts charged 
in these wards in the duplicates of 1857 as a basis for the 
year 1858, making an allowance for the difference of the rate 
levied betwixt the two years, which will approximate very near 
the correct sum. 
Amount of taxes assessed for city purposes 
for 1858, - - - $2,706,896 88 
Deduct allowances for exempt property and 
estates belonging to the city, extended in 
the duplicates, - 40,000 00 
$2,666,896 88 44 
Brought forward, - - $2,666,896 88 
Amount collected from March 
9th, 1858, to January 15th, 
1859, inclusive, - $2,219,814 50 
Amount of discount allowed 
on same, - - $117,298 43 
2,337,112 93 
Balance outstanding, - - $329,783 95 
The amount received for advertisement of de- 
linquents in 1858, from the 1st January to 
this date, is - - - 1,580 76 
The amount received of registered taxes since 
1st January, 1858, for the years 1853, '54, 
'55, '56 and '57, has been - - 551,864 68 
Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
A. I. FLOMERFELT, 
lieceiver of Taxes. 
Per Robert McCrory. 
DEPARTMENT OF CITY PROPERTY. 
Department of City Property, 
Office, Second Story Girard Bank, North side, 
Philadelphia, January Sth, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Sir: Your circular of the 18th ultimo was duly received, and 
in compliance with your request, as also with the law, I herewith 
submit the following report, viz: 
The aggregate annual appropriations to this department for the 
current fiscal year of 1858, amount to the sum of 67,052 dollars, 
of which has been expended within the same period of time, 
$66,021 52, leaving an unexpended balance of $1,030 48. The 
aggregate special appropriations for the past year amount to the 
sum of seventeen thousand nine hundred and fourteen dollars 
seventy-three cents, ($17,914 73,) of which has been expended 
$16,413 13, leaving an unexpended balance of $1,501 60. 45 
The annual and special appropriations above specified, for the 
year, when added together, amount to the aggregate sum of 
$84,966 73; the expenditures for the same period foot up $82,434 
65, leaving unexpended and to the credit of the city $2,532 08. 
On entering upon the duties incident to this department, (July 
10, 1858,) I found the appropriations, which were not of a special 
character, and therefore liable to be drawn upon at will by my pre- 
decessor, in several instances greatly reduced or quite exhausted; 
for example, the appropriation for Hunting Park was $2,000, and 
three-fourths at least expended; appropriation for Norris Square 
was $1000, and some $30 left, for fuel $1,200, and ten twelfths 
thereof expended; the amount also appropriated to court houses 
and law buildings, together with public squares, was $4,500, and 
were alike found in the same lean category. Therefore, to manage 
the department without increasing the city's indebtedness, and yet 
advance the public interests, has been matter of no little anxiety ; 
with some trifling transfers, however, and with a comparatively in- 
significant appropriation of $1,000, the threatened difficulties have 
been surmounted. Much, in fact, has been accomplished in im- 
proving the squares, not only by manuring, rooting out noxious weeds 
or plants, relaying brick water-courses and other repairs, but by re- 
moving dead and dangerous limbs of trees, and uprooting in nume- 
rous cases their dead trunks, and transplanting others of a rare, 
ornamental and shady character, to beautify and improve the 
grounds. That the iron railings of the different squares require 
more or less painting to preserve them from corrosion and lasting 
injury, is a fact which cannot with any degree of candor be gain- 
sayed; therefore I am led to hope that should the appropriation 
shortly to be made by Councils fall short of enabling this depart- 
ment to accomplish its whole duty in this respect, Councils will not 
lose sight of a work so indispensable, but will, in their wisdom, 
adopt some plan by which it may be done. 
The gates to the squares also require early repairs, especially those 
which open and shut on rollers, being quite unsafe for children and 
even adults to pass in and out. Hence, immediately upon the pas- 
sage of the appropriation bill, will set about repairing them, which 
will cost near $300. 46 
Steps have been taken, and are being vigorously followed up, 
with a view to the early improvement of Fairmount Park ; tenants 
have been removed, a superintendent appointed, and hands have 
been busily employed recently in preparing the park for an antici- 
pated liberal appropriation, to carry out the wishes and expectations 
of the donors, to make this beautiful location one of the finest parks 
in the world; in short, it cannot be better described than by adopt- 
ing the language (in a report upon the subject,) of a former Com- 
mittee of City Property, viz : "The quiet shades and sunny slopes 
of these beautiful grounds, the noble trees which adorn them, the 
river which flows beside them, and the extensive and varied pros- 
pect of a charming landscape which they command,-all combine 
to mark this spot as one of unequaled fitness for a park, sacred to 
the health and enjoyment of all the people forever." When spring 
opens upon us, it is suggested that these grounds be surrounded to 
the Schuylkill with good and permanent fences, and other improve- 
ments be made, such as the character of the park would seem to de- 
mand. 
Much remains to be done in filling up the large and deep excava- 
tions, and otherwise accomplishing the work begun at Norris Square; 
indeed the appropriation of $1,000 likely to be made by Councils 
for this purpose, will neither satisfy the wishes of the citizens in 
that vicinity, nor will its fruits scarcely be recognized, however pru- 
dently expended. 
The Hunting Park, too, is yet in comparative embryo; and 
although many trees have been planted, more will be needed; be- 
sides, numerous walks now laid out should be pushed to completion ; 
and drains so essential to the life, growth and preservation of the 
trees already planted, be effectually made, if the designs of its origi- 
nators and the plan of its very able superintendent are to be even 
partially consummated. In brief, the trifling outlay so indispensa- 
ble to the proper care, preservation and improvements of our beau- 
tiful squares and parks, notwithstanding the city's indebtedness, 
should come without grudging; nay, be cheerfully meted out, for in 
no sense can our city legislators confer more lasting benefits upon 
its tax-payers and citizens generally. 
The tobacco warehouse has been rented with a view to increase 47 
the revenue of the city, believing it will pay better in the hands of 
others, than under the supervision of the city, which I have no 
doubt will be realized. 
Considering the limited means afforded this department, in the 
item of repairs to city property, in the shape of dwellings, halls, &c., 
considerable repairs have been profitably added to these properties, 
and certainly there is plenty of margin to expend with equal advan- 
tage and economy, a much larger appropriation than I presume 
Councils will think of granting. 
The wire bridge (according to contract,) has been lately well 
painted with two coats of the best white lead, ground in linseed oil, 
for the sum of $160, less, by nearly one-half, the cost of this work, 
than when painted at former periods; it has also been screwed up 
and otherwise repaired for $31 25, thus making the total expense 
less than $500. 
The clock at Spring Garden Hall, for the first time since its erec- 
tion, has been cleaned, repaired and put in perfect running order at 
a small expense, to the great gratification of the people within its 
circle of hearers, who are doubtless friends to true time. Annexed 
is a schedule of the real estate, &c., amount of appropriations and 
expenditures, together with the receipts of this department, &c., 
marked consecutively A, B, and C. 
All of which is respectfully submitted by 
Your obedient servant, 
J. M. CHRISTOPHER, 
Commissioner of City Property. 
L A. ] 
Real Estate under the control of the Department of City Property. 
Independence Hall, known as the State House, County Buildings, 
situated on Chestnut street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, in 
the Fifth Ward. 
Northern Liberties Hall, situated on the east side of north Third 
street, below Green street, in the Eleventh Ward. 
Spring Garden Commissioners' Hall, situated on the north-west cor- 
ner of Spring Garden and Thirteenth streets, in the Fourteenth 
Ward. 48 
Penn District Commissioners' Hall, situated on the north-east cor- 
ner of Tenth and Thompson streets, in the Twentieth Ward, now 
occupied as a police station. 
Kensington Commissioners' Hall, situated on the north-east corner 
of Front and Master streets, in the Seventeenth Ward. 
Richmond Commissioners' Hall, situated at the corner of Clearfield 
and West streets, in the Nineteenth Ward. 
West Philadelphia Commissioners' Hall, situated on the corner of 
Parke and Washington streets, in the Twenty-fourth Ward. 
Southwark Commissioners' Hall, situated on the east side of south 
Second street, between Queen and Christian streets, in the Third 
Ward. 
Moyamensing Commissioners' Hall, situated on the south side of 
Christian street, between Ninth and Tenth streets, in the Second 
Ward. 
Germantown Hall, situated in the late borough of Germantown, now 
in the Twenty-second Ward. 
Manayunk Town Hall, situated in the late borough of Manayunk, 
now in the Twenty-third Ward. 
Mayor and Marshal's offices, situated at the south-west corner of 
Fifth and Chestnut streets, now in the Fifth Ward. 
The Wire Bridge, at the foot of Callowhill street, over the Schuyl- 
kill river. 
A burial ground, situated on Charles street, containing two acres. 
The Tobacco Warehouse, situated on the north-west corner of Front 
and Spruce streets. 
The station house, situated in the late borough of Frankford, now 
in the Twenty-third Ward. 
Five stores, situated on south Front street, extending from Dock to 
Spruce street. 
A dwelling house, situated on Front, above Noble street, containing 
19 feet front by 20 feet deep, two stories in height. 
A dwelling house and lot, situated on Front, above Noble street, con- 
taining 89 feet on Front street and Washington avenue, and 149| 
feet on Noble street. 
A dwelling house, situated on Third street, above Tammany street, 
adjoining the Commissioners' Hall. 49 
Two dwelling houses, situated on Carpenter street, above Sixth street; 
both houses on the same lot. 
A stable, situated on the lot of ground corner of Washington ave- 
nue and Noble street. This lot contains 120 feet on Noble street 
and 38 feet on Washington avenue. 
A lot, situated on the west side of Sutherland avenue, having a 
front of about 3 feet on Christian street, extending north-until it 
strikes the south line of the Southwark Hall about 114 feet. 
A lot, situated on West and Railroad streets, formerly in the dis- 
trict of Richmond. 
A lot, upon which there is erected three frame dwellings, situated 
in the Twenty-third Ward, formerly the borough of Frankford. 
A stone school house and frame building, and two acres of ground, 
situated in the Twenty-third Ward, formerly in Bridesburg. 
Two dwellings, situated in the late borough of Frankford, in the 
Twenty-third Ward. 
A large tract of ground, with a stone building erected thereon, known 
as the Lemon Hill Estate, containing about 50 acres, more or 
less, situated in the Fifteenth Ward, formerly Penn Township. 
A lot of ground, situated on the north-west corner of Race and 
Crown streets, containing 125 feet, more or less, on Race street, 
and 240 feet on Crown street. Upon this lot is erected a dwell- 
ing on Race street, four dwellings in Richardson's court, a dwell- 
ing corner of Crown and Race streets, four dwellings, and one 
church edifice on Crown street, above Race; this property was 
purchased as a site for a market house. 
A lot of ground, situated on Spruce and Pine streets, between Twen- 
tieth and Twenty-first streets, containing 145 feet on Twentieth 
street, and also the same on Twenty-first street. Purchased as a 
site for a market house. 
A ground rent, situated on the north-east corner of Front and Spruce 
streets, payable by Hunt & Isaacs. 
A ground rent, situated on Oak street (east side) north of Coates 
street, payable by Henry Stiles. 
A ground rent, situated on the west side of Oak street, near Coates 
street, payable by Lower & Donohugh. 50 
A ground rent on lot situated on the west side of Fourth street, north 
of Chestnut street, payable by C. Benkert. 
A ground rent on lot situated on the corner of Front street and 
Black Horse alley, payable by Samuel Carswell's heirs. 
A ground rent, situated on the Frankford road, above Cherry street, 
payable by Lawrence Dillon. 
Two ground rents, situated on Race street, (lots Nos. 19 and 21,) 
payable by C. C. Gaskill and George Scott. 
A ground rent, situated on Front street, near Coates street, payable 
by George Ireland's heirs. 
A ground rent, situated on the corner of Shippen and Fourth streets, 
payable by Sarah Pleasants. 
Two ground rents, situated on Second street and Strawberry street, 
payable by Townsend Sharpless. 
A ground rent, situated on the corner of Tenth and Locust streets, 
payable by George Smith. 
A ground rent, situated on x\rch street, between Sixth and Seventh 
streets, payable by Joseph Wood. 
A ground rent, situated on the corner of Fifth and Plumb streets, 
payable by Alexander Young. 
Four ground rents, situated on the north side of Spring Garden 
street above Thirteenth street, payable by Charles E. D'Invilliers 
and others. 
A dwelling house, situated on the east side of Fifth street above 
Race street. 
A lot, situated on Jones and Filbert streets, corner of Sixteenth 
street, containing 106 feet on Sixteenth street, and 182 feet on 
Jones and Filbert streets. 
A lot, situated on the north side of Market, on which the gasometer 
now stands, extending from Twenty-second to Twenty-third 
street, containing about 273 feet on High street, by 306 on 
Twenty-second street. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Ninth and 
Tenth streets, payable by Samuel Fiss. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Ninth and 
Tenth streets, payable by John A. Owens. 51 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by John McKee. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by E. Clarke Davis. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by Lavinia Doughty. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by James Downes. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by Morris Hall. 
Two ground rents, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth 
and Eleventh streets, payable by Joseph Fareira. 
A ground rent, situated on Lombard street, between Tenth and 
Eleventh streets, payable by Elton Dunbar. 
A ground rent, situated on Tenth street, below Lombard street, 
payable by William H. Gray. 
A ground rent, situated in the Twenty-fourth Ward, payable 
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. 
A ground rent, situated on the north-east corner of Front and 
Dock streets, payable by Hanse Hamilton. 
A ground rent, situated on Union street, between Third and 
Fourth streets, payable by R. & G. A. Wright. 
A two-story brick dwelling house, situated in Brock st., above Tamany. 
A lot in Frankford, on which is erected a market house. 
Independence Square, situated in the square between Fifth and 
Sixth and Walnut and Chestnut streets. 
Penn Square, laid off in four squares. The north-west lot is 
three hundred and six feet, by two hundred and twenty-three 
feet. The north-east lot is three hundred and six feet, by two 
hundred and twenty-eight feet. The south-east lot is two hun- 
dred and thirty feet, by two hundred and twenty-three feet. 
Washington Square, situated between Sixth and Washington 
streets, and Walnut and Locust streets, 540 feet north and south, 
and 540 feet 4 inches east and west. 
Franklin Square, situated between Race and Vine streets, and 
Sixth and Franklin streets, containing 632 feet north and south, 
and 543 feet 6 inches east and west. 52 
Rittenhouse Square, situated between Walnut and Locust streets, 
and Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, containing 540 feet north 
and south, and 540 feet 4 inches east and west. 
Logan Square, situated between Race and Vine streets, and Eigh- 
teenth and Logan streets, containing 632 feet north and south, 
and 540 east and west. 
Jefferson Square, situated at the corner of Fourth and Washing- 
ton streets. 
Richmond Square, situated in the late Borough of Bridesburg. 
Fair-Hill Square, situated at the corner of Lehigh avenue and 
Fourth streets, containing 500 feet by 210 feet. 
Norris Square, situated at the corner of Susquehanna avenue and 
Hancock street, 330 feet by 486 feet. 
A Public Square, situated at the corner of Frankford road, Maiden 
and Beach streets, containing 96 feet by 128 feet. 
Germantown Square, situated in the late Borough of German- 
town, corner of Germantown avenue and Mill street, containing 
one-half acre. 
Hunting Park, situated on the York pike and Nicetown lane, now 
in the Twenty-first Ward. 
A bond and mortgage on lot and house situated in Haddington, 
payable by George R. Smith, for six hundred dollars. 
A property on Hart's lane and Lamb Tavern road, on which is a 
house, &c. Lot contains about eleven acres, part of which is now 
occupied as a burial ground, and upon which has recently been 
affixed a frame house, brought from Lemon Hill, to be used as a 
green house. 
[ B. ] 
Amount of Revenue derived from the Property described in the 
foregoing Schedule, during the year eighteen hundred and fifty- 
eight. 
For City Rental, - - - - $14,327 22 
For Ground Rents, ... 7,483 30 
For Mortgages, - - - - 490 00 
For Incidentals, - 2,676 11 
For Tobacco Warehouse, ... 2,035 38 
For Guardians of the Poor, ground rents, - 606 62 
Total, .... $27,618 63 53 
[ C. ] 
Appropriations and Expenditures of the Department of City Property for the 
year 1858. 
| Nos. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE. 
Amount of 
Appropriations 
Warrants 
Issued. 
Balances 
Which Merge. 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
Approved January 18tA, 1858. 
1 
Salaries of Commissioner and Messenger of City Pro- 
$2,000 
200 
00 
$2,000 
199 
00 
2 
oc 
00 
i no 
3 
Salaries of Collector of Revenue and Watchman at the 
Tobacco Warehouse 
1,160 
50 
00 
1,160 
00 
4 
Labor at the Tobacco Warehouse 
00 
45 
50 
4 
50 
5 
Salaries of Superintendents of Halls, Law Buildings 
and Jury Booms 
2,460 
00 
2,460 
320 
00 
6 
Salaries of house cleaners, and expenses of cleaning 
Public Halls $400 00 
Amount transferred to Item 16 51 50 
348 
50 
01 
28 
49 
7 
Salaries of Watchman, and Superintendents of State 
House and Public offices 
2.500 
00 
2,500 
00 
8 
Salaries of two Watchmen at Wire Bridge 
1.000 
00 
1.000 
0 
9 
10 
Salaries of three Watchmen at the State House Steeple, 
Salaries of Superintendents of Public Squares and City 
Burial Ground 
1,500 
4,700 
1,250 
1,000 
2,000 
500 
6,500 
151 
2.000 
00 
00 
1,600 
4,700 
1,006 
986 
00 
00 
11 
12 
For Improvement of Fairmount Park $2,600 00 
Amount transferred to Item 22 1,000 00 
" " Item 24 250 00 
For Improvement of Norris Square 
00 
00 
39 
13 
243 
13 
61 
87 
13 
For Improvements at Hunting Park, and salary ot 
00 
1,999 72 
500 00 
6500 on 
28 
14 
15 
Salaries of the Keepers and Regulators of Public Clocks. 
Rent of Office and City Law Building 
00 
00 
16 
17 
18 
Cleaning and Repairing Public Clocks $100 00 
By transfer from Item 6 51 50 
For State Taxes $500 00 
Transferred to Item 500 00 
Repairs and Improvements to City Property 
50 
00 
151 
1.998 
13,044 
248 
50 
38 
1 
62 
19 
Ground Rents and Interest on Mortgages 
13,367 
250 
00 
26 
322 
74 
20 
21 
For Curbing and Paving $400 00 
By transfer to Item 22 150 00 
For Insurance $15 00 
By transfer to Item 22 15 00 
00 
22 
1 
78 
22 
23 
24 
For repairs, cleaning, and supplies other than Books 
and Stationery, to Court Houses and Law Build- 
ings $2,000 00 
By transfer from Item 11 1,000 00 
" " 20 150 00 
" 21 15 00 
For Fuel for Law Buildings, Court Rooms and Offices, 
For Labor and other expenses at Public 
Squares $2 500 00 
By transfer from Item 17 500 00 
" " 11 250 00 
For Repairing and Painting Wire Bridge 
3,165 
1,200 
3,250 
500 
00 
00 
00 
00 
3,158 39 
1,199 32 
3,250 00 
401 25 
6 
8 
61 
68 
76 
26 
For Expenses of gas in lighting Halls, Squares, Offices 
&c„ occupied for city purposes, including Station 
Louses 
4,000 00 
2,000 00 
10,000 00 
3,966 
1,647 
10,000 
M 
43 
88 
27 
For Gas furnished by the City Gas Company, South 
wark and Moyamensing, Kensington, and German 
town Gas Companies, during the year 1858 
33 
352 
67 
28 
To pay an instalment on the principal sum of the 
mortgage on Sedgeley Park 
Of 
Total of general appropriations... 
07 052 Of 
66.021 
52 
1 030 48 
7 54 
Nos. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE. 
Amount of 
Appropriations 
Warrants 
Issued. 
Balances 
Which Merge. 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS, brought forward, 
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS. 
Appropriation to pay gas bills incurred previous and 
up to January 1st, 1858, approved June 12th, 1858, 
Appropriation to pay labor and other expenses at 
Public Squares, by ordinance approved August 23d, 
1858 
Appropriations for the following purposes, by an ordi- 
nance approved September 14th, 1858, viz: 
For repairs of the wall and iron railing on the south 
side of Independence Square 
For payment of bills of paving and curb setting on 
Wood street, opposite Norris square, from Howard 
to Hancock street 
$67,052 00 
5,455 24 
1,000 00 
175 00 
868 16 
$66,021 52 
5,455 24 
1,000 00 
175 00 
868 16 
$1,030 48 
For payment of bills for paving and curb setting at 
city premises upon Twenty first street, between 
Spruce and Pine streets 
For payment of bills for paving and curb setting oppo- 
site city premises on Twentieth street, between 
Wallace and Coates streets 
Appropriation to pay claims for the construction of 
the Eleventh District Station House in the Nine- 
teenth Ward, by ordinance approved October 28th, 
1858 
Appropriation to pay various State Taxes, by ordi- 
nance approved October 28th, 1857 
43 19 
356 24 
8,916 90 
1,100 00 
43 19 
356 24 
8,515 30 
401 60 
1,100 00 
$84,966 73 $82,434 65 
$2,532 08 
MARKET HOUSES. 
Office of Department of Market Houses, 
Philadelphia, January Sth, 1859. 
To Alexander Henry, Esq., 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
In accordance with your request of December 18th, 1858, I re- 
spectfully submit the accompanying papers, as statements of the 
receipts, expenditures, etc. of this department for the year 1858. 
The statements are not as detailed and accurate as I could have 
wished, owing to the great confusion in which I found the depart- 
ment, when I entered upon the duties of the office. 
The Statement, No. 1, embraces the receipts from the market 
houses for the year 1858; and, although taken from the books of 55 
my predecessor, I do not consider it either reliable or accurate, but 
as this matter will come more particularly under the report of the 
City Controller, I merely offer this as the only statement that can 
be made by this department at present. 
The Statement, No. 2, embraces the annual rents of the wharves 
and landings. I cannot give any information concerning the re- 
ceipts of this department for the year 1858, as the book accounts are 
disputed, and in the hands of the City Controller and Solicitor. 
The Statement, No. 3, contains the report of the money disbursed 
and balance unexpended of the appropriations made to the Depart- 
ments of Market Houses and Wharves and Landings, for the year 
1858. The cause of so large a balance of the appropriations being 
unexpended, arises from the fact of restrictions placed upon certain 
items, which prevented the expenditure of more than $100 per 
month; and it is owing to this fact also, that the market houses 
and wharves are in such bad condition. 
The probable amount of revenue to be derived from the market 
houses, for the present year, will be fifty-seven thousand dollars, 
after deducting the loss of revenue from the market houses in Market 
street. 
The amount of revenue from the wharves and landings may be 
set down at forty-eight thousand dollars, for the present year; it 
may reach a higher figure, as an alteration has been made in the 
manner of disposing of the leases. 
A general law for the better regulation of the markets is much 
needed; the ordinances of the old districts are still unrepealed, and 
the privileges said to have been granted by the old corporations, 
render it impossible for me to reform the abuses existing, until such 
a law shall have been enacted. 
Respectfully yours, 
N. T. BAROUX, 
G ommissioner. 56 
STATEMENT NO. 1. 
Receipts of Rents from Market Houses in 1858. 
Wharton Markets, Sections 1 and 2, $390 00 
Washington Markets, Sections 3 and 4 4,989 00 
Eleventh st. " " 4 and 6 2,725 00 
Market st. " " 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15.... 26,484 00 
S. Second st., " " 16 and 17 8,290 00 
Broad & Race sts. " " 18 and 19 602 37 
N. Second st. " " 20 and 21 : 5,138 00 
Callowhill st. " " 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 3,641 00 
Spring Garden st. " " 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 8,080 50 
Girard avenue " " 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 2,642 75 
Franklin avenue " " 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, & 52 & 53 4,709 25 
Beach st. " " 48 2 00 
Richmond " " 46, 50 and 51 171 75 
Frankford " 180 00 
Stands-Broad and Market, Filbert and Juniper 1,220 00 
Fish Company's stands 220 00 
Total $69,446 37 
STATEMENT No. 2. 
Annual Rent of Wharves and Landings. 
Dickerson street $50 00 Poplar street $500 00 
Heed " 150 00 Maiden " 150 00 
Prime " 275 00 Shackamaxon street 425 00 
Washington " 400 00 Marlborough " 100 00 
Christian " 2,550 00 Hanover " 425 00 
Queen " . 100 00 Palmer " 625 00 
Catharine " 325 00 Warren " 205 00 
Davis' Landing 100 00 Cumberland " 25 00 
Almond street 900 00 William " 50 00 
South " 1,100 00 Bridesburg Landing 100 00 
Pine " 600 00 Bridesburg Creek Landing... 25 00 
Spruce il 500 00 Green Lane " 10 00 
Dock " 4,000 00 
Walnut " 1,500 00 Coates street, Schuylkill 150 00 
Chesnut " 2,700 00 Wood " " 150 00 
Market li (South) .... 2,600 00 Race " " 40 00 
Market " (North) 800 00 Arch " " 50 00 
Arch li 4,200 00 Chestnut " " 4,580 00 
Race " 2,000 00 George " " 125 00 
Vine " 2,500 00 Walnut " " 125 00 
Callowhill " 3,550 00 Locust " " 25 00 
Noble " 3,500 00 Pine " " 13100 
Green " 3,500 00 South " " 50 00 
Coates " 3,800 00 j Callowhill, west side, 100 00 57 
STATEMENT No. 3. 
Appropriation and Unexpended Balance, Market Houses, 1858. 
Appropriations for Department of Market Houses for 1858 $11,083 70 
Balance unexpended $1,816 57 
Appropriation and Unexpended Balance, Wharves and Landings, 1858. 
Appropriation for Department of Wharves and Landings 
for 1858 $4,982 36 
Balance unexpended $2,781 53 
CITY ICE BOAT. 
Office, Trustees of City Ice Boat, 
Philadelphia, January 3d, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor, 
Sir :-In reply to your communication, dated December 
18th, 1858, requesting this Board to furnish a statement of 
the general condition and affairs of the ice-boat under their 
charge, I beg leave to refer you to the report made by this 
Board to Councils, May 27th, 1858, (See Appendix No. 29, 
Journal of Select Council,) from which the following is an 
extract, viz.: 
" The Trustees of the City Ice Boat have to record a win- 
ter of much shorter duration than we have had for several 
years, although, while it lasted, the cold was very severe, and 
the ice in the river Delaware, particularly at the Horse Shoe, 
was exceedingly thick and heavy, requiring the almost un- 
ceasing employment of the boat to keep the channel open 
between the city and Chester; she accomplished this duty in 
a manner most satisfactory to the Trustees, who consider that 
the extensive alterations and repairs made to her hull and 
boilers, in the years 1856-7, have rendered her as complete 
and powerful an ice breaker as can be constructed, and that 
her strength and ability is much increased by the alterations 58 
then made. The slight defect in the boilers, which caused 
the water in them to foam whenever she entered salt water 
from fresh, or vice versa, to which allusion was made in the 
last annual report, has been entirely cured. 
"The boat was put into service on the 17th of February, 
and was actively employed for one month, having been laid 
up on the 17th of March, during which period she towed and 
rendered services to twenty-two vessels and steamships, earn- 
ing therefor $1,546 78, which has been paid over to the City 
Treasurer. This sum is small when compared with the 
amounts earned for towage in several previous years, but is 
accounted for by the following facts, viz: 1st. That the boat 
was in service for only about one-third of the usual time; 
and 2d. That owing to the general prostration of all kinds of 
mercantile business, the number of vessels arriving at and 
departing from this port was very limited, consequently there 
was but little demand for towTage. 
"For the time the boat was in service, she has never 
steamed as much, having worked every day, and some part of 
the time at night, with the exception of one day required for 
cleaning the boilers, which, in former years, has been done 
usually every week. The machinery worked admirably 
throughout, and no time was lost either for repairs to it or 
the wheels. 
" Annexed is a statement of the amounts expended from 
the various items of appropriation made by Councils, for the 
year 1858, together with the balance remaining on hand to 
the credit of the Trustees, from which it will be seen that the 
balance unexpended up to this time is unusually large, par- 
ticularly for items 'fuel,' 'wages,' and ' provisions;' this is 
also owing to the short term of the boat's service, the estimate 
of the appropriation, as prepared by the Trustees, being based 
upon a period of ten weeks. 59 
11 The boat is now in excellent order, and will require but 
little if any repairs during the balance of the year. She is 
lying in the first dock above the Navy Yard, in charge of 
the engineer and watchman, and is insured against fire for 
$21,000. 
"The Trustees have received in cash since the first of 
January last, viz. : 
For a lot of old iron, - - _ _ $22 89 
For balance of towage earned in 1857, - - 77 17 
For amount of towage earned in 1858, - - 1,546 78 
$1,646 84 
And have paid to the City Treasurer, - $1,646 84 
This report embraces all the facts in relation to the boat 
up to the date above mentioned, since which time she has 
been laid up. She is now ready for service whenever needed. 
Annexed is a statement of the appropriation for 1858, 
showing the amount expended, and the balance which merged 
in the City Treasury December 31st, 1858. 
Appropriations to Trustees of City Ice Boat for the year 1858. 
Repairs. 
Fuel. 
Wages. 
Provisions 
Insurance, 
Wharfage & 
Incidentals. 
Beds 
and 
Bedding. 
Amount of appropriations 
for 1858 
Amount expended 
$3,000 00 
1,412 06 
$4,000 00 
2.670 31 
$3,000 00 
2,112 45 
$850 00 
280 65 
$500 00 
452 50 
$125 00 
125 00 
Balance unexpended 
$1,587 94 
$1,329 69 
$887 55 
$569 35 
$47 50 
All of which is respectfully submitted, 
By the Trustees of the City Ice Boat, 
JOHN DEVEREUX, 
President. 60 
GAS WORKS. 
Office Philadelphia Gas Works, 
January, 1859. 
Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor, &c. 
Dear Sir :-In compliance with your request, I transmit the 
within statements of the receipts and expenditures of the city gas 
trust for the year ending Dec. 31, 1858, together with a brief ex- 
position of the present state of the works and trust funds, and of 
their operations during the past year. 
All the mechanical structures are in good condition of repair and 
efficiency, having abundant capacity to satisfy the wants of the pre- 
sent number of consumers, and to meet all demands of current ex- 
penses for management and maintenance, and final liquidation of 
all the loans issued for construction-in a word, have the ability of 
entire self-sustainment. 
The property now included in the trust embraces the works and 
pipes belonging to the old city, the former districts of Spring Gar- 
den, Moyamensing, and West Philadelphia, the borough of Frank- 
ford, and the Gas Companies of Germantown, Richmond, and 
Southwark; the three companies last named having recently con- 
veyed their property in trust, under the provisions of the ordinance 
of the tenth day of May, A. D. 1858. 
In those wards of the city which were comprised in the late 
districts of Northern Liberties and Kensington, and also in Mana- 
yunk, the supply of gas is furnished by private companies, incorpo- 
rated under Acts of Assembly. 
The directors of the Manayunk Gas Company propose to convey 
their works in trust, under the before mentioned ordinance, in the 
month of April next. 
The advantages of gas light, both for public and private conve- 
nience, are now so fully appreciated, as to give rise to a general 
desire for the extension of its benefits to all parts of the city, not 
strictly rural. 61 
Numerous petitions asking for pipes and fixtures for supplying 
many thousand lights, have been presented by citizens in various 
sections of the city, who are justly entitled to the accommodation 
they request, but cannot obtain it unless they pay the entire cost of 
the requisite street mains, service-pipes and meters, as the funds 
which the Trustees of the Gas Works could lawfully apply to these 
purposes have been exhausted by their past extensions. 
A bill, framed by the Committee on Gas Works, to meet the 
necessities of the case, is now pending in Common Council, and, if 
enacted in the shape recommended by the committee, it will enable 
the trust to supply every reasonable application, and also to refund 
to citizens the moneys they have been obliged to advance in order 
to get their much needed supply of light. If, however, the bill 
should be amended in the manner that has been suggested by its 
opponents in Councils, so as to forbid the use of any part of the 
loan for increasing the manufacturing capacity of the works, its 
benefits cannot be extended as fast as they are desired, as the gas 
trust ought not to increase their distribution beyond their ability to 
supply gas, and must therefore proceed with the former, at such 
rate ouly as the current profits will enable them to increase the 
latter. So long as the accession of new customers shall continue to 
be limited by the present requirement of payment for pipes and 
meters by the consumer, the increase of demand for gas will not 
probably outrun the ability to meet it out of the profits. But as 
soon as this impediment is removed by the authorization of a loan, 
the increased demand will be much beyond this limit. 
The smallness of the margin now existing between the demand 
and the supply becomes evident, when it is known that the con- 
sumption in 24 hours has already reached within 12 J per cent, of 
the maximum capacity of manufacture. 
The consumption in December reached a maximum per day of 
2,368,000 cubic feet, and the greatest capacity of daily production 
is only 2,700,000, without making any allowance for the daily 
wear, or accidental breaking down of retorts and furnaces. 
Should the proposed restriction be attached to the ordinance for 62 
the loan, the result would be to put a stop to the reception of new 
consumers, while a large portion of the loan remained unexpended. 
Very respectfully, 
JNO. C. CRESSON, 
Chief Engineer. 
i 
Statistics of Manufacture and Distribution. 
The quantity of gas manufactured in the works that are under 
the trust, during the year 1858, is four hundred and eighty mil- 
lions, two hundred and eight thousand cubic feet (480,208,000 c. f.), 
making a total production, since the origin of the works, of 3,678,- 
296,000 cubic feet. 
The present extent of street mains, is 255 miles. The number 
of customers supplied, service pipes and meters, is 28,897. The 
total number of lights supplied from these works, is a little over 
375,000. 
Cash Account of the Trustees of the Philadelphia Gas Works, for 
1858, received during the year. 
For gas, main pipe and services, coke, tar, lime, 
&c., at this office, and at Spring Garden, Ger- 
mantown, Frankford, Richmond, and West 
Philadelphia, ----- $820,086 99 
For Sales of loan 9, - - - - 33,700 00 
For City warrants, - 288,030 95 
For Interest on loans, - - - - 9,195 00 
For Interest on city loans, - 6,647 50 
For City loans (redeemed,) - 7,100 00 
$1,164,760 44 63 
Paid during the year- 
For Works, street mains, repairs, coals, wages, and 
expenses, - $742,000 68 
For temporary loans (paid off,) - - - 65,000 00 
For Interest on loans, .... 49,457 65 
For Interest on loan 9, and appropriations to the 
City Treasurer for the redemption of $450,000, 
of city debt, ----- 66,000 00 
For Discount on city warrants, ... 431 25 
For City and gas loans, bought for account of the 
sinking fund, ----- 213,749 00 
Balance, - 28,121 86 
$1,164,760 44 
\ • - 
City and Gas Loans belonging to the Sinking Fund, Jan. 1, 1858. 
Six per cent, city loans, - - - - $38,300 00 
Six per cent, gas loans, - - - - 545,300 00 
Five per cent, city loans, - 49,800 00 
Five per cent, gas loans, ... 93,900 00 
$727,300 00 
The cost of which was, - - - - $735,961 05 
Bought during the year 1858. 
Six per cent, city loans, - - - - $157,200 00 
Six per cent, gas loans, - - - - 40,000 00 
Five per cent, city loans, - 12,000 00 
Five per cent, gas loans, - 2,900 00 
$212,100 00 
Making the amount of city and gas loans, now 
held by the " Trustees of the Philadelphia Gas 
Works, in trust for the Sinking Fund," - $939,400 00 
Which cost, ----- $942,610 05 
Attest: 
WM. FENNELL, 
Cashier. 64 
WATER DEPARTMENT. 
To the Honorable Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Sir :-This city was for many years celebrated on account 
of the copious supply of good water constantly furnished to 
the citizens, but in its rapid growth it has extended beyond 
the limits of the capacity of its water supply, and you are 
no doubt aware that our Water Works are now not sufficient 
to meet the wants of the city. An early opportunity was taken 
of calling the attention of the present Councils to the deficiency 
of the works, and means asked for to make such enlargements 
as the absolute present wants of the city require. A small 
amount was also asked for, to make the necessary examinations 
and preliminary surveys for bringing water from a distance 
beyond the influence of the city. A better supply of water 
was kept up the latter part of the year than the former, yet 
the complaints of want of water from some parts of the city 
were just, while it was not in the power of the department to 
remedy the deficiency complained of. Your police rendered 
much valuable assistance in stopping the large waste of water 
produced by the promiscuous and illegal use of the fire plugs. 
The department will require your assistance the coming sum- 
mer, and with economy on the part of the citizens in the use 
of the water, a supply equal to the necessities of the city can, 
it is hoped, be furnished. 
Water pipes have been laid to a larger extent the past year 
than any previous one, 67,293 feet have been laid in various 
streets of the city. As it is only laid when petitioned for by 
the owners of property in front of which it passes, who pay 
the expense of laying the pipe, it exhibits the rapid growth 65 
of the city. The following table exhibits the amount of water 
supplied to the city during the year, and shows an average 
daily increase of 1,428,835 gallons over the previous year. 
Months. 
Number of gallons pumped 
each month during the 
year. 
Average number of gal- 
lons pumped per day each 
month. 
January, - - . 
468,813,703 
15,123,022 
February, 
379,580,100 
13,556,423 
March, - - - 
470,333,332 
15,172,043 
April, - - - 
574,484,760 
19,149,492 
May, 
550,246,559 
17,749,889 
June, . - - 
681,710,529 
22,723,684 
July, 
752,081,590 
24,260,696 
August, - - - 
681,138,833 
21,972,220 
September, 
681,536,834 
22,717,844 
October, 
622,085,830 
20,067,284 
November, 
513,786,142 
17,126,204 
December, 
463,627,757 
14,955,734 
Total, 
6,839,425,959 
Daily average, 
- • - 
18,738,153 66 
The expenses for the year have been as follows: 
Salaries, ----- $31,232 82 
Supplies, including coal, oil, &c., - - 37,088 74 
Repairs of Works, - 20,966 66 
Extension of mains, - - - - 81,265 41 
Repairs of mains and keeping plugs and stops 
in order, - 12,293 49 
Taxes, - 393 49 
Re-assessment, - - - _ 3,145 00 
Special appropriation of Councils, - - 185 06 
Total, - - - $186,570 58 
The receipts have been for iron pipe in front 
of property, - $37,130 07 
Water rents, penalties &c., - - - 420,388 41 
Total receipts, _ - _ _ $457,518 48 
Being an excess of receipts over the expendi- 
tures, of - $270,947 90 
The re-assessment of the water rents, wrhich has been com- 
menced, and to a great extent finished, has been found to 
require much more time and a larger expenditure than was at 
first anticipated, but it will also bring a much larger return 
than was expected; the annual water rents will be increased 
about $60,000, without any change of rates, which amount 
has heretofore been lost to the city. The most rigid economy 
has been used in the management of the works, and a large 
saving in the running expenses effected. I would again call 
your attention to the necessity of immediately enlarging the 
works. When it is remembered that they yield the city a large 
return over all expenses, no hesitation should be felt in making 
the necessary appropriations. The profit of these works to 
the city for the past four years has been as follows: 67 
Receipts. 
Expenditures. 
Balance profit. 
1855, 
$382,036 72 
$250,895 37 
$131,141 35 
1856, 
351,936 49 
139,954 95 
212,981 64 
1857, 
425,426 11 
200,605 82 
224,820 29 
1858, 
457,518 48 
186,570 58 
270,947 90 
There is but $672,700 of outstanding loan on account 
of the Water Works, to be redeemed. 
Yours respectfully, 
HENRY P. M. BIRKINBINE, 
January Sth, 1859. Chief Engineer. 
Department for Supplying the City with Water, 
Philadelphia, January 8th, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, Mayor, 
In compliance with your request, I have to report that the 
receipts of this department are rapidly increasing, for instance 
the total receipts for Water rents, Iron pipes &c., for 
1855 was, - - - $381,410 17 
1856 " 414,365 80 
1857 " 425,661 94 
1858 " 457,518 48 
In consequence of the extraordinary amount of labor 
required to make the new registration of Water rents, as 
directed by ordinance of October 16th, 1858, it is impossible 
to have all the duplicates for 1859 prepared by the second 
Monday of January, the time required. 
Since the adoption of the ordinance for making the re-assess- 
ment, a large force has been constantly employed in examin- 
ing every dwelling house, store, manufactory, and other build- 
ing, and making daily reports to this office in detail. 68 
A large number of discoveries of fraudulent use of water 
have been made, and I have no doubt that the whole increase 
in the income of this department, from the re-assessment, will 
exceed $75,000. 
The total receipts for 1859 will probably reach $550,000, 
a large gain, and making the Water Works a source of great 
profit to the city. 
Great care has been taken in making the new registers, 
and when completed, they will no doubt do away with errors 
and discrepancies proceeding from the present imperfect system. 
The assessment has been made by wards instead of districts, 
as before. 
A statement of the financial operations of the department 
for the past year is hereunto annexed, marked A. 
Respectfully submitted, 
W. J. P. WHITE, 
Register of the Water Department. 69 
A.-Total amount of receipts and payments made to the City Treasurer from January 1st, to 
December 31s^ 1858. 
Kents of 
1856. 
Rents of 
1857. 
Penalties 
of 1857. 
Rents of 1858. 
Penalties 
of 1858. 
Iron Pipe. 
Fractional 
Rents. 
Total. 
Paid City Trea- 
surer. 
January 5 ............ 
$36 45 
$3,916 50 
562 13 
$25,314 25 
$3,179 48 
$1,318 35 
$34,327 16 
$34,327 16 
February^ .. 
2,124 25 
295 24 
38,250 00 
1,898 04 
884 94 
43,452 47 
43,452 47 
March, 
1,811 50 
255 00 
223,264 58 
1,071 59 
1,048 90 
227,451 57 
227,451 57 
April, 
506 00 
69 28 
10,163 25 
428 11 
1,577 09 
2,662 49 
15,406 22 
15,406 22 
May,.. . 
595 25 
77 28 
7,931 00 
381 70 
1,078 66 
1,659 33 
11,723 22 
11,723 22 
June, 
471 75 
64 76 
38,981 75 
1,901 49 
1,940 32 
1,860 44 
45.220 51 
45,220 51 
July, 
390 00 
57 26 
2,329 00 
334 24 
2,012 78 
2,132 10 
7,255 38 
7,255 38 
August, 
269 50 
36 23 
9,460 48 
1,403 30 
2,708 21 
1,912 11 
15,799 83 
15,799 83 
September, 
25 00 
3 75 
12,031 25 
1,749 77 
4,192 84 
1,742 94 
19,735 55 
19.735 55 
October, 
13 50 
2 02 
3,624 75 
388 65 
6,381 46 
1,106 23 
11,516 61 
11,516 61 
November, 
44 50 
6 67 
6,034 75 
879 25 
6,304 78 
1,000 99 
14,270 94 
14,270 94 
December, 
119 00 
15 15 
4,355 25 
619 79 
4,784 82 
1,465 01 
11,359 02 
11,359 02 
$36 45 
$10,286 75 
$1,444 77 
$381,740 31 
$8,086 30 
$37,130 07 
$18,793 83 
$457,518 48 
$457, 518 48 70 
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH. 
Health Office, 
Philadelphia, January 5th, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Pear Sir :-The Board of Health take great pleasure, at the 
close of the fiscal year of 1858, in presenting to your honor, and 
through you, to the City Councils, such information relative to this 
department, as is called for by you, in your communication of De- 
cember 18th, 1858. 
The accompanying documents will give you in full detail the 
amounts of appropriation to this Department for the year 1858, 
together with the amounts expended, carefully set forth under the 
respective items, as well as the amount of revenue received by the 
Board, and the sources from whence derived. From these it will 
be perceived that though the appropriations were made generally 
for the year 1858, a large amount thereof was expended by the 
late Board, whose term of office expired on the fifth day of July, 
and for debts contracted by them, but paid by the present Board. 
The amounts expended and contracted for by each respective Board 
are separated and set out in such manner, that at a glance they may 
be seen, and properly charged. 
Owing to the prevalence of much malignant sickness in many of 
the Southern and West Indian ports, in daily water intercourse 
with this port, it became necessary, for the better protection of the 
health of this city, to extend Quarantine for a longer period than 
required by law, to wit: the first day of October,-due notice of 
which was officially given through the public press; but fortunately 
the advancement of cold weather at that time rendered it unneces- 
sary to continue longer than the fifteenth of said month. This ex- 
tension, however, was attended with additional expense beyond that 
estimated in the beginning of the year. 71 
The number of vessels visited at the Lazaretto station during the 
quarantine season was 
Three hundred and eighty-one, - 381 
Of which there were Ships, ... 38 
Barques, ... 85 
Brigs, ... 96 
Schooners, - - - 162 
and one barge from the New York Quarantine via the Delaware 
and Raritan canal. 227 of the same were from foreign ports, and 
154 were from domestic ports. 87 were detained for purification 
and ventilation, prior to being permitted to come up to the city ; 
and of this number, 22 were obliged to discharge their cargoes at 
the station, which were subsequently transported in lighters to the 
city. 
961 foreign passengers arrived in vessels, and were treated ac- 
cording to law during quarantine season, and 2,222 during the 
whole year. The number of vessels thus visited and treated was 
much larger than have ever been detained at the Lazaretto. 
44 patients were treated at the Lazaretto hospital, of whom, 39 
under the successful attention of Dr. Filbert, the Lazaretto physi- 
cian, entirely recovered, and 5 died. 
Owing to the want of proper accommodation for storing goods 
taken from vessels arriving from domestic ports, the Board was 
obliged to obtain the use of the U. S. government warehouse ad- 
joining the Lazaretto property, which was kindly granted by J. B. 
Baker, Esq., collector of the port. Inasmuch as this warehouse is 
used by the U. S. Government for the storing of foreign merchan- 
dise, subject to revenue duties, and the experience of the past season 
has proved that it may be so occupied in future as to prevent the 
storing of domestic goods, subject to quarantine, the Board would 
recommend that Councils would make some arrangement with the 
General Government for the erection of sheds on the U. S. wharf 
at the Lazaretto, more particularly for the protection of heavy 
goods, such as cotton, &c, arriving in coastwise vessels, and which 
may be there detained for a few days only. 
Notwithstanding the inconvenience and expense incident to the 72 
detention of vessels, at quarantine, the Board are pleased to find 
that their operations and duties at the station have been conducted 
in such a manner as have proved satisfactory to the merchants of 
the port, and that there have been but few, if any complaints, made 
by those interested in either vessels or cargoes. 
Upon coming into office in July, the present Board found that 
the buildings and grounds at the Lazaretto were very much out of 
repair, there having been but little money expended thereon since 
consolidation, and with the approval of Councils, through the Com- 
mittee on Health, an appropriation was made for this purpose,-a 
large portion of which remaining unexpended at the close of the 
year, has merged, according to law. There still remain many 
repairs to be completed. What money has been expended was 
done in a judicious manner, and only in such cases as were actually 
required to prevent the property from going to destruction. 
The Board would again call the attention of Councils to the 
necessity of insurance on the buildings at the Lazaretto, if not 
already done, inasmuch as the " Philadelphia Insurance Company," 
in which they were insured, has failed and gone into liquidation. 
By an ordinance of Councils approved September 25,1858, the Com- 
missioner of City Property was directed to sell the buildings of the 
old city hospital at the south-west corner of Nineteenth and Coates 
streets, which action rendered it necessary for the Board to provide 
other accommodations. With the approval of the Committee on 
Health of Councils, they have leased, at a yearly rental of six hun- 
dred and fifty dollars, the buildings and grounds on Islington lane, 
belonging to Fleming's estate, for two years, with the privilege of five; 
and with an appropriation made by Councils for that purpose, they 
have fitted up the same in a suitable manner, and in so doing care and 
economy has been observed. For the particulars of these expendi- 
tures your honor's attention is called to the accompanying docu- 
ments. A large unexpended portion of this appropriation also 
merged, with other balances, at the close of the year, and as there 
still remains much unfinished work both at the Hospital and the 
Lazaretto, the Board have asked further appropriations for these 
purposes. 73 
This change of the location of the City Hospital, though attended 
with considerable necessary expense, will eventually be of much 
advantage to the finances of the city, thereby saving the difference 
between the rental of the property on Islington lane, and the reve- 
nue derivable from the lots vacated and formerly occupied by the 
city hospital. 
A general statement of the number of deaths during the year 
1858, is also annexed. Owing to the neglect of others than the 
members and officers of the present Board, the annual register of 
deaths, as required by law, has not been made up. In due course 
of time, the Board expect that this omission will be supplied, and 
that this interesting and beneficial statement of this branch of the 
Department will be properly continued. 
The Board regret that the proper registry of births for 1855, 
'56, and '57, as required by an Act of Assembly of March 27th, 
1819, has also, for the same reason, been neglected. This is par- 
tially occasioned by the neglect of those practising midwifery in 
not reporting to the officers of the Department. The present Board 
have taken up the subject, and expect in a few weeks to furnish to 
Councils and the public the requisite statement of births during the 
year 1858. 
A report of the vaccinations made to this department for three- 
quarters of the year, ending October 28th, by the 11 Vaccine Physi- 
cians" for the year 1858, elected by Councils in January, is also 
hereunto annexed. Owing to a want of the proper knowledge of their 
duties, which requires them to make quarterly reports to this 
board "of a list, alphabetically arranged, of the names, ages, resi- 
dences, and occupations of those persons successfully vaccinated by 
them," such reports were not made and furnished until the months 
of November and December, and then not so particularly as required 
by the ordinance of March, 1855, but still in a manner, which under 
the circumstances, was satisfactory to the Board. Upon the filing of 
these reports certificates to that effect were furnished to the physi- 
cians, upon presentation of which to your honor, warrants for their 
pay were drawn by you in conformity with the provisions of said 
ordinance. The annual amount of their salaries is $1,200, which 74 
sum this Board think might be saved to the city by imposing the 
duty of gratuitous vaccination upon the out-door physicians elected 
by the Guardians of the Poor, some of whom, for a part of the year 
at least, have been acting in both capacities, and receiving double 
pay. 
The Board would call the attention of Councils to the filthy con- 
dition of the public docks, and sewers emptying therein. From 
the report of our Sanitary Committee, and the experience of past 
years, they feel satisfied that nearly all of the sporadic cases of yellow 
fever reported during the summer months originate from these 
sources, and they would earnestly urge their cleansing at an early 
period, at a time when the commerce of the port could not be in- 
terfered with, and no sickness arise therefrom. 
The necessity of an early appropriation for the expenses of this 
Department is strongly urged by the Board, more particularly so, as 
the law forbids any contracts being made or supplies furnished, 
unless provision therefor has been made by Councils. When the 
present Board came into office they found but small appropriations had 
been made to the department for 1858, and that the larger portions 
thereof had been restricted to special purposes and for particular 
periods. No provision had been made for the board and attention 
of patients in either of the hospitals, and this too in the midst of 
quarantine season, with an unusual number of vessels arriving for 
treatment at the Lazaretto, and when great fears were entertained 
lest the yellow fever might be introduced into the city thereby. 
Councils had then adjourned for the summer vacation, and no appro- 
priation could be made until their meeting in August. Impressed 
with the necessity and importance of the prompt performance of the 
duties imposed upon them, and the emergency of the case, many of 
the members of the Committees pledged themselves personally re- 
sponsible for the payment of the bills contracted by the Board for 
the wants of the department until the action of Councils, and it was 
not until the 25th day of September, nearly three months after- 
wards, that any appropriation was made, since which time all the 
bills contracted have been promptly paid. 
Returning heartfelt gratitude in common with our fellow citizens to 75 
the Almighty Dispenser of all good and perfect gifts, for his kind- 
ness and care in preserving our beautiful city from the pestilence 
and disease which have ravaged some of our sister cities during the 
past summer, they close this report by stating that the utmost care 
and economy has been observed in all their expenditures, and a rigid 
scrutiny given in reference to all the finances and revenues of the 
Board; and they therefore trust that the operations of the Board 
will prove satisfactory to the Councils and the community over 
which you have the honor to preside. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
ROBERT LINDSAY, 
President of the Board of Health. 
Washington L. Bladen, 
Clerk. 
Statement of Deaths, 1858. 
Months. 
Males. 
Females. 
Total. 
January, 
392 
330 
722 
February, 
- 387 
359 
746 
March, 
526 
467 
993 
April, ... 
- 437 
371 
808 
May, - 
390 
342 
722 
June, - - - 
- 580 
464 
1,044 
July, - 
708 
602 
1,310 
August, . . - 
- 632 
567 
1,999 
September, 
566 
459 
1,025 
October, 
- 303 
299 
602 
November, 
327 
297 
624 
December, 
- 468 
421 
889 
5,716 
4,978 
10,694 
With a population of 600,000, the above shows about one death 
to every 56. 
Compared with 1857, there has been a falling off of 201, or nearly 
two per cent, in the aggregate. 
Certified from the record of the Board of Health. 
WASH. L. BLADEN, 
Clerk. 76 
Reports of Vaccine Physicians appointed by Councils January 23 rd, 1858. 
Ward. 
Name of Physician. 
Date 
of Report. 
II No' 
Cases. 
Date 
of Report. 
o 
co o 
CD * 
Date 
of Report. 
No. 
Cases. 
| Total. 
W. C. Todd 
Apr. 28, '58 
13 
July 28 '58 
19 
Oct. 28, '53 
CC cc 
9 
41 
2d 
P. Heany 
CC CC 
7 
7 
0 
14 
3d 
John Gheghan 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
00 
4th 
W. F. Patterson... 
No report. 
No report. 
No report. 
00 
5th 
B. McNeel 
No report. 
No report. 
No report. 
00 
6th 
A. C. Bournonville 
Apr. 28, '58 
3 
July 28, '58 
5 
Oct. 38, '58 
1 
9 
7 th 
M. W. Collet 
CC Ct 
10 
CC cc 
9 
CC cc 
8 
27 
8th 
cc cc 
6 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
6 
9th 
A. Owen Stille 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
0 
10th 
R. M. Downes 
CC CC 
2 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
1 
3 
11th 
J. L. Rihl 
cc cc 
10 
cc cc 
6 
cc cc 
2 
18 
12 th 
Jas. McFadden.... 
No report. 
No report. 
No report. 
00 
13th 
Apr. 28, '58 
0 
July 28, '58 
0 
Oct. 28, '58 
75 
75 
14 th 
B. Fisher 
No report. 
No report. 
No report. 
00 
15th 
D. W. B. Small.... 
Apr. 28, '58 
50 
July 28, '58 
8 
Oct. 28, '58 
4 
62 
16th 
W. N. Hanley 
CC cc 
10 
CC cc 
25 
CC cc 
5 
40 
17 th 
VV. 0. Kline 
cc cc 
30 
cc cc 
23 
cc cc 
30 
83 
18 th 
Chas. Cady 
cc cc 
3 
cc .c 
0 
cc cc 
12 
15 
19th 
S. W. Langdon.... 
cc cc 
3 
cc cc 
20 
cc cc 
5 
28 
20th 
J. G. Stetler 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
17 
CC CC 
4 
21 
21st 
John Conry 
cc cc 
cc cc 
4 
cc cc 
14 
25 
22d 
VV. N. Squire 
cc cc 
5 
cc cc 
0 
cc cc 
0 
5 
23d 
R. Burns 
No report. 
No report. 
No report. 
0 
24th 
J. E. Whiteside.... 
Apr. 28, '58 
11 
July 28, '58 
0 
Oct. 28, '58 
9 
20 
- 
- 
- 
- 
170 
143 
179 
492 
Certified from the Records of the Board of Health, 
WASH. L. BLADEN, Clerk. 
Health Office, Philadelphia, Pan. 1, 1859. 
To the President and Members of the Board of Health, 
Gentlemen :-The following items are the receipts of the office from January 1st, 1858, to 
January 1st, 1859. The total amount is 9,882 dollars 16 cents, which has been paid to W. V. 
McGrath, Esq., City Treasurer, viz: 
Fees on vessels from foreign ports $3,520 00 
Fees on Coasting vessels 410 00 
Examination of passengers 1,096 00 
Re payment of costs for the removal of nuisances €53 42 
Permits for burials, privies, &c 2,492 50 
Board of patients at the hospitals 365 34 
Outside channel fee at Lazaretto 445 00 
Licenses to clean privy wells 900 00 
Total $9,882 16 
Amount liened $1,821 96 
Amounts to be liened 406 45 
$2,228 41 
Yours respectfully, 
ARTHUR HUGHES, Health Officer. 
Recapitulation. 
Amount cash received $9,882 16 
Amount liened and subject to lien, and chargeable to City Solicitor 2,228 41 
Total $12,110 57 77 
An Appropriation to pay Six Months Salary of the Officers of the Board of 
Health, 1858, approved March Ibth, 1858. $7,452 50. 
Item. 
FOR WHAT PURPOSE APPROPRIATED. 
Amounts 
of Appropria- 
tion. 
Amounts 
Expended. 
Amount 
Trans- 
ferred. 
Balance. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
Salary of Health Officer 
" Clerk 
" Assistant Clerk 
" Chief Messenger 
" 4 Assistant Messengers 
" Port Physician 
" Bunner 
" 6 Bargemen 
" Lazaretto Physician 
" Quarantine Master 
" Steward and Gardener 
" Two Nurses 
" Seven Bargemen.. 
" Two Inspectors 
" Matron C. Hospital 
" Three Nurses C. Hospital 
" Watchman " 
" Physician " 
600 00 
600 00 
300 00 
270 00 
1.080 00 
400 00 
180 0C 
630 00 
750 00 
500 00 
487 50 
150 00 
525 00 
160 00 
200 00 
250 00 
120 00 
250 00 
$600 00 
600 00 
300 00 
180 00 
720 00 
399 97 
120 00 
630 00 
750 00 
499 98 
487 50 
73 85 
504 00 
80 00 
200 00 
249 38 
60 00 
249 96 
$76 15 
$90 00 
360 00 
03 
60 00 
02 
21 00 
80 00 
62 
60 00 
04 
1859. Jan. 1, Amount unexpended 
$7,452 50 
$671 71 
$6,704 64 
$76 15 
$671 71 
76 15 
6,704 64 
$7,452 50 
RECAPITULATION. 
Amount of Appropriation $7,452 50 
Amount Expended prior to July 5, 1858, $6,704 64 
" Transferred to appropriation Sept. 25, 1858, 76 15 
" Balance, unexpended, 671 71 
$7,452 50 
Owing to a want of appropriation, some of the officers of the late Board 
sued, and obtained judgment and issued a mandamus execution against the 
City for salaries due for January and February. This will account for the 
largeness of the above balance. 
An Appropriation to pay certain Vaccine Physicians, ^c., approved February 
23, 1858. 
Item. 
Appropriation. 
Expended. 
7. 
J. S. Helfrich, Vaccine Physician, 
1856, $25 00 
$25 00 
8. 
0. A. Stille, " 
" 12 50 
12 50 
9. 
H. St. C. Asch, " 
" 20 80 
20 80 
10. 
H. C. Poust, " 
" 37 50 
37 50 
11. 
J. D. Ward, " 
" Wood. C. H. 12 00 
12 00 
$107 80 
$107 80 78 
An Appropriation to the Board of Health for the Expenses of the Health Office 
and Lazaretto for the year 1858. Approved April 29th, 1858. $5,320. 
| Item. 
For what purpose appropriated. 
Amount of ap- 
propriation. 
Amount paid 
prior to July 
5, 1858. 
Amount con 
traded prior to 
and paid after 
July 5, '58. 
I Amount con 
1 tracted and p'd 
1 subsequent to 
| July 5, '58. 
ft s a 
Balance. 
I Ain't trans 
red by res 
tions of Ci 
ci Is. 
1 
Repairs to wharf, Lazaretto 
*200 00 
$150 00 
$37 99 
$12 01 
165 on 
2 
Repairs to quarantine master's 
house 
200 
09 
$35 00 
300 00 
3 
New roof to physician's house... 
Cordage, nermitR. Ar... Lazaretto 
300 
00 
00 
4 
250 
25 
228 65 
21 25 
00 
24 90 
10 
6 
Small boat, Lazaretto 
35 
00 
35 00 
7 
Medicines and instruments 
175 
00 
170 86 
4 14 
8 
' traw for bedding. Lazaretto 
Gas for Ci tv office 
00 
24 00 
1 
00 
9 
25 
00 
5 18 
19 
82 
10 Killing Ice-house. Lazaretto 
75 
00 
60 00 
15 00 
11 Repairs to boat-house, Lazaretto 
12 Renairs tn hosnital. Lazaretto... 
35 
00 
35 00 
200 
00 
10 00 
69 78 
120 
22 
13 
Cleaning and repairing well, 
Lazaretto 
30 
00 
5 50 
24 
50 
14 
Two flairs. T.azarettn 
50 
00 
35 25 
14 
65 
30 
on 
00 
30 
00 
16 
Carpet fo/ spare room, Lazaretto 
Taxes. Lazaretto 
50 
49 05 
95 
17 
18 
19 
100 
00 
96 18 
3 
82 
Printing and publishing 
150 
00 
147 75 
30 
1 
95 
Stationery and blanks 
200 
00 
187 25 
12 85 
20 
Taxes, fuel, gas repairs, and 
water rent, Health Office 
200 
00 
19 46 
19 06 
161 
54 
21 
Office furniture, postages, re- 
pairs, cleaning and incidentals 
Removal of nuisances 
250 
00 
235 78 
4 50 
7 75 
1 
97 
22 
2.000 
' 40 
00 
1,061 19 
7 50 
688 48 
250 
33 
23 
Water coolers aud ice 
00 
11 08 
21 42 
24 
Carrying infected vessels back 
to quarantine, if required, 
during the year 
500 
00 
®500 00 
25 
Carrying Lazaretto mail 
175 
00 
35 00 
122 50 
17 
50 
$5,320 00 
$2,602 82 
$377 51 $992 86 
$500 00 
$846 
81 
500 
992 
377 
2,602 
00 
86 
51 
82 
1859, January 
$5,320 00 
L. Amoun 
t unexpended, $846 81. 
$5,320 00 
Amount of appropriation 
$5,320 00 
Amount expended prior to July 5, 1858 
$2,602 82 
Amount contracted prior to July 5, 1858 and paid for subsequently... 
Amount contracted and expended since July 5. 1858 
377 51 
992 86 
Amount transferred by Councils to appropriation Sept. 25th, 1858 
500 00 
Amount of balance unexpended 
846 81 
$5,320 00 $5,320 00 
RECAPITULATION. 
Amount of C 
appropriation. 
Jontracted 
in 1857. 
To pay claim of Lane Schofield, for filling up certain lots on Stiles and 
Cabot streets, approved Oct. 22,1858 
$312 25 
$312 25 
To pay claim of .1. Altamont Phillips, for compiling digest 
200 00 
200 00 
To pay claim of Crissy & Markley, for printing and binding digest, ap- 
proved November 1. 1858 
253 00 
253 00 
To pay salaries of vaccine physicians elected by Councils in January, 
1858, (warrants to be drawn by the Mayor,) , 
1,200 00 
1,200 00 
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS. 79 
u4n appropriation to the Board of Health, for the Expenses of that Department 
for the year 1858. Approved September 25, 1858, $20,366 50. 
Item. | 
For what purposes appropriated. 
Amount of 
Appropriation, i 
Amount con- 
tracted prior to 
and paid since 
July 5, 1858. 
Amount con-| 
tracted andp'd. 
since July 5. 
1858. 
Amount 
transferred by 
Councils. 
Balance. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
10 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
gg 
Salary of Lazaretto Physician, 6 mos. 
Salary of Quarantine Master, 6 mos. 
Salary of Steward and Gardener, 6 
mos 
Salary of two Nurses 
Transfer, November 30,1858.... 
Salary of seven Bargemen, 6 mos.... 
Transfer, November 20,1858 
Salary of Chief Clerk. 6 mos 
Salary of Assistant Clerk. 6 mos 
Salary of Health Officer, 6 mos 
Salary of Port Physician, 6 mos 
Salary of Chief Mes-enger, 6 mos 
Salary of four Assistant Messengers, 
6 mos 
Salary of Runner, 6 mo- 
Salary of two Inspectors of Vessels, 
6 mos 
Salary of Physician, City Hospital, 
6 mos 
Salary of Matron, City Hospital, 6 
mos ..... 
Salary of three Nurses, City Hospital, 
6 mos 
Salary of Watchman, City Hospital, 
6 mos 
Salary of Laundress, City Hospital, 
6 mos 
Salary of Nurse, City Hospital, June, 
1858 
Clothing, bedding, straw, brushes, 
soap, furniture and incidentals, 
"Lazaretto" 
Transfer. November 20, 1858 
Medicines and instruments, lime, &c 
Coffins, "Lazaretto" 
Coal, wood and fluid, "Lazaretto"... 
Carriages, railroad tickets, &c., Laza- 
retto Committee 
Horse keep at Lazaretto 
Board of bargemen, &c., &c., at La- 
zaretto 
Outside channel visits. Lazaretto 
Transfer, November 20,1858 
General repairs at Lazaretto 
Transfer, December 29, 1858 
Small boat for Quarantine Master... 
Carriages and tickets for Poudrette 
Committee 
Carriages and tickets for District 
Committee 
Taxes, fuel, gas, repairs, &c., Health 
Office 
Printing and publishing, Health Of 
flee 
stationery and blanks, Health Office 
Furniture postages, and incidentals. 
Health Office. 
Removal of Nuisances 
Amounts carried forward 
$750 00 
500 00 
487 50 
150 00 
$76 15 
1,080 00 
$114 52 
600 00 
300 00 
600 00 
400 00 
270 00 
1,080 00 
180 00 
280 00 
250 00 
200 00 
250 00 
120 00 
78 00 
12 00 
1,500 00 
$315 48 
100 00 
100 00 
150 00 
150 00 
175 00 
1,000 00 
200 00 
+70 00 
1.000 00 
*400 00 
40 00 
100 00 
200 00 
100 00 
250 00 
200 00 
150 00 
3,500 00 
$10 00 
85 
12 00 
46 66 
46 00 
51 00 
289 55 
87 00 
36 14 
29 00 
46 00 
5 00 
54 00 
50 57 
5 01 
$750 00 
500 00 
487 50 
213 58 
1,184 52 
600 00 
300 00 
600 00 
400 00 
270 00 
1,080 00 
180 00 
270 00 
250 00 
200 00 
198 82 
60 00 
683 39 
56 00 
16 33 
95 00 
6 50 
531 58 
183 00 
644 79 
40 00 
27 00 
22 00 
73 32 
193 90 
47 90 
25 41 
1,101 68 
*$300 00 
*400 00 
*600 00 
*1,500 00 
$12 57 
10 00 
51 18 
60 00 
77 15 
385 00 
44 00 
100 00 
87 67 
4 00 
168 50 
178 87 
119 07 
44 00 
132 00 
21 68 
2 10 
1 53 
119 58 
898 32 
$13,550 65 
$768 78 
$11,172 22 
$2,800 00 
$2,516 62 80 
| Item. 
For what purposes appropriated. 
Amount of 
Appropriation. 
Amount con- 
tracted prior to 
and paid since 
July 5, 1858. 
Amount con- 
tracted and p'd 
1 since July 5. 
1858. 
Amount 
transferred by 
Councils. 
Balance. 
Amounts brought forward 
$13,550 65 
$768 78 
$11,172 22 
$2,800 00 
$2,516 62 
37 
Carriages and tickets for Burial 
Ground Committee 
50 00 
15 00 
*35 00 
38 
Committee on Bills of Mortality 
100 00 
*100 00 
39 
Committee on Library 
50 00 
25 00 
25 00 
40 
Board of watchmen, nurses, &c., City 
Hospital 
714 00 
273 28 
181 38 
959 $4 
41 
Board of patients, City Hospital 
800 00 
122 07 
19 99 
*200 00 
457 94 
42 
Coffins and digging graves, City 
Hospital 
150 00 
*100 00 
150 on 
43 
Bedsteads and other furniture, City 
Hospital 
50 00 
50 no 
44 
Horse and wagon keep and repairs, 
City Hospital 
275 00 
60 20 
123 77 
91 03 
45 
Coal, wood, and porterage, City Hos- 
pital 
300 00 
68 75 
41 25 
*100 00 
QO OO 
46 
Bedding and clothing, City Hospital 
200 00 
200 00 
47 
Ice. City Hospital 
75 00 
14 00 
23 80 
37 20 
48 
Incidental repairs, 4c., &c., &c., City 
Hospital 
150 00 
7 00 
*143 00 
49 
Carriages and tickets for Sanitary 
Committee 
250 00 
43 00 
69 00 
*100 00 
3R OO 
50 
Extraordinary expenses, 4c., Sani- 
tary Committee 
250 00 
123 50 
*100 00 
26 50 
51 
Soap, starch, fluid, oil, 4c., 4c., City 
Hospital 
200 00 
45 23 
54 16 
*100 00 
61 
52 
Medicines, leeching and lime, City 
Hospital 
150 00 
2 13 
47 R7 
53 
Brandy, wine, porter and ale, City 
Hospital 
100 00 
50 00 
54 
Good will, rent, repairs, &c., City 
Hospital, as provided for by City 
Councils-and approved; made up 
by transfer ot amounts from Items 
20, 27, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 44, 48, 49, 
50, 51, 52,53 
*3,528 00 
2,509 36 
1 01R 64 
$20,942 65 
$1,395 31 
$14,487 56 
*$3,928 00 
$5,059 78 
14.487 56 
1,395 31 
$20,942 65 
$20,942 65 
1859. Jan. 1. Amount unexpended. 
$5,059 78 
* These figures represent transfers of one and the same appropriation from one item to 
another, and are included in original appropriations. 
f Transferred from Appropriation March 15th. 
J Transferred from Appropriation April 29th, 
Amount of appropriation 
$20,366 50 
Amount transferred November 20,1858 
576 15 
Amount contracted prior to and paid subsequent to 
July 5,1858 
Amount contracted and paid since July 5, 1858 
14,487 56 
Balance unexpended 
5,059 78 
$20,942 65 $20,942 65 
RECAPITULATION 81 
SUMMARY OF ALL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1858. 
For what purposes appropriated. 
Amount of 
Appropriation. 
Amount con- 
tracted prior to 
1 and paid since 
July 5,1858. 
Amount con- 
tracted and p'd 
since July 5, 
1858. 
Amount 
transferred by 
Councils. 
Balance. 
Approved February 23,1858 
Approved April 29,1858 
Approved March 15, 1858 
Approved September 25, 1858 
Transfer of November 20, 1858 
Transfer of November 20. 1858 
Approved October 29,1858 
Approved November 1, 1858 
Approved, "Vaccine Physicians, and 
chargeable to the mayor 
Amounts of appropriations 
Amounts expended by and on account 
old Board 
Amounts expended by present Board 
Amounts of balance unexpended 
Amounts transferred 
$107 80 
5,320 00 
7,452 50 
20.366 50 
' 76 15 
500 00 
312 25 
453 00 
1.200 00 
$107 80 
) 377 51 
J 2.602 82 
6.704 64 
1,395 31 
312 25 
453 00 
| 992 86 
14,487 56 
500 00 
76 15 
846 81 
671 71 
5,059 78 
1,200 00 
$35,788 20 
$35 788 20 
$11,953 33 
$15,480 42 
$576 15 
$7,778 30 
11,958 33 
15,480 42 
7.778 30 
576 15 
$35,788 20 
and merged Dec. 31,1 
858. 
E. E. 
WASHINGTON L. BLADEN, Clerk. 
DEPARTMENT OF POOR. 
Department of Poor, 
Philadelphia, January Is/, 1859. 
To Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor of Philadelphia, 
Sir :-Your favor, requesting a general statement of the condi- 
tion of this department, has been duly received, and in reply thereto 
I respectfully submit for your consideration the following report. 
The appropriations made for the year 1858 were as follows: 
By an ordinance, (approved January 27, 1858,) for 
the expenses of the year, - - - $197,637 00 
By an ordinance (approved October 27,) for the 
balance of the year, - _ - - 46,655 00 
$244,292 00 
Amount of warrants drawn on account thereof, - 236,011 31 
Balance unexpended, ... - $8,280 69 82 
By an ordinance approved December 16, 1858, to 
pay bills principally contracted previous to July, 
1858, $7,206 96 
Amount of warrants drawn on account thereof, - 7,128 68 
Balance unexpended, .... $78 28 
In addition to the above, there was appropriated by 
an ordinance, approved April 30th, to meet the 
deficiency of the previous year, - - - $16,635 60 
Amount of warrants drawn on account thereof, - $16,514 34 
$121 26 
The financial troubles of the winter of 1857-8, showed them- 
selves in their effects, by the increase during the year in the 
number of applicants for relief, an increase which would have been 
much greater, but that the numerous benevolent associations at 
that time organized, contributed considerably to the assistance 
demanded. 
The average amount paid for out-door relief is about fifty cents 
per week to each person, and this sum suffices to keep the recipients 
from becoming inmates of the alms-house, at a cost to the city of 
from $1 25 to $1 50 per week each ; yet, notwithstanding the evi- 
dent reduction of our expenditures to be gained by a judicious appli- 
cation of this system of out-door relief, the smallness of appro- 
priations for the purpose soon leaves us without means, and forces 
us to suspend, in a great measure, all assistance of this kind. 
At this time, when economy in the conduct of all the depart- 
ments is an object which, as it should be, is kept constantly in 
view, it may be well to say a few words upon the importance of an 
early passage of appropriation bills. 
Whether these bills are passed or not, the expenses of the alms- 
house in a great measure still go on, and it is found to be utterly 
impossible to purchase any goods, required for the use of the insti- 
tution, at wholesale cash prices, when there are great doubts of the 
ability of the department to pay for them for months afterward. 83 
Not only this, but by a strict construction of the act of Assembly of 
April 25th, 1858, the Board of Guardians can make no purchases 
whatever, unless appropriations have been previously passed by 
Councils to pay for the same. Yet, the effect of stopping supplies 
would be to throw upon the community the three thousand pau- 
pers resident in the alms-house, many of these sick or aged, and all 
of them destitute. Such a terrible alternative cannot for a moment 
be regarded, and but one thing remains to be done. Provisions 
are purchased to feed them, clothing is procured to cover them, 
medicine is obtained to relieve them, and in all cases where we have 
not the means at our disposal, these must be had upon credit, the 
sellers running the risk of the passage of appropriations. 
The average monthly population of the alms-house, during 1858, 
was as follows : 
January, ----- 2,980 
February, - - - 3,128 
March, ----- 2,944 
April, ----- 2,477 
May, ----- 2,268 
June, ----- 2,260 
July, ----- 2,275 
August, ----- 2,316 
September, ----- 2,268 
October, ----- 2,355 
November, ----- 2,616 
December, - 2,840 
Of these, probably over twelve per cent, are men, stout and able- 
bodied, who not only could, but most undoubtedly should be made 
to work for their own support, and for the maintenance of the insti- 
tution. For the want of proper facilities, but about one hundred 
can be thus employed, and the remainder live in idleness-an ex- 
pense to the department, and a disgrace to the system which 
allows it. 
The importance of having a house of correction to meet this evil, 
has been so frequently urged, that but little need be said here in 
favor of it. In 1854, a bill was passed in the Legislature of this 84 
State, giving authority to certain commissioners to purchase a suit- 
able lot of ground for the purpose of erecting a building for such 
use. These commissioners examined various sites, visited different 
cities, and obtained full information upon the subject, and after 
giving the matter a careful consideration, published a report of their 
proceedings, setting forth the probable cost of such a building to 
be at least $300,000. By the act above referred to, the limit of 
expense was fixed at but $100,000, so all further action in the mat- 
ter was suspended, and nothing whatever has since been done. It 
is to be hoped, however, that it will not rest here, but that the evi- 
dent advantages of a house of correction, both in an economical 
and a truly benevolent point of view, will carry sufficient weight 
with them to insure its construction. 
In the internal arrangements of the alms-house, the principal 
change is the substitution of gas for oil, in lighting the building, 
and the advantages of the new method are already apparent, in the 
increased cleanliness, comfort, and health of the inmates. 
I have the honor to be, 
Very respectfully, 
Your obedient servant, 
GEO. HUHN. 
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON. 
Philadelphia County Prison, 
January 14<A, 1859. 
To the Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor, 
Sir :-I beg leave to make the following statement: 
Whole number committed to Philadelphia County Prison during 
the year 1858, 14,913 
Convicted to hard labor, - 339 
Last year the total number committed were, - - 15,540 
Convicted to hard labor, - - . - 269 
The cost of support of the prisoners for the year 1858, amounted 
to, $56,820 42 
Last year the cost was, - - . - 60,075 53 85 
The manufacturing department will net about $9,000, over and 
above all expenses. 
Permit me to say, that of the 14,913 committed during the year 
1858 to the prison, over 9,000 were for disorderly conduct, drunken- 
ness, and vagrancy; another argument in favor of a House of Cor- 
rection. • 
Respectfully, yours, 
J. K. HOWELL, 
Clerk Phila. County Prison. 
SURVEY DEPARTMENT. 
Department of Surveys, 
December 27 th, 1858. 
To his Honor, Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of Philadelphia, 
Dear Sir :-I take great pleasure in complying with your note 
of the 18th inst., asking for a full, accurate, and detailed statement 
of the general condition of this department for the past year, with 
the amount of moneys received and disbursed, &c., &c., and beg 
leave to report, That the appropriations made to this department 
during the year 1858 have been as follows: 
General appropriation of January 11th, 1858, - $29,354 30 
Special " of April 28th " - 84 28 
$29,438 58 
Of this has been expended, as will be shown in de- 
tail by the statement of the City Controller, - $24,517 34 
Leaving balance unexpended, Jan'y 1, 1859, - $4,921 24 
The preparation of sectional plans of our city plat has been con- 
ducted with energy by the Surveyors and Regulators in their respec- 86 
tive districts; the following being a list of those which have been 
placed on record in this office during the past year, viz : 
2d section of Chestnut Hill-lineal survey. 
Sth " Bleckley " u 
6th 11 11 t( ££ Approved May 3,1858. 
7th ££ " ££ " Examined by Board. 
2d (( Germantown, grades and survey Approved Nov. 15,'58. 
5th 11 21st ward 11 il a May 3,1858. 
6th a Germantown li 11 11 
4th il 21st ward, ££ Examined by the Board. 
2d £< Frankford " Approved Nov. 1, 1858. 
3d a « tc a ci ii 
4th " (l " " 11 11 
White Hall " 11 " " 
1st a 23d ward, ££ Examined by the Board. 
2d " " " 
3d " " " 
4th " " " - 
5th a ££ <£ Examined by the Board. 
6th " 11 " 
3d ££ Chestnut Hill, lineal survey. 
6th ££ 21st ward, south of Erie avenue, grades. 
4th ££ Bloekley, ££ 
££ Between Susquehanna and City avenues and Forty- 
second and Fifty-first streets. 
10th 11 Bloekley, lineal survey. 
The amount of work thus returned by the Surveyors may be esti- 
mated, when I state that it covers an area of 7,000 acres, with 250 
miles of streets, extending beyond the built-up portions of our city. 
In the most of the survey districts, the plans on file and now un- 
der course of preparation, when completed, will extend nearly to the 
limits that may be considered necessary for many years, for all city 
purposes, and will guard us from the necessity of arranging our 
plans to suit artificial circumstances, to avoid excessive damages, 
rather than adopt what a judicious adaptation of the natural topogra- 87 
phy would suggest; so soon as this point is reached, the expenses of 
this department will be reduced to its minimum of salaries only. 
During the past year the out-door business of the department has 
been more than usually called into requisition in matters of engi- 
neering ; we have built a number of small bridges of different cha- 
racter, from the stone arch to the simple girder truss, besides work 
for completion of structures unfinished when the city was consoli- 
dated, and repairs necessary from ordinary wear and tear, as well 
as from imperfect workmanship at erection, but will only allude to 
two. 
At the bridge on Gunners Run canal at York street, we have re- 
placed one abutment, dilapidated from bad foundation, and the 
other must be taken down and rebuilt so soon as spring opens. 
At the Girard avenue bridge we have completed the very heavy 
retaining walls necessary for the filling and use of the approaches. 
This has been a work of greater magnitude than was originally an- 
ticipated, owing to the difficulty of finding suitable material upon 
which to base a wall of such dimensions, and at the same time pre- 
serve as much of the old wing-wall as possible; it has been attended 
with imminent peril, but I am happy in being able to report that no 
loss of life or injury of any kind has resulted therefrom. It would 
have been judicious and economical, on the part of the city, had we 
been authorized at the same time to repair the imperfect abutment 
at the western end of that bridge, as the foundation must be very 
defective, and if on rock, as is asserted, must be so shelving as to 
furnish but a poor ground work for the superincumbent weight of 
masonry. This is shown by the opening of the joints on the north- 
ern corner, and which, I fear, will ere long render it imperative to 
have recourse to heavy expenditure for renewal, and even now 
must be sustained by shoreing to preserve it, and prevent the con- 
sequent destruction of at least one span of the superstructure, should 
the abutment fall. 
The superstructure of this bridge was erected in the year 1853, 
prior to consolidation, and was not used for travel, other than foot 
passengers, until the winter of 1857, when the retaining walls on 
the eastern side were completed; though the western approach was 
yet incomplete, sufficient width of roadway was open to permit safe 88 
travel. Shortly after my assuming the duties entrusted to me by 
the city, I observed evidences of weakness in the structure, not from 
decay alone; and at the completion of the eastern approach made a 
written protest against throwing it open for public use. Hut it was 
unheeded, until the evidences noticed and reported were, during the 
past autumn, rendered apparent to all by the arches of the eastern 
shore span breaking between the skewback and lower chord. Orders 
were at once issued by the highway department for their repair, and 
in doing so every weak joint has been strengthened, and the entire 
bridge has been adjusted to its lines, both horizontal and vertical. 
We therefore now present it to the public as a safe and secure struc- 
ture. Much might be said in reference to the bridge, as to its inju- 
dicious location and consequent extra cost, but as it was before the 
time of our responsibility, it would be of no particular advantage. 
This bridge yet requires a suitable flooring, when a highway will be 
thrown into public use that has long been required for the north- 
western section of our city. 
I am also gratified, sir, in reporting to you that the four principal 
lines of culverts, memorials for which have poured into the cham- 
bers of Councils for several years past, have now been allotted to 
responsible parties to construct, under such specifications and details 
of contract as will secure to the city the best character of work'. 
These works, sir, I consider the most important of any that have 
been undertaken by our city for many years. Their results will not 
only be for the individual comfort of those residing upon the imme- 
diate lines thereof, who have been incommoded by the periodical 
freshets which have, in many instances, caused great loss of property, 
but will extend through our city, in reducing the liability of disease 
generated by the present state of the locality and the extension of 
epidemics for which the character of the atmosphere, particularly 
upon and contiguous to the line of the Cohocksink, is well fitted; 
for this, the construction of the Cohocksink line of culvert has been 
long required, as a reference to the statistics of the last cholera visi- 
tation will prove. The Vine street culvert will improve the charac- 
ter of property upon its line, and add to the city revenue, from in- 
creased assessment, sufficient to return to the city at an early day, 
the expenditure now authorized. The same result will follow the 89 
construction of the Moore street culvert, but to a greater extent, as 
in that case the want of proper drainage facilities has prevented the 
use of much vacant ground, which will now be at once covered with 
buildings, returning its due quota to the city treasury. 
The northwestern culvert is by no means'of the least importance 
in the list, as by its construction on the line proposed we preserve 
the Schuylkill water from the deteriorating drainage flowing from a 
large manufacturing district on the eastern side of the river, and it 
would be greatly to the interest of our community could an ordi- 
nance be issued to prevent the location of any stable, slaughter- 
house or manufactory, in such position that the refuse therefrom 
would flow into the water liable to be pumped out for city consump- 
tion. Such Act of Assembly exists, though reaching only to the 
south side of Francis's lane, now Coates street, but should be ex- 
tended up the river, and so framed as to guard each of the reser- 
voirs for water distribution now located on its margin. 
Another system of drainage, to which the attention of this depart- 
ment has been called, but upon which I am not now prepared to 
present you a specific opinion as a result of minute examination, is 
that due to the area lying west and north of the Fairmount dam, in 
the Twenty-fourth Ward; as yet, much of the obnoxious matter is 
absorbed before it reaches the dam, as it passes mostly through an 
open and unimproved section; but judging from the advance of im- 
provement in that ward, the day is not far distant when the drain- 
age from that area will exceed in objectionable qualities that pre- 
sumed now to flow from the eastern side. 
It is a matter of congratulation that the subject of drainage has 
received so much consideration from the City Councils, as shown by 
the appropriation of $200,000 for the works under contract, and the 
enactment of the ordinance authorizing the construction of branch 
culverts or drains. The Board of Surveyors have already acted 
upon a number of applications which are now open for contract, and 
will be built without entailing any expenditure upon the city other 
than for intersections, and will greatly improve our street surface by 
enabling us to introduce a larger number of inlets, thus preventing 
the long surface flow which is so objectionable, and will also give 
opportunity to correct a very great evil in the form of cross gutters 90 
at street intersections. In all our new grade regulations we endeavor, 
so far as practicable, to avoid them, but of course the introduction 
of the branch culvert system is the only efficacious mode by which 
they can be prevented; many of those which now exist, and which 
are not liable to be avoided at an early date by a branch culvert, 
should be remedied by the adoption of cast-iron box gutters, extend- 
ing across the carriage-way and foot-way, the expense of which 
would be returned to the community in the saving of time and a 
reduction in the wear and tear of vehicles. Those that have been 
introduced by the passenger railway companies constructed on Race 
and Vine streets, meet the ends desired, but can be improved by 
being extended so as to close the gap now left at the curb. 
The ordinance relative to branch culverts alluded to is of great 
importance in securing more thorough drainage, yet great responsi- 
bility rests with the Board of Surveyors in granting these permits 
to avoid imposition upon a number for the benefit of a few, and it 
requires further guards for the protection of individuals, who from 
the necessity of their location or business are required to construct 
a branch culvert at their own expense; such persons should be pro- 
tected from the indiscriminate use of such drain by neighbors who 
may have declined contributing only on account of the urgency of 
the case assuring them that it would be constructed by others, when 
they would be granted a permit from the city at a less cost than the 
price per foot of construction. This now prevents the extension of 
a number of branches; the board cannot authorize their construc- 
tion under the ordinance, because in some instances but one owner's 
name is subscribed to the application, and its usefulness to the city 
is not such as to warrant its construction unless a majority of owners 
should request it, while the party applying is unwilling to build at 
his otvn expense unless he shall have an opportunity of remunera- 
tion from those who may afterward desire to connect therewith. 
For this we shall at an early day present a supplementary ordinance, 
trusting it may receive consideration from Councils and your 
approval. 
I must again, sir, allude to the necessity of some system being 
adopted by which the connections made with our culverts for private 
drainage should be constructed under the immediate control of a 91 
city officer. Such abuse of privilege as is now exercised by indi- 
viduals will be severely felt hereafter, particularly as they increase 
in number, which is very rapidly; they oftentimes injure the 
strength of culvert-arch, and more frequently are arranged with a 
total disregard to anything beyond their immediate purpose and 
private ends, while -the flow in culvert is seriously affected, and each 
forms a nucleus for deposit, which must some day be taken out by 
the city at great cost. In the cities of Europe this is guarded with 
jealous care, and all connections at the culvert-arch are made by 
officers especially delegated ; nor under the present system has this 
department any means of knowing where or how such connections 
are made, and when called upon at any time to correct an existing 
evil are entirely ignorant of what has been done by the authority of 
other branches of the city government, while the proper location of 
such connections, and the effect thereof upon culverts opened, can 
only be known at this department, where each system of drainage is 
being minutely examined and recorded. In perhaps most instances, 
these connections, if properly and scientifically constructed, im- 
prove the working of the sewer, but if, as is mostly the case, the 
pipes are protruded into the area of flow without regard to the 
necessity of retaining a smooth and regular interior surface, and the 
debris occasioned by the unworkmanlike manner in which such in- 
sertion is performed, is left lying in the sewer, we cannot be sur- 
prised if we are at length called upon to cleanse our sewers by 
manual labor of the deposits thus created. Were it possible, and 
there is no apparent difficulty, for this department to have recorded 
all matters connected in any way with culverts, it would result 
eventually in great benefit to the city, and is particularly necessary 
now that the system of private drainage is becoming so universal in 
its application to new improvements. 
The work that is now so urgently called for by a large number 
of our citizens, the bridge over the Schuylkill at Chestnut street, I 
am happy in being able to report, is now ready in plan for the 
action of Councils, the Board of Surveyors having given it close 
scrutiny as presented, and recorded their entire approval. The 
amount estimated for the construction of this work, seems to aston- 
ish those who are not familiar with such structures, and particu- 92 
larly as they have been somewhat misled from the circumstance 
that $125,000 was appropriated by the "County Board" for thht 
purpose, prior to consolidation, but forgetting that such was not 
intended to be the full cost of the structure that would be suitable 
for a highway for the City of Philadelphia, nor, in fact, do I know 
of any character of bridge that could be put up at that place for 
the amount thus specified, as the masonry necessary to the abut- 
ments, approaches and pier, would far exceed it in cost, and this 
cost would vary but little with the plan of superstructure, while 
the superstructure itself will not reach that amount by a large 
margin. Some have expressed surprise that a stone bridge was not 
adopted in preference to all others, and on this point I may say, 
that with the rise of arches and span which it has been considered 
expedient to adopt, so as to allow as easy a gradient as possible for 
the approaches, that a stone bridge is impracticable, and it has not 
been deemed judicious to interfere more than is absolutely impera- 
tive, with the water way of river, by the adoption of two piers, on 
account of the great liability of seriously affecting the Fairmount 
works. 
During the coming season it will become requisite that a new 
bridge be constructed at Bridesburg, over the Frankford creek, at 
the United States Arsenal; that now in use is a sliding draw, and 
in a very dilapidated condition, entirely unsafe for travel, and is at 
best but a temporary affair, with trestle piers; the draw is decayed 
in all its parts, and is sustained by incessant patching, attended 
with considerable expense. The whole affair should be removed, 
and a swing draw substituted, with a stone pier and abutment 
adapted to the purpose. The city owning the property on the south 
of this location, there can be no objection to the plan proposed, as 
the privilege to this swinging over the wharf property can be re- 
served in case of sale. 
As all questions of passenger railways must pass the examination 
of the Board of Surveyors prior to their construction, and the views 
of the board have differed somewhat from Councils, as regarding 
the gauge, &c., bringing out a regulating resolution from that body 
confining us to the first, and mayhap not thoroughly digested plan, 
I desire to say that the board were desirous of taking advantage of 93 
any improvements that might be suggested, rather than adopt a 
plan merely because it was then in use; and believe now, that many 
of the adherents to the present plan clearly see that they would 
not have been affected, as they surmised, had the board been per- 
mitted to exercise some practical judgment in the matter; had the 
gauge of 4 feet 81 inches been adopted on some of the roads lately 
constructed, we would now have had Broad street, with its double 
track repaired, placed in thorough condition, and fitted for passenger 
travel, while the character of rail that would have been adopted for 
the new track, would have had the same and better advantages for 
ordinary vehicles, as they could have traveled upon it without in- 
jury to wheels, which is now unavoidable; this would also have 
prevented the combined rail on Second and Third streets, with the 
intricacy of castings in the carriage-way, that are now indispensable. 
Although, in the organization of a new city government, much 
attention and time were given to the arrangement of the relative 
duties of the many departments composing it, yet we are by no 
means perfect, and much legislation is wanted before this depart- 
ment can work in such manner as to conform in all points to law. 
Prior to consolidation each district had laws relating to its surveys 
and records of property lines, many of which differed in form, some 
very materially, and although in some instances inoperative, yet for 
mere points of litigation, could be brought into argument with some 
force; all these should be adjusted, and a new form legalized, that 
would be simple and effective, and bearing upon the entire city, place 
us on sound and good ground for action. 
The passage of an ordinance relative to the preparation of liens for 
unpaid bills due the city, by which the Surveyors and Regulators 
would be remunerated for the work required, most particularly in 
obtaining information for the tax liens, is a matter of importance. 
The property against which the charge may be made is, in almost 
every instance, so obscurely described upon the bills, that it would 
be impossible for other than one familiar with the district, or pos- 
sessed of records of survey, to locate it so that a proper description 
could be made out; the difficulty in identifying a property may be 
understood by an extract of bill as usually returned, viz : " J. Jones, 
a frame house on Fourth street adjoining property owned in 1854, 94 
by J. Smith, 6th ward." And in some instances thus : t( W. Smith, 
lot of ground on the north side of Duke street, 19th ward," in a 
region, perhaps, where there are no improvements, and the only 
mode by which any information may be obtained, (unless some 
starting point may be possessed by the Surveyor from his own 
records,) is by tracing up the name in the Recorder's office, a work 
exceedingly tedious, and frequently without any valuable result. 
The Surveyors and Regulators were not called upon to perform this 
duty until the ordinance of June 19th, 1857, carrying out the intent 
of the law, brought the tax bills into the hands of the Solicitor, and 
thus to this department, for the proper descriptions; and as we have 
distributed, since July last, 1400 bills, many of which require seve- 
ral descriptions, (in one case thirteen separate and distinct descrip- 
tions for one bill filed,) some idea may be formed of the additional 
work required, and justice seems to say they should be remunerated, 
particularly, as in all cases prior to consolidation, the Surveyor in- 
variably received compensation for such duty. 
It is also very desirable that an ordinance be framed by which 
the dedicating of streets to public use may be filed in some one 
place, and as this department is most frequently, and with propriety, 
called upon to verify the locality of public streets, they should, after 
being recorded, be deposited in this office, as custom, and what has 
been found to be most convenient and proper, has already made a 
precedent, and is particularly necessary now, as a resolution of 
Councils, approved November 20th, 1858, requires that the certifi- 
cate from the Department of Surveys shall be obtained as to the 
public ownership of a street, prior to the laying of water pipes ; 
such deeds, and many of value, are scattered through the several 
offices, notwithstanding we have endeavored to collect and file them 
for easy reference. If they were, in all cases hereafter, sub- 
mitted to the Board of Survey for acceptance on the part of the 
city, and only made public streets subject to that approval, it 
might be of great advantage to our city plat. 
Respectfully submitted, 
STRICKLAND KNEASS, 
* Chief Engineer and Surveyor. 95 
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. 
Highway Department, 
Januury 7 th, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor, 
Dear Sir :-In reply to your communication of the 18th 
ult., it affords me pleasure to submit to you, and through you 
to the Select and Common Councils of the City of Philadel- 
phia, a general statement of the affairs of this Department. 
The Department, as at present organized, consists of one 
chief commissioner and two commissioners of highways, two 
clerks, twenty-five supervisors, one superintendent of city 
railroad, one messenger, and six watchmen of bridges. All 
the highways, bridges, sewers, city railroad, &c., are under 
the charge of this Department, except the wire bridge near 
Fairmount, which is under the control of the Department 
of City Property. By examining the statements annexed, 
marked Nos. 1 and 2, you will perceive that the expenditures 
for the year 1858, exclusive of road damages, amounted to 
$441,542 40, of which amount there were warrants drawn 
amounting to $213,257 73; bills due and unpaid, contracts 
made and work commenced by the department to the amount 
of $51,984 31; making a total of expenditures up to July 
19th, of $265,242 04, at which time I entered upon the dis- 
charge of my duties as head of this Department; all of which 
is exclusive of the liabilities of the Department for expenses 
incurred in the paving of intersections, which are governed by 
the number of streets paved by the owners of property, and 
altogether beyond control of this Department, and for which 
there had been contracts sufficient to use the whole amount 
appropriated for the year's expense for that purpose. I would 
further say in the matter of expenditures of paving intersec- 
tions, that it is impossible for the Department to make even 96 
an approximate estimate of the amount required for any year 
under the present system, as Councils grant the privilege to 
the owners of property on any street to pave the same when- 
ever a majority of them desire the same done, and I do not 
see that either Councils or this Department could with pro- 
priety interfere to prevent any improvement calculated to 
advance the character and add to the wealth and prosperity of 
the City, which improvements of this kind most assuredly do. 
The estimated receipts of the Department were $24,550, 
and it will be seen that they fall short of that amount 
$7,882 85. While upon the subject of expenditures and 
receipts, I feel it to be my duty to inform you that this De- 
partment is charged with an amount varying from year to 
year from $16,000 to $20,000, for repairs to the city rail- 
road and for paving over the trenches made by the laying of 
•water pipes through the streets, and by the introduction of 
water into buildings, when the receipts for toll on the rail- 
road and for paving over the water attachments, amounting 
to about $20,000, are received, the one by the superinten- 
dent of the city railroad and credited to said road, and the 
other by the water department and credited as fractional 
wrater rerits, without giving this Department any credit for 
the same, which I consider unjust, as every department should 
be entitled to receive credit for the amount received from its 
expenditures. As the water department receives the money 
for paving over attachments, and does not give this Depart- 
ment any credit for the same, I would recommend the passage 
of an ordinance requiring it to pave over all water pipes, or 
else to give this Department credit for money expended for 
such work and materials. 
In regard to the cleansing of the City; the paved portion 
was cleansed under contract up to the 1st of October (except 
the streets and market houses in the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 
24th Wards,) for the sum of $55,100, since which time it 97 
has been done by the Department by the day, in accordance 
with the pro rata contract price. I regret to say that the 
practical operation of cleansing the streets by contract does 
not give satisfaction to either the public or this Department, 
and I would not recommend a continuation of it except upon 
the score of economy, and from experiments made by my 
predecessors, and the report of a special committee on streets. 
The cost of cleansing by the supervisors is from 80 to 100 per 
cent, more than by contract during the last year (see Appen- 
dix to Common Council Journal, from May to November 1856, 
page 17) ; and I believe, from information received from reli- 
able sources, that our City is kept as clean as any City in the 
Union, although, in many cases, their expenditure far exceeds 
the amount expended by this Department for that purpose. 
In the month of September last, I sent a communication to 
Councils, asking further legislation in relation to Passenger 
Railways, as this Department, comparatively speaking, is 
powerless under the existing ordinance regulating them; but 
they have done nothing in the matter, and every day's expe- 
rience only the more confirms me in my opinion of the neces- 
sity of the passage of an ordinance placing summary power 
in the hands of some officer of the City government. There 
should also be a general ordinance passed in relation to grant- 
ing permits for turnouts and sidlings for the different railroad 
tracks throughout the City, as the existing ordinances upon 
that subject only apply to the city railroad. I would also call 
the attention of Councils to the recommendations of my pre- 
decessor in relation to the department of surveys, as contained 
in his communication of January 1st, 1858, (see Appendix 
to Journal of Common Council, from November 1857 to May 
1858, page 512,) regarding the drawing of warrants for pay- 
ment of work done by the surveyors for the City, as I believe 
the adoption of the suggestions therein contained would be 
beneficial to the public and relieve this Department from the 98 
performance of duties more properly belonging to the survey 
department. 
In conformity with the ordinance of Councils of September 
1st, 1858, to change the names of certain streets, lanes, 
courts, &c., and the appropriation of $3,000 for that pur- 
pose, contracts were made, and the work is now done; for 
taking down the old and putting up the new names for all the 
wards in the City, except the 24th Ward, for which there 
were no proposals (and which yet remains to be done), for the 
sum of $1,130 64, leaving a balance unexpended of $1,869 36, 
which amount I would recommend to be re-appropriated for 
the purpose of making the changes required in the 24th Ward, 
and renewing the old names where required throughout the 
City, as many of them are nearly obliterated and need re- 
placing at this time. I would also recommend the passage of 
an ordinance affixing a penalty for defacing or taking down 
any of said signs, or interfering with the agents of the City 
in putting them up, as in many instances the persons em- 
ployed for that purpose have been compelled to put them up 
at the risk of their lives, and when done, the same have been 
removed in a short time by persons to whom the new names 
were obnoxious. In relation to Girard Avenue, in the 24th 
Ward, there were several contracts in existence, made by 
the County Commissioners on the eve of consolidation, for 
doing a large amount of grading, graveling, &c., a great deal 
of which it was deemed unnecessary to have done at this 
time, and it was thought advisable to have the same canceled, 
which has been done on terms advantageous to the City. 
There has been a large expenditure on the repairs to Girard 
Avenue bridge and wing walls, which were commenced by my 
predecessor, and the bridge is yet unfinished, but it is in such 
a state of forwardness that it can be finished early in the 
spring; I would therefore recommend an appropriation for 
the purpose of completing the repairs to the bridge, and for 
finishing the grading of the avenue from the bridge to Bel- 99 
mont Avenue, as in its present condition, notwithstanding the 
amount already expended, it is of no service to the public, as 
it cannot be crossed except by foot passengers, and even to 
them it is dangerous in consequence of portions of the floor- 
ing being removed. 
All of which is submitted, by 
Yours Respectfully, 
C. B. ANDRESS, 
Chief Commissioner of Highways. 
No. 1. 
Expenditures of the Highway Department, from January 
1st, 1858, to January 1st, 1859. 
Paving Intersections, . . . . . . $ 53,365 13 
Repairing and repaving streets, . . . .• 133,642 44 
Grading streets and roads, ..... 26,686 50 
Repairing roads and unpaved streets, . . . 46,312 49 
Paving footways, ....... 5,981 20 
Repairs to culverts and inlets, .... 14,272 18 
Repairs to bridges, ...... 23,330 59 
Cleansing streets and markets, .... 59,344 87 
Cleansing and repairing unpaved streets, . . 12,963 66 
Repairs and labor on City Railroad, . . . 7,252 81 
Repairing pumps and wells, ..... 1,591 17 
Salaries of commissioners, clerks, &c., . . . 9,999 24 
Salaries to supervisors, ...... 15,560 00 
Grading Girard Avenue, 24th Ward, . . . 4,187 82 
Building wing wall to Girard Avenue, 24th Ward, . 17,091 22 
Printing, advertising, and stationery, . . . 1,108 52 
Insurance on bridges, ...... 1,100 00 
Office and yard expenses, . . . . . 758 26 
Incidentals, . . . . . . . . 991 47 
Sign boards for street names, ..... 1,130 64 
Advertising plans for Chestnut Street bridge, . . 723 00 
Repairing permanent bridge and railroad, . . 4,149 19 
$441,542 40 
Of this amount $13,365 49 was for deficiencies for the year 1857. 100 
No. 2. 
Receipts from January Isf, 1858, to January Isf, 1859. 
For Sewer permits, ....... $1,582 80 
" Vault " 1,162 50 
" Building " 478 00 
" Sewer rents, ....... 2,780 01 
11 Drays, carts, wagons, &c., . . . . . 1,953 15 
" Hacks, carriages, and drivers' licenses, . . . 782 50 
K Omnibus licenses, ...... 3,330 00 
" Paving and Repairing, ..... 2,204 22 
11 Railroad turnouts, ...... 50 00 
" Railway cars, ....... 980 00 
" Miscellaneous receipts, ..... 1,363 97 
$16,667 15 
CITY RAILROAD. 
Office of Superintendent City Railroad, 
Philadelphia, January 3d, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Sir:-Your communication of December 18th was promptly re- 
ceived, and in compliance with the request which you make therein 
that I shall furnish you with a full, accurate, and detailed state- 
ment of the general condition and affairs of this department for the 
year (1858,) of all moneys received and disbursed, together with all 
sources of revenue under my control, &c., I have herewith the honor 
to submit the following report. 
I succeeded R. L. West, Esq., as Superintendent of City Railroad 
on the 2d day of August last (1858,) at which time there was in 
the City Treasury to the credit'of this department $373 93 out of 
the annual appropriation made of $6,000, as per settlement of City 
Controller and R. L. West, Esq. 
I found it necessary to ask for a special appropriation of $2,000 to 
enable me to keep the railroad in proper repair, out of which have 101 
been expended since, under my superintendence, $1,677 36, leaving 
a balance of $312 64. 
The total annual and special appropriations for the pastyear amount 
to $8,000; the expenditures for the same period amount to $7,303 43, 
leaving unexpended, and to the credit of the department, ($696 57) 
six hundred and ninety-six dollars and fifty-seven cents. 
The amount of tolls received and paid to the City Treasurer for 
the year 1858, including that authorized by ordinance of Councils, 
passed December 22d, 1857, for the payment of expenses incurred 
by Pennsylvania Railroad Company in relaying track on Market 
street, amounts to ($12,867 12) twelve thousand eight hundred and 
sixty-seven dollars and twelve cents. 
The general condition of the City Railroads at present are good, 
and so far as the means afforded to it would permit, every effort has 
been made to fully discharge the responsibility resting upon the 
department in that respect. 
Permit me, in conclusion, to suggest to you the propriety of calling 
the attention of the City Councils to the facilities now used by the 
city passenger railroads for keeping the track free from snow and 
ice, which is done by a small salt car that is manufactured by 
Messrs. Murphy & Allison, car builders, at the cost of two hundred 
dollars. One of those cars I used on the occasion of the late snow 
storm on December 29th last, with great success and labor-saving 
to the city. All of which is respectfully submitted by 
Yours, respectfully. 
AUGUSTINE BARTHOLOMEW, 
Superintendent City Railroad. 
GIRARD ESTATE. 
Office of the Girard Estate. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of Philadelphia, 
Dear Sir :-Yours of the 18th ultimo, requesting a full, accu- 
rate, and detailed statement of the general condition of the affairs of 
this department for the year 1858, was duly received. An apology 102 
is due for the delay which has arisen, from a desire on my part to 
furnish you with a printed annual report, the same not having been 
furnished me by the printer. I hasten to submit the statement, as 
above desired. 
January 1st, 1858. Balance to the credit of the trust, $75,693 30 
Amount of receipts for the year 1858, $190,788 12, 
as follows : 
Income, rents from real estate, $152,618 70 
" " Personal estate, 
From Schuylkill Navigation Company, 2,334 30 
" " " 15,980 16 
" Pennsylvania, - - 7,028 92 
" City, .... 11,217 54 
11 City Gas, - - - 572 50 
il Philadelphia Exchange Co., - 500 00 
i( Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania, 528 00 
a Germantown and Perkiomen 
Turnpike Company, - 8 00 
$190,788 12 
$266,481 42 
Appropriations for 1858, $201,096 42 
Balances of appropria- 
tions, previous, 32,267 80 
$233,364 22 
Unexpended balances, 
Jan 1, 1859, - - 39,144 91 
- $194,219 31 
Balance in City Treasury, Jan. 1, 1859, 72,262 11 
$266,481 42 
Respectfully yours, &c., 
A. W. JUVENAL, 
Superintendent Girard Estate. 103 
LAW DEPARTMENT. 
City Solicitor's Office, 
Philadelphia, Jan'y 6th, 1859. 
Alexander Henry, Esq., 
Mayor, 
Sir:-I reply to your communication of the 18th Decem- 
ber, requesting me to furnish " a full, accurate, and detailed 
statement of the general condition and affairs of my depart- 
ment for the year 1858, and of all moneys received and dis- 
bursed thereby, together with all sources of revenue under my 
control," &c. 
That the amount of money received and paid 
over by this department during the year 
1858, is $38,893 61 
The amount appropriated to this department 
for the expenses of the year 1858, is - 20,250 00 
There has been expended of this appropriation 
the sum of - 17,671 43 
Leaving a balance unexpended of - - $2,578 57 
The sources of revenue from this department are-water 
pipe, paving, curbing, Board of Health liens, and taxes. 
But little of the outstanding taxes have been collected by 
this department, and but little may be expected from it, so 
long as the present crude, indigested laws on the subject 
remain unchanged. 
Respectfully, 
HENRY T. KING, 
City Solicitor. 
the sum of 104 
BUILDING INSPECTION. 
Building Inspector's Office, 
Philadelphia, January 3d, 1859. 
Hon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Sir :-In reply to your communication of the 18th of December, 
1858, in reference to the general condition of this department, I 
respectfully report, that from the organization, June 5th, 1855, to 
December 31st, 1858, the receipts have not paid expenses, there 
being at this date a deficit of $3,481 60. 
The only sources of revenue of the department, are the fees 
charged for the issuing of permits. 
Cash received during the year 1858, $5,318 22; disbursements 
during the same, $7,536 74; leaving a deficit for the year, of 
$2,218 52. 
From the organization of the department, June 5th, 1858, to 
December 31st, 1858, permits have been issued for the erection of 
new buildings as follows:-From June to December 31st, 1855, 
1,136; 1856, 1,584; 1857, 1,741 ; and 1858, 1,692. Total, 
6,153. 
The Inspectors are greatly embarrassed at times, in consequence 
of there being no general law regulating the erection of frame build- 
ings, the Act of Consolidation providing that the old district 
ordinances shall remain in force until otherwise repealed, some of 
which prohibit, and some allow the erection of frame buildings 
within their limits. If Councils would enact a general law regu- 
lating the same within the consolidated city, it would relieve this 
department of a very troublesome matter. 
Yours, respectfully, 
F. M'CORMICK, 
Clerk. 105 
FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
Chief Engineer's Office, 
No. 7 Goldsmiths Hall, Library Street. 
To the Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Respected Sir :-In compliance with your communication of 
the 18th ult., requesting me to furnish information relative to the 
affairs and condition of the Fire Department of the city of Phila- 
delphia, I beg leave respectfully to submit the following statement: 
j Total 
First 
Second 
Third 
Fourth 
Fifth 
Sixth 
Seventh 
DISTRICTS. 
CO 
to co tn Cn £ C3 OJ 
Engine Companies. 
w 
to to : £ oo o o 
Hose Companies. 
«' 
>-■: n> i-*: i 
h* : : : : to 
Truck Companies. 
Steam Fire Engines. 
4- 
: : : : 
First Class Engines. 
CO 
to -4 to tn co O Ci 
Second Class Engines. 
CD 
m : 4-: : : co 
Suction Engines. 
20 
18 
19 
21 
5 
9 
3 
Four Wheeled Hose 
Carriages. 
= = 
M : I 4^ 4^ 4- »-* 
Two Wheeled Hose 
Carriages. 
05 
eJ: io M •-*: w 
Trucks. 
as 
m : to i-* ►- 
4- ; -I H- -I 4- -1 
to • CO • O' O O' 
Number of feet of 
Ladders. 
1 69,345 
13.725 
13,639 
13,320 
18 520 
3.100 
4.850 
2,200 
Number of feet of Good 
Hose. 
10,002 
2,825 
2,200 
1,302 
2.225 
400 
500 
550 
Number of feet of Bad 
Hose. 
CO 
16,550 
15,839 
14,622 
20.745 
3.500 
5.350 
2,750 
Total. 
0618 
575 
472 
722 
521 
267 
464 
169 
Active. 
Number of Members. 
o« 
O' 
927 
890 
890 
582 
24 
98 
25 
Honorary, 
1289 
955 
822 
848 
56 
113 
102 
Contributing, 
10.871 
2,791 
2.317 
2,494 
1,951 
347 
675 
296 
Total. 
Expenditures on Account of the Philadelphia Fire Department for 
the year A. D. 1858. 
For Salary of the Chief Engineer, five Assistant Engi- 
neers, and one Secretary, . . . SI,000 00' 
For Office Expenses, . . . 200 00 
For Rent of Office, .... 200 00 
For Expenses of Board of Fire Directors, . 200 00 
For Carriage hire of Committee on Trusts and Fire 
Department, .... 125 00 
For Gratuities to the Fire Engine, Hose, and Hook and 
Ladder Companies, . . . 30,000 00 
For Alarm Bell in the Seventh District, . . 425 00 
For back appropriations to Fire Companies, . 1,275 00 
For Steam Fire Engine Philadelphia, . . 2,100 00 
For Steam Fire Engine Hope, . . 1,000 00 
For Steam Fire Engine Diligent, . - 700 00 
For placing a Fire Alarm Telegraph Box in Philadel- 
phia Hose House, . . . 150 00 
Total, .... 840,375 00 106 
In my opinion, the Fire Department of this city, was never in 
better condition than at present; and the activity of its members 
and superiority of its apparatus fully convince me that our system 
is equal, if not superior, to any in the world. 
The spirit of rioting, which was once the cause of bringing so 
much disgrace upon it, has been nearly eradicated, and it is to be 
hoped, that the time is not far distant, when fire riots will be spoken 
of as among the things that were. I entered upon the duties of 
this office with the determination to break up if possible, the riot- 
ous propensities of certain portions of the department, and how far 
I have succeeded, the public are to judge. My efforts have been 
partly weakened in this respect, however, by a want of proper action 
on the part of our City Councils, as the following will show. 
I have frequently suspended companies for disorderly conduct, 
and have reported them to Councils, recommending their disband- 
ment; the Committee on Trusts and Fire Department, in hearing 
the cases, have allowed members of the companies reported to tes- 
tify in the matter, and the result invariably has been, that they 
evade proper punishment; frequently, too, the committee has sus- 
pended companies, say for two months, from the date they were 
first suspended by me, which time has nearly, if not quite elapsed, 
ere the case is heard; these difficulties, together with an unwilling- 
ness on the part of the members of one company to testify 
against those of another, have prevented offending companies in 
many instances, from being brought to justice, and properly pun- 
ished. 
False and useless alarms of fire, as your Honor has perhaps 
noticed, are not so frequent as they formerly were, and their 
scarcity may in part be attributed to the fact, that I have silenced 
two alarm bells under the control of fire companies, which were 
repeatedly rung without proper judgment, creating alarms through- 
out the city, and bringing companies from one end to the other, 
thus causing confusion and unnecessary labor, and for fires, which 
if found at all, were of a very trivial nature. 
Acts of incendiarism too, greatly diminish in numbers, since the 
establishment of the fire detective system, and there can be no 
doubt, that the prompt investigation of the causes of a conflagra 107 
tion has a tendency to deter the incendiary, and lessen the number 
of fires. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the energetic and 
intelligent manner in which A. W. Blackburn, Esq., the present 
Fire Marshal, has discharged the duties of his office. 
The past year has witnessed the introduction and practical work- 
ings of the steam fire engine, a desideratum of which our city has 
long been in need. There are now four in actual service, several in 
the course of construction, and contracts are being made for others. 
They will form, in a short time, the most important feature in the 
department, and with a view of adding to their efficiency, I have 
recommended to Councils, through the Committee on Trusts and 
Fire Department, to allot steam fire engines the plugs nearest a 
fire; they are generally constructed to throw three or more streams, 
but when stationed at a remote point from the fire, it requires the 
greater part of their hose to carry one stream upon the burning 
building. This fact, together with the difficulty of giving and 
receiving orders between the engineers and apparatus, when the 
latter are any distance off, is calculated to detract greatly from their 
efficiency. 
In conclusion, I would make my acknowledgments to Samuel G. 
Ruggles, Esq., Chief of Police, for assistance given while in the 
discharge of my duty; too much credit cannot be awarded this 
officer, for his excellent police arrangements in time of fire. 
I remain yours, very respectfully, 
SAMUEL P. FEARON, 
Chief Engineer of the Philadelphia Fire Department. 
January 7, 1859. 108 
POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
Mayor's Office, 
Philadelphia, Jan. 4th, 18 59 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor, &c., 
Dear Sir :-I herewith present to you my annual report, 
showing the amounts appropriated to the Police Department 
for the year 1858 ; the transfers made to and from the dif- 
ferent items; the balances merging on the first of January, 
1859, and the actual amounts expended on each item during 
the year. 
Schedule A shows the amounts appropriated, &c., for the 
annual expenses of the Department, as per Ordinance of 
Councils approved Dec. 31st, 1857. 
Schedule B shows the amounts appropriated, &c., at various 
times during the year for specific purposes. 
Very respectfully, 
WM. C. HAINES, 
Pay Clerk. 109 
Item. 
FOB WHAT PURPOSE APPROPRIATED. 
Amounts 
appropriated. 
Amounts trans- 
ferred from. 
Amounts trans- 
ferred to. 
n 1 
Balance merging. 
Amount ex- 
pended. 
1 
Salary of Mayor, Mayor's Clerk, and two Messengers 
$5,500 00 
$250 00 
$70 49 
$5,179 51 
2 
Salary of eight High Constables, four Specials, six- 
teen Lieutenants and thirty-two Sergeants 
37,600 00 
350 00 
126 70 
37 123 30 
3 
Salary of Chief of Police. .. 
1,500 00 
1 500 00 
4 
Salary of six hundred and fifty Policemen 
325,000 00 
1,849 12 
580 27 
322'570 61 
5 
Rent of Ninth District Station House 
275 00 
275 00 
6 
Fuel • 
2,000 00 
22 24 
1,977 76 
7 
Conveyance of Prisoners 
5/200 00 
77 37 
5,122 63 
8 
Cleansing of Station Houses 
2,652 00 
79 19 
2,572 81 
9 
Meals and Medical Attendance 
400 00 
$250 00 
3 53 
646 47 
10 
Repairs to Station Houses, cells, and furniture 
900 00 
600 00 
45 
1,499 55 
11 
Stationery, &c 
1,000 00 
500 00 
6 50 
1,493 50 
12 
Arrest and conviction of offenders, &c 
1,175 00 
605 19 
569 81 
13 
Bedding, badges and rattles 
800 00 
400 00 
51 11 
1,148 89 
14 
Stoves, heaters, and repairing of same 
800 00 
313 77 
486 23 
15 
Taking up and killing dogs 
1,000 00 
12 25 
987 75 
16 
Incidental expenses, postage, porterage, &c 
'750 00 
499 12 
2 76 
1,246 36 
17 
Salary of Superintendent and Assistant Superinten- 
dent Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph 
1,700 00 
1 27 
1,698 73 
18 
Acids and repairs to Telegraph 
'750 00 
350 00 
39 25 
1,060 75 
19 
Expenses to be incurred in procuring evidence, &c 
1,500 00 
300 00 
818 18 
381 82 
20 
Deficiencies of 1857 
1,500 00 
56 44 
1,443 56 
$392,002 00 
*$2,749 12 
*$2,599 12 
*$2,866 96 
$388,985 04 
* The apparent discrepancy between the amounts transferred from, the amounts transferred to, and the balance merging, may 
be accounted for from the fact that the sum of $150 transferred to Special Item 11, Schedule B, does'not appear at all on the face 
of Schedule A. 
( A. ) 110 
Date of 
Amounts 
Amounts 
Amounts 
Item. 
Appropriation. 
For what purpose appropriated. 
Appropriated. 
Trans I'd from. 
Balance. 
Expended. 
1858. 
21 
January 27th, 
Erection of a Telegraph and Signal Box 
$150 00 
$ 
$2 35 
$147 65 
2 
February 26th, 
44 44 
Plumbing done by Wright, Hunter & Co 
26 85 
26 85 
3 
Rent for the Managers of the Poor of Ger- 
mantown 
48 00 
48 00 
4 
44 44 
J. G. Torrey, Medical Services at 5th District 
Station 
25 00 
25 00 
5 
44 44 
T. H. Palmer, Services as Police Magistrate.. 
418 60 
418 60 
6 
44 44 
A. H. Shoemaker, " " " 
110 81 
110 81 
7 
44 44 
T. Lesage, ringing bells of St. Stephen's 
Church, July 4, 1857 
20 00 
20 00 
1 
April 23d, 
F. W. Binder, Services as Police Magistrate.. 
398 52 
398 52 
25 
" 30th, 
S. L. Clement, " " " " 
83 32 
83 32 
28 
J. K. Murphy, horse hire in 1856 and 1857.... 
772 90 
772 90 
5 
May 10 th, 
John Clouds, Services as Police Magistrate.... 
37 13 
37 13 
22 
September 16,' 
Arrest of the murderers of John E. Clark 
500 00 
500 00 
2 
R. E. Rodgers, Chemical analyzations 
300 00 
300 00 
4 
44 44 
T. Lesage, ringing bells of St. Stephen's 
1 
Church, July 4th, 1858 
20 00 
20 00 
1 
" 16th, 
Repairs to 2d District Station 
5 00 
5 00 
2 
" 16th, 
" " 3d " " 
100 00 
2 29 
97 71 
3 
" 16th" 
" 4th " " 
25 00 
8 92 
16 08 
4 
" 16th, 
" 5th " " 
1,043 00 
1 00 
1,042 00 
5 
" 16th' 
" 6th " « 
100 00 
58 00 
42 00 
6 
" 7th " " 
300 00 
300 00 
7 
" 16th" • 
" 8th " " 
100 00 
12 65 
87 35 
8 
" 16th, 
" 10th " " 
150 00 
5 92 
144 08 
( B. ) 111 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
6 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1858. 
October 16th, 
" 16th, 
" 16th, 
" 16th, 
" 16th, 
" 16th, 
November 1st, 
" 5th, 
December 4th, 
<< << 
" 24th, 
Repairs to 11th District Station 
" 12th " " 
" 13th " " 
" 14th « " 
" 15th " " .. 
Cleaning Station Houses 
F. W. Binder, Services as Police Magistrate... 
To pay 24 Vaccine Physicians for 1858 
George Lowber 
Widow of Thomas H. Snyder 
Repairs to 6th and 10th District Station Houses 
$200 00 
100 00 
125 00 
100 00 
100 00 
200 00 
232 89 
*1,200 00 
500 00 
500 00 
1,898 71 
150 00 
$3 50 
4 57 
59 77 
562 50 
$196 50 
100 00 
275 00 
95 43 
40 23 
200 00 
232 89 
637 50 
500 00 
500 00 
1,898 71 
$9,890 73 
$150 00 
$1,221 47 
$7,819 26 
In addition to the foregoing special appropriations, the amount of $8,916 90 was expended through the Commissioner of 
City Property, for bills incurred for the erection of the 11th District Station House in 1857-8. 
* The appropriation for the salaries of Vaccine Physicians was expended under the supervision of the Board of Health, to whom it should have been 
credited. 112 
Office of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Police Department, January ls^, 1859. 
IIon. Alex. Henry, 
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, 
Sir :-It becomes my duty to make my annual report of 
the state of the police force under my charge, and in doing 
so I report them under good discipline, and attentive to their 
duty. But I find, by the reduction of turnkeys and telegraph 
operators from the police force, together with the sick and 
absentees from their duty, that it leaves the districts deficient 
in number to guard or watch the city, as intended by the 
ordinance. 
I would therefore suggest to your Honor, that you request 
Councils to pass an ordinance empowering yourself to appoint 
a sufficient number of substitutes to fill the vacancies, so as to 
have the whole force of six hundred and fifty men ready at all 
times for duty. I also report, that the Police Court have 
heard, since the 26th of last May, upwards of one hundred 
and forty cases or charges against police officers, a very great 
majority of which have been of a very trifling character. 
In conclusion, I most respectfully submit the following re- 
port of arrests made during the year 1858, from the 1st of 
January to the 31st of December, inclusive, with the various 
offences with which they were charged, compiled from the 
reports of the several Lieutenants. 
All of which is most respectfully submitted. 
SAM'L G. RUGGLES, 
Chief of Police. 113 
The number of Arrests made, and the various offences charged, during the 
year 1858. 
OFFENCES. 
Jan 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Ap'l May 
Jun 
July 
Aug 
Sep 
Oct. 
Nov 
.Dec. 
Total. 
Arson 
5 
3 
8 
5 
3 
3 
5 
5 
6 
2 
49 
Assault and battery, 
105 
79 
83 
75 
70 
85 
175 
131 
133 
109 
111 
116 
1271 
" with intent to kill... 
7 
11 
7 
3 
6 
4 
9 
14 
21 
13 
9 
8 
Assaulting policemen 
19 
19 
20 
9 
7 
10 
15 
2t 
25 
8 
7 
Abandonment 
Aiding in escape 
Adultery 
Absconding 
2 
3 
1 
1 
1 
2 
4 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
6 
2 
3 
1 
11 
2 
5 
1 
1 
2 
1 
8 
25 
10 
14 
Burglary 
1 
2 
2 
2 
3 
4 
9 
10 
1 
3 
9 
46 
" attempt to commit 
Bastardy 
Beating wife 
1 
13 
4 
9 
1 
11 
10 
3 
13 
4 
1 
1 
26 
2 
47 
1 
18 
3 
14 
15 
1 
21 
1 
13 
15 
20 
206 
Breach of peace 
215 
129 
142 
191 
114 
97 
234 
257 
277 
236 
217 
200 
2309 
75 
1 
" ordinance 
Bigamy 
Conspiracy 
Corner lounging 
5 
1 
6 
3 
1 
15 
4 
14 
13 
4 
3 
36 
18 
9 
10 
1 
10 
13 
44 
37 
24 
13 
32 
57 
1 
303 
Carrying concealed weapons 
Counterfeiting 
Disorderly houses 
Desertion 
Embezzlement 
1 
1 
3 
5 
5 
3 
2 
2 
2 
7 
5 
1 
11 
11 
12 
20 
2 
18 
10 
1 
5 
2 
3 
3 
13 
5 
1 
85 
7 
78 
5 
Forgery 
Fornication 
False pretence 
Fraud 
Gambling 
Intoxication 
2 
1 
3 
154 
1 
106 
3 
125 
2 
1 
121 
1 
87 
1 
254 
1 
4 
3 
12 
504 
2 
4 
3 
599 
5 
5 
769 
1 
3 
457 
4 
606 
1 
2 
2 
4 
671 
2 
4 
28 
6 
33 
4453 
" and disorderly conduct 
653 
466 
421 
324 
429 
730 1112 
986 
707 
1124 
862 
1020 
8834 
Indecent exposure 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
2 
3 
9 
6 
2 
Insult, females in the street 
1 
2 
2 
1 
3 
9 
7 
5 
4 
5 
2 
Interfering with officers 
11 
12 
14 
5 
12 
4 
15 
13 
18 
16 
5 
7 
132 
Keeping viscious dog 
Larceny 
95 
49 
2 
62 
74 
2 
56 
69 
1 
86 
1 
105 
80 
101 
111 
116 
6 
1004 
" suspicion of. 
24 
6 
7 
4 
4 
4 
9 
it 
33 
12 
9 
11 
130 
Misdemeanors 
Murder 
Picking Pockets 
57 
1 
1 
58 
3 
70 
1 
13 
59 
6 
42 
1 
15 
46 
4 
9 
63 
1 
3 
38 
1 
4 
44 
2 
65 
5 
4 
57 
3 
9 
41 
6 
640 
20 
79 
Passing counterfeit money... 
21 
23 
5 
11 
12 
18 
17 
4 
12 
8 
7 
15 
153 
Perjury 
Rape 
1 
1 
5 
1 
4 
1 
1 
1 
3 
12 
" attempt to commit 
Receiving stolen goods 
7 
3 
1 
5 
1 
3 
4 
2 
11 
1 
1 
1 
7 
1 
5 
43 
Robbery 
3 
4 
3 
6 
12 
3 
9 
12 
10 
15 
9 
7 
93 
Riot 
9 
3 
10 
2 
18 
17 
25 
20 
18 
20 
18 
18 
178 
" Inciting to 
4 
10 
6 
3 
4 
14 
31 
33 
13 
10 
9 
17 
Sell, liquor without license. 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
4 
2 
14 
" lottery policies 
Threatening 
6 
8 
1 
13 
8 
5 
9 
4 
21 
12 
1 
9 
3 
2 
105 
Vagrancy 
96 
75 
137 
65 
106 
109 
79 
93 
260 
113 
91 
128 
1352 
-- 
. 
- 
1569 
1115 
1209 
1015 
1078 
1558 
2570 
2533 
2554 
2397.2246 
2523 
22367 114 
The number of Arrests made, and the various Offences charged, in each Police District 
during the year 1858. 
OFFENCES. 
iMur 
| Second. 
Third. 
| Fourth. 
Fifth. 
| Sixth. 
| Seventh. 
| Eighth. 
•ms 
| Tenth. 
| Eleventh. 
| Twelfth. 
| Thirteenth. 
| Fourteenth. 
| Fifteenth. 
| Sixteenth. 
I Reserve 
1 Corps. 
Total. 
7 
89 
9 
26 
1 
4 
4 
8 
2 
2 
1 
27 
289 
8 
1 
143 
8 
14 
""4 
2 
4 
69 
12 
31 
""i 
12 
90 
6 
5 
i 
47 
4 
2 
i 
1 
"i 
115 
1 
8 
75 
15 
34 
"15 
3 
133 
3 
1 
5 
""'i 
1 
16 
10 
2 
1 
42 
4 
4 
14 
4 
"i 
1 
1 
i 
2 
2 
9 
38 
4 
i 
49 
49 
1,271 
112 
172 
8 
25 
10 
14 
46 
15 
20 
206 
2,309 
75 
1 
Assault and battery 
Assault with intent to 
kill 
64 
5 
86 
4 
10 
89 
6 
10 
96 
10 
26 
2 
78 
5 
2 
66 
2 
2 
a 
78 
5 
7 
Assaulting policemen 
A bandonment 
2 
1 
1 
1 
49 
207 
4 
2 
1 
1 
3 
27 
110 
10 
Till I'fldftTV 
10 
3 
6 
1 
1 
1 
9 
69 
10 
1 
3 
34 
168 
8 
5 
"2 
10 
175 
1 
2 
1 
19 
182 
7 
4 
J 
Burglary, attempt to 
commit 
Bastardy, ..•••••••••••••• 
5 
1 
9 
106 
5 
1 
17 
130 
2 
Beating wife 
1 
182 
6 
2 
77 
70 
18 
1 
Breach of peace 
336 
Br^ch of ordinance 
Bigamy 
13 
1 
3 
1 
14 
4 
"18 
19 
"i 
"i 
oi 
52 
1 
"3 
2 
8 
8 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
'i 
5 
i 
2 
"i 
22 
87 
1 
1 
4 
14 
1 
11 
1 
"i 
"4 
4 
io 
1 
62 
26 
2 
6 
22 
32 
1 
1 
"i 
3 
2 
"i 
8 
1 
303 
85 
7 
78 
5 
Comer Lninfnnfr 
50 
7 
61 
25 
5 
5 
2 
6 
1 
37 
14 
""3 
15 
4 
2 
2 
13 
1 
44 
8 
""5 
16 
1 
3 
6 
10 
2 
""2 
5 
4 
Carrying concealed wea- 
6 
1 
Disorderly houses 
7 
12 
3 
6 
7 
Embezzlement 
""i 
Forgery 
1 
2 
4 
28 
6 
33 
4,453 
8,834 
29 
41 
132 
6 
1,004 
130 
640 
20 
79 
153 
3 
12 
5 
43 
93 
178 
154 
14 
2 
105 
1,352 
3 
3 
1 
3 
""4 
194 
302 
3 
5 
94 
1 
28 
"i 
84 
142 
1 
11 
109 
20 
15 
1 
13 
20 
"2 
8 
4 
False pretence 
1 
1 
3 
1 
1 
851 
289 
1 
4 
8 
4 
. 2 
1 
1 
2 
1 
2 
4 
5 
133 
183 
2 
3 
1 
49 
11 
53 
1 
10 
1 
1 
2 
265 
348 
1 
10 
5 
"75 
18 
58 
1 
9 
12 
Gambling ... ...... 
6 
271 
533 
3 
6 
15 
4 
143 
3136 
8 
3 
13 
93 
292 
2 
6 
36 
4 
16 
2 
4 
12 
6 
260 
269 
1 
2 
15 
"47 
9 
41 
5 
2 
8 
1 
111 
934 
1 
4 
8 
"56 
10 
40 
4 
9 
18 
4 
373 
237 
Intoxication 
658 
856 
5 
1 
1 
757 
559 
2 
3 
14 
1 
49 
5 
37 
115 
589 
1 
1 
6 
4 
56 
8 
75 
20 
Intoxication and disor- 
derly conduct 
Indecent exposure. 
Insulting females in the 
streets 
"59 
8 
34 
4 
Interfering with officers. 
Keeping vicious do^ 
Larceny 
51 
8 
30 
1 
135 
16 
70 
77 
8 
64 
1 
3 
7 
72 
1 
28 
4 
6 
Larceny, suspicion of..... 
Misdemeanors 
ATorder 
Picking pockets 
3 
13 
12 
6 
1 
18 
5 
Passing counterfeit mo- 
ney 
3 
3 
4 
""2 
21 
36 
41 
4 
3 
'4 
2 
4 
5 
7 
i 
82 
Bape, attempt to commit 
Deceiving stolen goods... 
""2 
2 
5 
"i 
2 
5 
3 
"1 
12 
15 
3 
"ii 
2 
12 
9 
2 
3 
11 
11 
2 
"i 
25 
1 
3 
4 
31 
10 
2 
"i'i 
80 
1 
1 
15 
13 
12 
""2 
1 
2 
10 
2 
"12 
121 
"' "7 
2 
12 
21 
1 
4 
1 
10 
Bobbery 
13 
20 
0 
Biot 
Biot, inciting to 
Selling liquor without li- 
Selling lottery policies... 
Threatening 
""3 
76 
5 
159 
"18 
113 
""4 
228 
127 
9 
58 
9 
73 
"22 
90 
"'3 
70 
2 
27 
Vagrancy 
1590 
4293 
2251 
1709 
1853 
1123 
843 
710 
1224 
1787 
1325 
1089 
252 
195 
269 
802 
1052 22,367 115 
Table of Nativity for 1858. 
COUNTRIES. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar 
Ap'l 
May 
Tun. 
July 
AugSep. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Total. 
United States 
836 
578 
640 
542 
582 
723 
1246 
1054 
868 
965 
858 
1033 
9925 
Ireland 
495 
383 
428 
330 
363 
628 
1046 
1176 
1364 
1122 
150 
1134 
1193 
9662 
Germany 
157 
97 
78 
83 
77 
115 
175 
157 
177 
170 
172 
1608 
England 
66 
43 
52 
45 
50 
67 
81 
118 
102 
129 
52 
97 
902 
Scotch 
2 
5 
5 
5 
5 
18 
10 
13 
21 
21 
8 
16 
129 
French 
8 
4 
6 
7 
1 
6 
8 
10 
8 
3 
16 
8 
85 
Wales 
3 
2 
1 
2 
7 
1 
1 
17 
Spain 
1 
3 
4 
3 
11 
Cuba 
1 
1 
2 
Mexico 
2 
2 
Italian 
1 
2 
2 
4 
3 
2 
14 
Central America 
1 
1 
Swiss 
1 
1 
Sweden 
1 
1 
2 
Canada 
1 
1 
1 
Portugal 
2 
1 
Africa 
1 
1 
4 
1569 
1115 
1209 
'1015 
1078 
1558 2570 
2533 
2554 
2397 
2246 
2523 
22.367 
Office Superintendent of Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph, 
Philadelphia, January lsi, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, 
Mayor of the city of Philadelphia, 
Sir :-As Superintendent of the Police and Fire Alarm Tele- 
graph, I have the honor of submitting my third annual report. 
During the year past a number of changes have been made 
in the corps of operators, yet I am happy to say no detriment 
has been occasioned thereby, nor has the utility of this branch 
of the public service been at all impaired. 
The officers appointed or detailed by you for this important 
service were men generally of more than ordinary intelligence, 
and in all instances were prompt in acquiring a knowledge of 
their duty. To the constant and unwearied attention of these 
gentlemen must be, in a great measure, attributed the entire 
success and universal popularity of " The Police and Fire 
Alarm Telegraph." As a branch of the Police Department 
you are fully capable of appreciating its importance. 
In many instances since you assumed the duties of Chief 
Magistrate of the city, its practical utility has been fully 116 
tested. As an auxiliary to the Fire Department, it is unne- 
cessary for me to say that it has accomplished as much, if not 
more, than the most sanguine friends and advocates of the 
system predicted, or even contemplated. 
The number of officers detailed for duty as operators, ex- 
clusive of superintendent and assistants at the central office, 
is thirty-one, stationed as follows, viz: At the 1st, 2d, 3d, 
4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 
16th districts, two each, one for day and one for night duty ; 
at the 15th district one, who performs day duty only. 
Although the business has been materially augmented, the 
number of fire telegraph circuits increased from six to eight, 
and an additional circuit constructed, connecting the several 
gas works, since my last annual report was presented, there 
has not been any increase in the number of operators at the 
central station. 
All the operators being detailed for this special duty, are, 
nevertheless, as you are aware, liable to be called on at any 
time to perform regular police duty. 
The amount expended for the maintenance of the telegraph 
for the past year, exclusive of salaries, was one thousand and 
sixty dollars seventy-five cents, ($1,060 75.) Of this sum 
five hundred and thirty-eight dollars and twenty-four cents 
($538 24) was for repairs, instruments and wires, and five 
hundred and twenty-two dollars and fifty-one cents ($522 51) 
for battery. 
In my last annual report I called attention to the very con- 
tracted and inadequate accommodations at the central station. 
The character of the business necessarily attracts a large num- 
ber of persons to the office, for whose accommodation there is 
no room, there being hardly sufficient space for the opera- 
tors themselves. 
Objectionable at all times, the apartments are particularly 
so in the summer season. I will add that the room in the 117 
basement, appropriated for the batteries of both the Police and 
Fire alarm Telegraph, is entirely too small, and not at all 
adapted for the purpose. 
In addition to the inconvenience of the locality, the expense 
of keeping them in proper order is considerably increased. I 
most respectfully suggest a change of location, so that the 
operators may enjoy a reasonable degree of comfort, the citi- 
zens having business to transact through the telegraph, be 
properly accommodated, and the affairs of the office more 
economically and satisfactorily conducted. 
In my report made to your immediate predecessor on the 
first of January, 1858,1 referred to the closing of a number 
of station houses, the consequent reduction in the number of 
fire alarm boxes, and the disarrangement, to some extent, of 
the system. During the year past applications have frequently 
been made by citizens and fire companies for additional means 
of communicating promptly alarms of fire. 
The proposed increase appears to be absolutely necessary, 
in order that all our citizens should alike reap the advantages 
of a system which time has proven to be of incalculable im- 
portance, and Councils will, I have no doubt, at an early day 
see the propriety of passing an ordinance which, while it shall 
be relieved of the objectionable features, will accomplish the 
desired object. 
I append hereto a statement showing the number of mes- 
sages transmitted to and from the central office, together with 
such other statistics as may be useful or interesting, a com- 
parison of which with the statement submitted last year, will 
enable you to discover the increase in the amount of business 
transacted during the year. 
The whole number of messages transmitted over the wires 
during the year was thirty-six thousand three hundred and 
fifty-nine (36,359.) 
The number of strayed and stolen animals restored to owners 118 
by means of this department, was one thousand and three 
(1,003). 
The Coroner was notified by telegraph four hundred and 
one (401) times. 
The number of missing men and wrnmen restored to friends 
was three hundred and seventy-nine (379). 
The description of counterfeit notes, cautioning storekeepers 
and others, two hundred and sixty-three (263). 
Police officers subpoenaed by telegraph to appear before 
grand iurv and courts, four thousand seven hundred and fifty- 
four (4,754). 
Aside from all other considerations which entitle this branch 
of the public service to the fostering care of the government, 
the great advantages to the Police Department, enabling the 
chief to concentrate, in case of an apprehended outbreak or 
disturbance of the public peace, a large numbei' of men at any 
given point, together with the facilities it affords for communi- 
cating alarms of fire promptly, it seems to me, that in the 
large number of lost children who are annually restored to 
anxious parents through means of this agency, may be found 
abundant reasons for the philanthropic citizens of Philadel- 
phia to congratulate each other on the successful establish- 
ment of the Municipal Telegraph. 
In closing my brief report, allow me to say that it has been 
a source of the highest gratification to have observed the deep 
interest you have ever exhibited in the success of a branch of 
the public service in which I feel much pride, and through 
you, to acknowledge the courtesy and gentlemanly conduct 
of the members of the police force, in all my intercourse with 
them. 
Very respectfully, 
W. J. PHILIPS, 
Superintendent. 119 
DISTRICTS. 
Messages 
sent. 
Messages 
received. 
LOST CHILDREN. 
STRAYED AND STOLEN ANIMALS. 
Coroner 
Notified. 
Officers 
subpoena'd 
to Court 
and Grand 
Jury. 
Counterfeits. 
Description of 
stolen prop- 
erty. 
| Push Carts. I 
| Riots. 
| Prize Fights. 
Missing. 
Boys. 
Girls. 
Horses. 
Horses 
and 
wagons. 
Horses 
and 
sleighs. 
Cows. 
| Sheep. 
Steers. 
Hogs. 
| Goats. 
| Mules. 
First 
1,231 
1,236 
1,140 
936 
1,171 
1,132 
1,063 
1,312 
1,281 
1,185 
1,049 
1,086 
940 
926 
897 
1,199 
1,635 
1,731 
960 
961 
1,251 
1,366 
1,317 
1,397 
1,144 
1,433 
1,010 
1,206 
715 
715 
653 
1,081 
239 
235 
161 
132 
135 
140 
158 
144 
56 
172 
74 
139 
7 
6 
11 
15 
141 
149 
114 
103 
100 
95 
128 
93 
30 
135 
79 
84 
2 
4 
2 
4 
25 
30 
20 
13 
12 
19 
8 
12 
36 
10 
12 
14 
16 
15 
12 
15 
9 
24 
30 
28 
13 
19 
19 
13 
6 
11 
15 
12 
3 
8 
6 
6 
6 
9 
2 
1 
9 
2 
1 
1 
2 
4 
51 
34 
21 
18 
17 
25 
40 
20 
25 
51 
36 
17 
8 
4 
10 
24 
198 
437 
514 
413 
561 
483 
321 
272 
280 
413 
431 
285 
78 
15 
23 
30 
5 
21 
8 
6 
11 
9 
5 
30 
33 
5 
7 
27 
21 
39 
19 
17 
119 
168 
168 
44 
168 
171 
9 
168 
184 
9 
6 
161 
103 
192 
44 
170 
3 
2 
1 
4 
1 
4 
24 
3 
3 
8 
3 
5 
26 
7 
11 
8 
10 
17 
14 
11 
1 
5 
1 
2 
2 
1 
2 
1 
2 
fOurin.... 
Fifth 
2 
2 
2 
8 
43 
5 
12 
6 
9 
10 
8 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
4 
1 
2 
1 
1 
3 
1 
14 
5 
14 
44 
54 
14 
15 
57 
34 
45 
33 
26 
3 
1 
2 
4 
6 
6 
8 
11 
6 
5 
12 
Seventh 
Eighth 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
12 
11 
17 
22 
5 
18 
8 
15 
8 
8 
2 
1 
3 
2 
1 
4 
8 
2 
Ninth 
Tenth 
Eleventh 
Twelfth 
Thirteenth .. 
Fourteenth.. 
Fifteenth .... 
Sixteenth.... 
2 
2 
5 
2 
1 
17,784 
Total, 
18,575 
17,784 
1,824 
Total 
1,263 
1,824 
269 
222 
15 
141 
109 
138 
17 
22 
70 
401 
4,754 
263 
1,884 
10 
22 
9 
379 
36,359 
3,087 
Miscellaneous Messages, 24,547. 
RECAPITULATION. 120 
FIRES DURING THE YEAR 1858. 
Bell rung. 
Bell not 
rung. 
False 
alarms. 
General 
alarms. 
NUMBER OF FIRES IN EACH FIRE DISTRICT. 
1st. 
2d. 
3d. 
4th. 
5th. 
6th. 
7th. 
January 
13 
8 
6 
6 
4 
2 
1 
1 
1 
February 
18 
7 
1 
9 
8 
2 
3 
2 
1 
March 
16 
16 
10 
5 
5 
5 
1 
4 
2 
April 
13 
11 
2 
12 
3 
2 
3 
1 
2 
1 
May 
16 
7 
6 
10 
8 
1 
2 
1 
1 
June 
19 
3 
1 
6 
7 
7 
1 
1 
July t 
14 
12 
7 
9 
1 
6 
2 
1 
August 
13 
10 
1 
2 
6 
4 
4 
7 
1 
1 
1 
September 
13 
12 
6 
1 
8 
7 
1 
2 
October 
14 
9 
3 
4 
4 
11 
1 
November 
11 
12 
4 
4 
6 
7 
2 
...... 
"December 
12 
19 
6 
11 
4 
5 
3 
2 
172 
126 
10 
2 
84 
70 
41 
65 
9 
17 
12 
172 
17 
- ■ 
9 
Total 
298 
65 
41 
70 
84 
■ 
Total... 
.. 298 
GAS TELEGRAPH. 
Messages sent. 
Messages received. 
Station 3 
32 
3 
" 4 
224 
24 
" 5 
251 
62 
" 6 
71 
21 
- - 
•--- 
578 
110 
. 578 
Total... 
... 688 
No record of message sent to or received from Station 7. 121 
FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT 
Central Police Office, 
Fire Detective Department, 
Philadelphia, Jan. 8, 1859. 
Hon. Alexander Henry, Mayor. 
Sir :-In accordance with section 18 of the Rules and 
Regulations adopted by your Honor for the government of 
the police force of the City of Philadelphia, I hereby trans- 
mit, for your information, a report of the operations of the 
Fire Detective branch of that service, for the year commen- 
cing January 1, and ending December 31, 1858. 
In the history of fires in Philadelphia, the past year has 
been remarkable. The city has been peculiarly favored in 
the immunity from the ravages of the devouring element, 
which has been vouchsafed to it by the mercy of an overruling 
and all-wise Providence. While other cities in the United 
States have been visited by extensive and calamitous confla- 
grations, no fire of an extraordinary or disastrous character 
has occurred in our metropolis. For this, our warmest grati- 
tude is due to Him who directs and controls all things-hears 
our prayers and gives us blessings. 
For the last six months especially, the scarcity of fires in 
this city has been unprecedented. This fact has been a gene- 
ral topic of conversation among the firemen, and our citizens 
of all classes have noted it. To property owners and insurers 
both, it has been a subject of much gratulation, and almost 
every body has hailed it as a good omen for the future. 
The creation of the fire police by your predecessor, Mr. 
Vaux, is universally acknowledged to have been one of the 
wisest acts of his administration, and, certainly, no branch of 
the detective department has ever been established which has 
won such general popularity. The continuance of the system 
was one of the very first steps of your honor's administration, 
and I am happy to say, that the act has met the approbation 
of the entire community. 122 
The establishment of a fire detective agency is thus power- 
fully endorsed by an able writer who has lately advocated the 
measure: 
" We need in this country, where frequent and destructive 
fires are characteristic of our condition, not less an intelligent 
and comprehensive system of inquiry into the causes of these 
fires, than a sure and efficient method for their extinguish- 
ment. We require, in brief, the fire investigator no^ less 
than the steam fire engine. Perhaps the former may even 
take precedence, as meeting a more pressing want, inasmuch 
as prevention is always better than cure. If we wish to 
prevent the occurrence of large fires, and obviate the losses 
they entail, we must adopt a system of carefully, closely, and 
unweariedly investigating the origin of every fire that hap- 
pens. No mere casual search will answer the purpose, but the 
examination must be the effect of a system, which, by prac- 
tice, would be reduced to a science, and enable the investiga- 
tor to trace up unerringly the facts in each case, until he 
could authoritatively pronounce whether the fire proceeded 
from incendiarism, that was to be detected and punished; 
carelessness, deserving exposure and reprobation; defective 
construction of buildings or flues, that required to be prohi- 
bited; or from natural causes or spontaneous combustion, 
which needed explanation, in order to direct others how to 
avoid their danger. 
" Such investigations could not fail of effect, because they 
would be continually directing public attention to the causes 
exposing their property to destruction. Each tenant of a 
house or store would be aware that he was held morally 
responsible for the safety, not only of his own property, but 
also of that of his neighbors; the incendiary would cease to 
ply his fiendish business, either for purposes of wanton revenge 
or fraud, through fear of detection; and carelessness and 
reckless disregard of the laws of safety would be held in check 123 
by the certainty of exposure. The dread of a careful investi- 
gation by men specially trained to the pursuit, and possessing, 
through long practice, the reputation of unerring sagacity in 
their conclusions, in short, offers the only sure remedy against 
the combined causes that are constantly subjecting us to 
enormous losses of property, and to the not unfrequent destruc- 
tion of life by fire." 
Soon after your induction into office, you issued the follow- 
ing orders: 
1. High Constable A. W. Blackburn, of the detective 
force, is detailed as Fire Marshal, and will be respected and 
obeyed accordingly. His head-quarters will be at the Central 
Police Station. All orders emanating from him must be 
complied with, and executed with the utmost promptness and 
dispatch; and it is made imperative upon the officers of the 
police department, at all times, to cheerfully render him every 
assistance in the performance of his duties. 
2. The lieutenants are directed to enjoin upon the officers of 
their respective divisions the great importance of vigilance in 
discovering, and quickness in extinguishing fires, as well as 
alertness in giving the alarm for the same, when necessary. 
Patrolmen, especially those on night duty, must be required 
to give particular attention to the prevention of incendiarism 
and the detection of incendiaries. The patrol officers must 
also be instructed to exercise constant watchfulness, in order 
to prevent false alarms by mischievous parties tampering with 
the telegraph signal boxes, and building bonfires. All per- 
sons detected in such acts must be instantly taken into custody, 
and held to answer. 
3. All properties on the several beats of the patrolmen, 
which, from their exposed situation or combustible character, 
offer peculiar temptation to the incendiary-such, for instance, 
as unoccupied houses, unfinished buildings, sheds, outhouses, 
stables, barns, lumber-yards, shops, establishments for the 124 
storage and sale of hay and straw, rag warehouses, paper stores, 
etc., should be specially watched, and all prowlers seen at unsea- 
sonable hours, under circumstances to warrant a suspicion of 
incendiary designs, should, in all cases, be overhauled, and 
those failing to give a satisfactory account of themselves, 
invariably taken to the station house. All buildings found 
open, partially dilapidated, or in any way exposed to the 
depredations of incendiaries, must be reported to the Fire 
Marshal. 
4. Every fire that occurs, however trivial it may be, even 
to the burning of a bed, or a window curtain, or the blazing of 
a foul chimney, must be at once reported by the officer on 
whose beat it happens, and information of it transmitted forth- 
with by telegraph, to the Central Station, for the attention of 
the Fire Marshal. 
5. Whenever a fire takes place, the premises burned shall 
be taken charge of by the police, and after the extinguish- 
ment of the flames, nothing allowed to be disturbed until the 
arrival of the Fire Marshal, to whom the officers are expected 
to yield the readiest aid in making his investigations. 
6. All parties detected in the commission of arson, or sus- 
pected of having committed, or intending to commit that crime, 
must be promptly arrested, and detained for examination by 
the Fire Marshal, who is to be notified of the arrest as speedily 
as possible. No person apprehended by the officers for 
incendiarism shall be taken before a committing magistrate 
for a hearing, until the Fire Marshal has been informed of 
the arrest, and has had an opportunity of thoroughly examin- 
ing the case. 
7. Every officer of the police who may obtain any infor- 
mation relative to fires which have been the work of design, 
or may have any knowledge of parties suspected of being in- 
cendiaries, will, without delay, communicate the same to the 
Fire Marshal. 125 
8. The fire detective branch being one of the most impor- 
tant branches of the police service, every officer of the depart- 
ment is enjoined to be active and vigilant in aiding the Fire 
Marshal to ferret out and bring to justice the criminals who 
wantonly and wickedly destioy property and jeopardize 
human life. 
It affords me great pleasure to inform you that these orders 
have been carried out to my utmost satisfaction, and writh an 
alacrity and efficiency which have won from me the highest 
admiration. Indeed, the officers of every grade have seemed 
to vie with each other in rendering me the readiest assistance 
in the discharge of my duties, while they have manifested the 
deepest interest in every thing connected with the depart- 
ment of the police service, in the direction of which you did 
me the honor to continue me at the time of your installation 
as the chief magistrate of the city. 
A great many fires have been prevented by the vigilance 
and resolution of the patrolmen, in watching and following 
up incendiaries, and numerous others discovered in their in- 
cipient state, and extinguished before gaining dangerous 
headway. The services of the night patrol particularly, in 
quietly putting out small fires, and promptly giving the alarm 
for more serious ones, cannot be too highly appreciated. 
Thousands of dollars worth of property have thus been saved 
by the policemen. A number of valuable lives have also been 
rescued at fires by the humane and heroic exertions of officers. 
One faithful officer was struck down dead from the effects 
of over-exertion and suffocation at a fire, while in the very act 
of battling with the flames. Several other members of the 
force have sustained severe injuries by devotion to their duties 
at fires. Two of them narrowly escaped sacrificing their lives 
in struggles with incendiaries, whom they attempted to arrest. 
The excellent, though trite maxim, " an ounce of preven- 
tion is worth a pound of cure," has always been a favorite 126 
idea of mine, and experience has convinced me that in nothing 
is its value more striking than in its application to fires. For 
the last nine months, at least one half of my time has been 
employed in laboring assiduously to prevent conflagrations, 
principally those of an incendiary nature; and I am glad to 
state that my efforts have been crowned with the most grati- 
fying success. Owners and occupants of properties exposing 
them to the depredations of incendiaries by their own thought- 
lessness have had their attention called to the fact, and been 
induced to remedy the neglect. Where gross carelessness (I 
have seen such instances which excited my amazement) has 
been discovered, those guilty of it have been courteously 
remonstrated with, and prevailed upon to remove the cause 
of danger. Wherever a building, or other property, has been 
found in such a condition of exposure as constantly to invite 
acts of arson, I have relaxed no exertion to have it put in a 
state of safety. 
There are, however, a number of unoccupied or abandoned 
buildings in different parts of the city, in a partial or complete 
state of dilapidation, which are either too valueless to admit 
of repairs, or are objects of disputed ownership. Such places 
are eye-sores to any locality, and are constant sources of 
annoyance to the residents of neighborhoods in which they 
are situated. They are liable at all times to fires, not only 
from the recklessness or criminality of depraved wretches 
who frequently seek shelter in them, but from the mischief of 
heedless juveniles and wicked young men, and thus the sur- 
rounding properties are placed in continual jeopardy. I 
would suggest, that if the power already conferred by the 
consolidation act is not sufficient, authority be obtained from 
the Legislature, empowering Councils to pass an ordinance 
compelling the nailing up, enclosing, or demolishing of such 
buildings, as in each case may be considered best, by the 
owners or reputed owners, or those claiming possession, on 127 
pain of a proper penalty for neglect, failure, or refusal to do 
so, after due notice; and in case no owner or claimant can be 
discovered, that the police be authorized to tear them down 
whenever they are complained of as a nuisance by the neigh- 
bors, or are deemed by the officers dangerous to the adjacent 
properties in the event of fire. 
Whatever will tend to diminish fires, and by that contribute 
to the preservation of property, interests every one, and ought 
to be a matter of anxious concern with our corporate rulers. 
The more fire-proof we construct our buildings, the less risk 
we will run of mishaps from fire, and wise municipal regula- 
tions upon this subject, are of paramount importance. My 
records show that a large amount of the burnings which are 
ascertained to be the work of design, originate in wooden 
structures. These fabrics are more readily fired than any 
other kind of building, and when once involved in flames, 
often endanger more substantial edifices which they may hap- 
pen to adjoin. The sooner we get rid of frame buildings, of 
all sorts and descriptions, in Philadelphia, the fewer will be 
the number of fires we shall be obliged to chronicle. 
I find that numbers of structures composed entirely of wood, 
comprising chiefly sheds, stables, and shops, have recently 
been erected in all the built-up parts of the city, in open 
violation of law. Wherever I have discovered them, I have 
directed them to be removed, and all parties failing to comply 
with the order, will be prosecuted. Some worthy poor men 
have built them in ignorance of the law, and to these persons 
I have shown all the leniency allowable. Most of the owners 
of these structures have pleaded in extenuation of the legal 
infraction, that they were designed to occupy their sites but 
temporarily; still, as they are dangerous every moment they 
stand, their demolition and removal have been insisted upon. 
The existing laws prohibiting the erection of frame build- 
ings, are the same that were in force prior to consolidation. 128 
They have undergone no change since the passage of that 
Act, and on examining them thoroughly, I find them unsuited 
to our present enlarged and compact municipality. They 
lack uniformity, and are altogether very defective. The 
ordinances of the old city proper, and those of the adjoining 
districts and boroughs of the county, differ in the mode of 
their enforcement, as well as in the amount of the penalties 
they impose. In some of the outer districts, there never was 
any ordinance of the kind in operation at all. In others, 
wooden edifices were interdicted only in prescribed localities, 
and there was nothing to prevent them from going up beyond 
certain boundary lines. There is now an urgent necessity 
for the immediate enactment of an uniform ordinance, forbid- 
ding the construction, under a heavy penalty, in any part of 
the consolidated city, except the strictly rural portions, of all 
framed, brick-paned or other buildings, the walls whereof are 
not wholly composed of incombustible materials. And I 
would therefore respectfully suggest that your Honor call the 
attention of Councils to this important matter with as little 
delay as possible. 
The Act of May, 1855, which provides for the regulation 
and inspection of buildings in the City of Philadelphia, and 
for the better preservation of life and property, is, in many 
respects, an excellent law, but some of its sections are indefi- 
nite, vague and ambiguous, and taken as a whole, there is a 
lameness about it, which demands further legislation. For 
instance, although it conveys the idea that wooden buildings 
cannot be erected anywhere in the consolidated city, except- 
ing in the rural districts, yet it is specifically silent in regard 
to that matter. Again, while its 9th section says, " nor shall 
it be lawful for any person or persons to build any wooden 
joist, rafter, beam, or girder in any chimney or flue whatever, 
in any house or building," and in its 12th section it declares, 
" that no steam-engine shall be erected in said city without 129 
the inspection and approval of an inspector, for the security 
and safety of the inhabitants," there is not a word said con- 
cerning, and no provision whatsoever made for the manner in 
which heaters, furnaces, ranges, ovens and other recent con- 
trivances for warming, culinary, manufacturing and other 
purposes, shall be constructed. 
When the walls of an edifice are finished, and the structure 
enclosed, the building inspector, if satisfied that the work has 
been done conformable to law, gives his certificate accord- 
ingly, to the owner or contractor, and takes his departure, 
not claiming to exercise any further supervision over the 
premises. After awhile, heating apparatus is required to be 
introduced, and the constructor, either through culpable igno- 
rance of his business, or reckless carelessness, places his hot- 
air flues and smoke pipes in such close proximity to joists, 
flooring boards, or other wood work, that the house is liable 
to catch fire at almost any hour of the day or night. In truth, 
a badly constructed hot-air furnace in such shells of dwellings 
as are too frequently run up in American cities now-a-days, 
is a modern improvement more to be dreaded than desired. 
If the dwellers in these habitations, may not be said to actually 
sleep over a magazine of gunpowder, they at least can have no 
assurance, when they retire to bed at night, that they will be 
alive next morning. 
These glaring defects of the Building Inspectors' Act, 
should be corrected by a supplement at the present session of 
the Legislature. A late proposition to make the Board of 
Building Inspectors a department of the city government, 
and thus bring it directly under the control of Councils, is, in 
my opinion, a wise and judicious movement. The Corpora- 
tion of Philadelphia, it seems to me, ought certainly to have 
the regulation of everything relating to the construction of 
buildings, and likewise the introduction into the same of steam 
power, or heaters, or any other apparatus or contrivance that 
might prove a cause of fire. 130 
During the past year the chimneys of numerous houses 
have taken fire from the carelessness and neglect of the occu- 
pants in not having them cleaned, when foul; and in some 
instances, the buildings in which these mishaps occurred, have 
made narrow escapes from destruction. The liability of smoke 
flues to become dirty, having been greatly diminished by the 
general use of coals as fuel, the good old practice of chimney 
sweeping has been well nigh forgotten, and the wholesome 
police regulations that once directed it, appear to be obsolete. 
Circumstances require that the abandoned custom should be 
revived. Owing to the high price of charcoal, manufactured 
kindling-wood is fast taking its place; and this article, being 
freely employed in building coal fires, it rapidly generates 
soot, and hence the frequency of the burning out of chimneys. 
As a preventive of these accidents, which are always attended 
with more or less hazard to the houses, I would suggest the 
enactment by Councils of an uniform ordinance, regulating 
chimney sweeping, and imposing a penalty upon any house- 
keeper or other person whose chimney shall take fire and 
blaze out at the top, unless the same may have been swept 
within a reasonable time, to be specified in said ordinance, or 
who shall set his or her chimney on fire for the purpose of 
cleansing it. 
The acts of Assembly establishing regulations for chimney 
sweepers, passed in the latter part of the last century, are 
antiquated, and do not suit the city of Philadelphia of this 
day. The ancient mode, too, of cleaning dirty chimneys, by 
sending boys down them, it is to be hoped, has also had its 
day. There have ever been strong objections to it on the 
score of humanity. Now it is often hazardous, and sometimes 
impracticable, in consequence of the changes in the manner 
of constructing flues and erecting fire places, which improve- 
ments in heating and cooking, have brought about. Machines 
for cleansing small smoke flues have been in use for some 131 
years, but they are not perfect. Chimneys will doubtless, 
ere long, all be swept by improved machinery, without the 
necessity of entering the flue and risking human life by 
perilous climbing. The inventive spirit of the age can scarcely 
fail to furnish the means of accomplishing this necessary work, 
without stunting the growth and diseasing the bodies of poor 
little sable-colored lads. 
The importance of providing against the contingency of 
fires originating from chimneys, cannot be overrated. The 
defective construction of these flues is a fruitful source of such 
casualties. In several cases of fire thus produced, my inves- 
tigations have disclosed the most glaring culpability on the 
part of the builder. In one instance, where a fire broke out 
at the hour of midnight, and came near burning a whole 
family to death in their beds, so flimsy was the masonry work 
of the chimney, that, on examining portions of it, they crum- 
bled to pieces under the slight pressure of the hand ! The best 
chimneys, in^the course of time, are rendered unsafe by expo- 
sure to the weather and the action of the coal gases on the 
lime in the cement of the brick work. Besides being regu- 
larly cleaned, they should be examined every few years by a 
competent mason, and all discovered defects repaired. Stone 
caps on the tops of chimneys offer the most effectual barrier 
to the insidous inroads of the weather. 
In addition to my suggestions relative to the passage by 
Councils of stringent laws in relation to frame buildings and 
chimneys, I would recommend the adoption of an ordinance pro- 
hibiting, under a severe penalty, the building of bonfires, and 
the burning of shavings, straw, rubbish, and other combusti- 
bles, in the public thoroughfares, or in private yards, or on 
any lot or piece of ground so near to any building or other 
property, as to endanger the same. Last summer, my atten- 
tion was called to a case, where a German, in burning the 
contents of a straw bed on his own premises, set fire to the 132 
fence separating his yard from that of his next door neighbor, 
and, in his fright, losing all presence of mind, was unable to 
master the flames. The coolness of an old fireman, who hap- 
pened to be passing, and rushed into the place, alone pre- 
vented what might have proven a serious conflagration. On 
a windy night, last fall, a colored woman in the southern part 
of the city, emptied into the street from a bed tick upon which 
a sick man had recently died, a quantity of chaff, and ignited 
it. In a few minutes, the roofs of two frame houses caught 
fire from some of the small particles of kindled matter, and 
although the flames were extinguished by the application of a 
couple of pails of water, a whole row of wooden edifices was 
put in imminent peril. 
A fire happened, at the hour of noon, in a dwelling, in the 
beginning of this winter, the origin of which was for some 
time wrapped in mystery, but was finally traced to a bonfire 
built by a gang of disorderly boys upon an open lot that sur- 
rounded the house. The bonfire had been started by the 
urchins on the previous afternoon, and the embers glowing all 
night, were fanned into sparks by a strong gale that sprang 
up the next forenoon. Some of these sparks were blown into 
the second story through a window, and fired beds and cloth- 
ing in two communicating apartments. 
The laws of the State Legislature, already in force in Phila- 
delphia, in relation to gunpowder, guncotton and saltpetre, 
if properly carried out, I deem ample for the momentous ob- 
jects for which they were designed, but I think that the legal 
enactments in reference to fireworks, are inadequate to their 
purpose, and that the City Councils ought to pass an ordi- 
nance regulating the manufacture, storage and sale of all 
kinds of pyrotechnics. At every recurrence of the anniversary 
of American Independence, large quantities of these articles 
are consumed, and one of the invariable results, is the record- 
ing of a chapter of fires which they are sure to occasion. To 133 
stop the explosion of fireworks on a holiday so glorious to 
every American, would be like strangling patriotism itself. 
Young America at least, would certainly break out in open 
rebellion against it. Still, public safety demands that the 
patriotic custom should be controlled, and kept within the 
bounds of prudence. This can easily be done by judicious 
municipal regulations. 
An exceedingly dangerous habit on the part of some of the 
vendors of pyrotechnics, is the displaying of large quantities 
of them for rapid sale on the sidewalks in front of their shops. 
When thus exposed, a single squib falling among them, 
whether by accident or design, may, in an instant, ignite and 
explode the whole collection, with the chances of serious inju- 
ries to people passing along the street. On the fourth of 
July last, some mischievous parties threw a portion of a bunch 
of ignited fire crackers on a pile of all sorts of small pyrotech- 
nics, displayed upon a platform at the door of a store under the 
Mansion House Hotel, corner of Eleventh and Market streets, 
which caused the entire lot to explode with a loud report, fol- 
lowed by the shattering of the windows and fixtures of the 
store, and the firing of the building. The promptness of the 
firemen was all that saved the hotel, as well as the fine depot 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, from falling a prey 
to the flames. 
Being anxious to ascertain, as a matter of curiosity and1 
information both, how many fires, ranging from the smallest 
to the largest, would happen in the course of a single year in 
a great metropolis like Philadelphia, with 80,000 buildings, 
spreading over an area of 130 square miles, occupied as resi- 
dences and business places by not less than 600,000 people, 
and containing millions of perishable property, I adopted a 
system in the early part of last year, which I design render- 
ing more perfect this year, of accomplishing the purpose. 
My main sources of information, of course, have been the fire. 134 
telegraph and police departments, but many citizens of all 
classes have aided me in the task, and every facility I desired, 
in furtherance of the object, has been extended to me by the 
insurance companies. 
The result has surprised myself, and will no doubt astonish 
a great many persons. My record, which has been carefully 
kept, and is as accurate as was possible for untiring devotion 
to the subject to make it, shows that the whole number of fires 
in the consolidated city for the year, including the most trivial 
as well as the most destructive, was 824. Only about 350 of 
these fires required the services of the fire department for 
their extinguishment. The police discovered and extinguished 
83. The remaining 391 were put out by the inmates of the 
dwellings, or the occupants of other premises, in which they 
took place, either unaided, or by the casual assistance of fire- 
men, policemen, neighbors and others. 
After thoroughly investigating each particular fire, how- 
ever trifling it might be, and basing my conclusions upon the 
best evidence that could be obtained, the origin of the fires 
was found to be as follows:-Accident, 125; incendiarism, 
121; carelessness, 76; mischief of juveniles, 59; explosion 
of camphene and fluid lamps, 44; recklessness of intoxi- 
cated people, 25; children playing with lucifer matches, 
23; unknown, 21; spontaneous combustion, 16; defec- 
tive chimneys, 14; rekindling of extinguished fires, 15; 
sparks from chimneys, 14; malicious mischief, 13; clothing 
taking fire on person, 12; sparks from burning buildings, 12; 
suspicious, 12; fire-works, 11; lightning, 9; carelessness of 
vagrants, 8; friction of machinery, 8; heat of furnaces 8; 
defective flues, 8; upsetting of burning fluid lamps, 7; heat 
of steam-boilers, 7; stove pipes in too close proximity to 
woodwork, 7; sparks from forge fires, 7; children playing 
with fire, 6; gas lights in show-windows, 6; burglary and 
arson, 5; defective gas fittings, 5; falling of camphene lamps, 135 
5; explosion of gas, 5; hot ashes, 5; curtains blown into gas 
lights, 4; sparks from chimneys of steam fire engines, 4; 
defective stove pipes, 4 ; paper balloons taking fire in the air 
and falling on roofs, 3; larceny and arson, 3; sparks from 
bonfires, 3; wooden joists running into flues, 3; explosion of 
chemicals, 3; clothes catching fire while drying before stoves 
and fire-places, 3; defective construction of buildings, 3; 
upsetting of stoves in which fire was burning, 3; freaks of 
insane persons, 3 ; slacking of lime, 2 ; children playing with 
lights, 2; hot coals, 2; sparks from forges falling into 
charcoal bins, 2; sparks from forges falling into sawdust 
boxes, 2; explosion of gunpowder, 2 ; mice nibbling wax 
matches, 2 ; spontaneous combustion from heat of the sun, 2; 
heat of a cooking range, 2; boiling over of glue, 2 ; taking 
of lights into closets, 2; hot cinders from stoves, 2; spark 
from blasting, 1 ; explosion o/ a steam-boiler, 1; heat of a 
bake-oven, 1; explosion of pyrotechnics, 1; handkerchief in 
the hands of an aged female taking fire from a stove, 1; ex- 
plosion of a liquor still, 1; illumination, 1; ignition of the 
vapor of camphene while filling a lamp too near to a light, 1; 
rat gnawing lucifer matches, 1; burning cigar stump thrown 
into a wooden spittoon containing sawdust, 1; boiling over of 
tar, 1; heat of a steam-pipe, 1; explosion of a fluid can 
while filling a lighted lamp, 1; capsizing of a pan of fat into 
the fire, 1; defective stove, 1; spark from a locomotive, 1; 
joist fired by heat of a furnace in an adjoining house, 1; 
spark from a candle, by the light of which a party were play- 
ing cards in a hay loft, 1; cinders from the furnace of a 
locomotive, 1; gas burner, 1; premature explosion of a blast, 
1; meat falling into the fire, 1; furnace in too close proxi- 
mity to woodwork, 1; spark from the chimney of a steam- 
boiler, 1; carboy of sulphuric acid rolling off a dray, 1; 
rafter projecting too far into a chimney flue, 1; defective con- 
struction of a clay furnace, 1; ignition of rosin by a coal 136 
of fire from a furnace, 1 ; clothes-horse upsetting against a 
stove, 1; latent spark in a moulding shop, 1; cask of brandy 
capsizing against a hot stove, 1; spilling of molten metal, 1; 
heat of a cooking range in an adjoining house, 1; clothing 
taking fire while drying on a clothes-horse, 1; spark from a 
furnace, 1; boiling over of roofing composition, 1; leakage of 
gas, 1; leakage of acid, 1; treading on a match dropped upon 
the floor near a collection of sweepings, 1; lucifer match that 
had fallen on the floor, scraped and ignited by shutting a 
closet door, 1; upsetting of a can of camphene, and spilling 
the inflammable contents on the floor near a hot stove, 1; 
explosion of foul air from contact with a lighted candle, 1; 
unextinguished cigar lighter thoughtlessly thrown into a bulk 
window among loose paper, 1; explosion of carburetted hydro- 
gen gas, 1; ignition of hydrogen gas generated in the manu- 
facture of copperas, 1-Total, |24. 
The causes of fires open an interesting field for investiga- 
tion and study. The most erroneous notions are current in 
respect to this subject. A general impression prevails that 
two-thirds of all the fires which occur in Philadelphia are the 
work of design; and there are hundreds of people whom it 
would be hard to convince that almost any fire could have 
been otherwise than willful, unless they actually saw it com- 
mence themselves. To combat these fallacious ideas is the 
most trying part of the labor of my office. Numbers of fires, 
the commencement of which is not at once palpable, are 
reported and published as arsons, in advance of any inquiry, 
when a careful examination into all the facts and circumstances 
attending them, unerringly traces their origin to accidental or 
natural causes of ignition. 
I was sent for last spring to investigate the case of a fire 
which began in a cockloft one day, while the family were pre- 
paring dinner. As it could not be accounted for, it was at 
once attributed to design. A colored woman who was wash- 137 
ing at the house was so strongly suspected, that her accusa- 
tion and arrest had been seriously contemplated by the mem- 
bers of the family. A searching examination was gone into, 
and in a short time the real cause of the fire was discovered. 
Where the chimney came up through the loft, it was defective 
in several places. A couple of urchins used to go upon the 
roof and fly kites, without it being known to their parents, 
whose commands they were violating. To hide a lot of kite 
paper, they stuffed it between the brickwork of the chimney 
and a wooden trimmer around it. It being wash-day, the 
dinner was late, and to hurry the cooking of it, a brisk fire 
was built with light wood, that created sparks. One of the 
sparks making its way through a small hole in the masonry 
of the flue, set fire to the paper, and in a few minutes the 
loft was in flames, which were roaring over the heads of 
the unconscious inmates, who all the while knew nothing of 
their danger, until the alarm was sounded from the street. 
The innocence of the washer-woman was thus conclusively 
established. 
Incendiarism, without doubt, annually occasions a large 
amount of the fires that take place in our city; still, the 
aggregate number from other causes forms by far the largest 
proportion. The most common causes are accidents not fore- 
seen, and generally unavoidable. Next to this class of casu- 
alties, in the list of causes, is carelessness, deserving always 
of more or less censure. Intemperance ranks next. This 
baneful habit is the occasion of many shocking mishaps by fire. 
Defective construction likewise contributes its share to swell 
the list; for we cannot yet boast of any very great improve- 
ment in metropolitan buildings. 
I am fully satisfied, from facts daily developed by my inves- 
tigations, that spontaneous combustion is a powerful agent in 
the production of fires, and that numerous conflagrations, 
attributed to design, owe their origin to this cause. Hay in 138 
the mows of barns and lofts of stables, when closely packed in 
large masses, and affected by dampness, either by being put 
in wet, or else penetrated by rain or moisture, will catch fire 
of itself; so will goods stored compactly in a warehouse, when 
damp, especially such articles as cotton, flax, hemp and rags. 
The process is in strict accordance with scientific laws. 
Damp produces decomposition, and the heat of the mass 
causes fermentation. Carbonic acid gas is given off by the 
fermentation, and a slow combustion ensues. Even hay- 
stacks, when the rains have penetrated them, will sometimes 
catch fire of themselves. I have noticed that when a fire hap- 
pens in certain conditions of the weather, for instance, after 
a long-continued rain, or when the atmosphere is dripping 
with moisture, and its temperature heated and sultry, it is 
almost sure to be a barn, a stable, or a feed store, or else a 
cotton warehouse or rag store. Every intelligent person, who 
has any knowledge of chemical affinities, understands the 
theory of spontaneous combustion, but ignorant people who 
do not comprehend it, are apt to ridicule it. Country farmers 
entertain strong prejudices against it, and are exceedingly in- 
credulous in regard to it. Some of them laugh at the idea. 
The learned writer referred to in another part of this re- 
port, speaks as follows of spontaneous combustion : 
" The fires that owe their origin to spontaneous combus- 
tion are much more numerous than the public are aware of, 
or will readily believe. Indeed, we are convinced that many 
fires, whose mysterious occurrence in places where neither 
lamps nor stoves were used, have caused them to be included 
among the list owing their origin to the melevolence of the 
incendiary, have in truth been produced by natural causes of 
ignition, which better information would have guarded against. 
Dr. Inman has read before the Literary and Philosophical 
Society of Liverpool, a larger and more complete account of 
what is known of the circumstances and causes of spontaneous 139 
combustion, than we have yet seen. It also contains a report 
of various experiments by the author himself, which tend still 
further to throw a light on this heretofore nascent and some- 
what obscure subject. In testing the influence of different 
substances, on painters' oil, for instance, in evolving heat and 
producing spontaneous combustion, Dr. Inman found that 
charcoal had the most powerful influence ; indeed, of this fact 
painters are already aware, inasmuch as they know that lamp 
black and their oil have at once to be ground, or they will 
ignite even in a few minutes. Next to charcoal, stood sponge, 
then worsted, sawdust, cotton, wool, tow and shavings. The 
precise measure and time in which these various substances 
absorb oxygen when mixed with oil, are noted in a tabular 
form. We were rather surprised to find worsted, an animal 
substance which merely singes, and does not tend, under or- 
dinary circumstances, to burst into flame when fire is applied, 
ranking here next to charcoal, and before cotton-wool; but 
our impression of the greater risk of spontaneous combustion 
from cotton than from animal wool, is nevertheless borne out 
by these experiments ; for Dr. Inman afterwards remarks in 
reference to cotton, though not specially to animal wool, that 
in effect, and on account probably of the relative forms and 
surfaces and access to air, of the different substances, ' it is 
far more difficult to get small quantities of tow to ignite, even 
under very favorable circumstances, than cotton-wool; indeed 
we may say that when the quantities used are small, it is 
difficult to procure actual ignition without anything but cotton- 
wool ; when the quantity used is large, it is only a question 
of time." 
One point well worthy of notice is the enormous amount of 
oxygen absorbed by painters' oil in the first twelve hours, 
compared with the ultimate quantity. This, the writer sug- 
gests, may explain how it is that fires so frequently break out 
within a very brief period after workmen have quitted pre- 140 
mises where they maj^have been using painters' oil, and have 
left their greasy aprons, rags, or pieces of cotton on which 
their hands may have been wiped near to each other, or to a 
warm steam-pipe or stove not yet cold (or in a warm summer 
day, or sunshine, we might add); or that some few drops of 
oil have extended from the cans to some dust, saw-dust, shav- 
ings, and the like. In such cases we have the materials pro- 
vided and the train laid, as it were, for a conflagration -which 
will burst out in an hour of two. 
Professor Graham refers to instances of olive oil igniting 
upon saw dust; of greasy rags from butter, heaped together, 
taking fire within twenty-four hours ; of the spontaneous com- 
bustion of tape measures, covered with oil varnish; and even 
of an oilskin umbrella put aside in a damp state. The igni- 
tion of such materials, generally, it must be noted, is greatly 
favored by a slight warmth, such as the heat of the sun. 
Several fires have come under my notice, that broke out 
under similar circumstances in the cocklofts of old dwellings 
in a bad state of repair, and which, from a mystery that 
seemed to characterize them, gave a great deal of concern 
and disquietude to the families occupying the houses. The 
origin of these fires was at last satisfactorily traced to the 
spontaneous ignition of collections of greasy rubbish, occa- 
sioned sometimes by the warmth of chimneys passing through 
the loft, and at other times by the intense heat of the sun, 
expanding its power upon the roofs and penetrating through 
open trap-doors on extremely hot days. In two of these 
instances, strong suspicion attached to servant girls, who were 
at lenth discovered to be entirely innocent. 
The cockloft, in most houses, is made the depository of all 
kinds of refuse things, such as dirty rags, old hats, bonnets, 
and other articles of cast-off -wearing apparel, remnants of 
worn out bed clothing, &c. This filthy stuff is allowed to 
accumulate for years without being disturbed. The perma- 
nent housekeeper never gives it a thought. A family vacating 141 
a dwelling, hardly ever removes it. The succeeding tenant 
finds it there, when he comes in, and does not touch it; and 
so the accumulation goes on from time to time. This rubbish 
invariably contains matter of an oily nature, and combustion 
may ensue from the effect of heat at any moment. As a mea- 
sure of domestic safety, I would advise every family to clear 
out of their lofts all such vile collections, particularly where 
the house has suffered from the ravages of time. 
The tendency to spontaneous combustion from the mingling 
of oil with sawdust, is so great, that it would be prudent for 
oil merchants, and druggists, and all other dealers in and 
manufacturers of oily and greasy substances, to discontinue 
the use of sawdust or straw for cleaning the floors of their 
establishments, where they become coated with oil or grease. 
With every precaution on their part, a fire might happen. 
A small quantity of sweepings, the removal of which had been 
forgotten, left in an oil store or factory at night, would be 
sufficient to cause a conflagration. In all such places as I 
have named, and in all similar establishments, where floors 
get saturated with oils and grease, my advice is that sand be 
used for cleansing them, instead of sawdust. 
" The statistics of fires," says a late writer, " are by no 
means devoid of interest, and the time may come, when they 
will form an index to the social advancement of the people; 
for in proportion as houses are built more fire-proof, and the 
habits of the inmates become more careful, the number of 
destructive fires will assuredly be lessened." 
The properties destroyed or damaged by fire last year com- 
prise the following list: Dwellings, 330 ; sheds, 84; stables, 
75; stores, 71; fences, 63; workshops, 49; manufactories, 
43 ; outhouses, 29; barns, 27 ; unoccupied buildings, 26 ; 
hotels, 17 ; window curtains, 17 ; ruins, 14 ; shade trees, 14 ; 
clothing, 12; beds, 11; counting-houses, 10; mills, 10 ; un- 
finished buildings, 9 ; offices, 8 ; lumber-yards, 8 ; empty bar- 
rels, 8; haystacks, 8; fruit trees, 7; bakeries, 6 ; churches, 6; 142 
foundries, 6 ; laboratories, 5; brush piles, 5 ; carriage-houses, 
5 ; slaughter-houses, 5 ; brick-kilns, 5 ; smoke-houses, 4 ; 
lumber piles, 4 ; awnings, 4 ; bundles of clothing, 4; refecto- 
ries, 3 ; animal pens, 3 ; wagons loads of hay, 3; scows, 
3; batteaux, 3 ; school-houses, 3; fire-boards, 3 ; baskets of 
clothes, 3; fire engine houses, 3; heaps of dry leaves, 3 ; 
ropewalks, 3; wagon-houses, 3; arbors, 2; quarries, 2; 
breweries, 2 ; hose-houses, 2 ; stacks of fodder, 2; wood- 
yards, 2; halls, 2 ; laundries, 2; ice-houses, 2 ; pyrotechnic 
works, 2; clothes-horses, 2; piles of rubbish, 2 ; hen-coops, 
2 ; pile of staves, 1; pot of pitch, 1; cart, 1; coffee roast- 
ing establishment, 1; liquor cask, 1; hogshead, 1; depot, 
1 ; steam tug, 1; charcoal refinery, 1; tar pot, 1 ; bath- 
house, 1; pottery, 1; bed curtain, 1; navy yard shed, 1; 
cabin, 1; lot of wadding, 1, dog-kennel, 1; scale-house, 
1; statuary rooms, 1; dye-house, 1; tar barrel, 1; patent 
roofing factory, 1; toll-gate house, 1; woods, 1; railroad 
ties, 1; drop curtain, 1; ferry-house, 1; pier, 1; steam- 
boat slip, 1 ; roll of carpet, 1; carriage, 1; pile of sha- 
vings, 1; steam propeller, 1; omnibus, 1; distillery, 1; 
screw'-dock, 1; savings bank, 1; printing establishment, 1; 
corporation lamp, 1; shuffle-board, 1; lager beer saloon, 1; 
warehouse, 1; truck-house, 1; college, 1; ten pin alley, 1 ; 
hay press, 1; carboy of vitrol, 1; bridge, 1; hot-house, 1; 
almshouse, 1; brig, 1; canal boat, 1. Total, 1123. 
The above list embraces the property in which the fire 
originated, and also every building, attachment, outbuilding, 
enclosure, or any other structure or appurtenance, or any 
thing else, to which the flames extended. The number of 
these properties totally destroyed, was comparatively few, 
except in the rural wards, and a large majority of them sus- 
tained only very slight damage. 
The total amount of loss by fire for the year was $285,729 ; 
insurance, $172,315; clear loss, $113,414. As compared 
with the losses by fire in Philadelphia for the year 1857, 143 
these figures exhibit a reduction of nearly fifty per cent. The 
year has been a most fortunate and successful one to the 
insurance companies of our city. The fire companies will 
receive a handsome dividend from the Fire Association. The 
large amount of loss not covered by insurance, is an index to 
the character of many of the properties consumed-the unin- 
sured buildings being generally stables, sheds, workshops, un- 
occupied houses, and other structures of a combustible nature, 
located in the suburbs. Such places are seldom insured. They 
are usually of too little value to occasion uneasiness to the 
owner; and underwriters, in consequence of the danger from 
their continual liability to be burned down, do not care to take 
risks upon them. 
The number of lives lost by fire was 52, and the number of 
animals and birds burned, 206. 
The number of persons injured by fires was 296. Number 
of narrow escapes, 178. 
The number of persons rescued at fires by firemen, was 33, 
and the number saved by police officers, 21. 
The instances of chimneys smoking or blazing from foul- 
ness, numbered 180. 
Number of bonfires, 282. These small street fires are a 
nuisance, and it were well if the custom of building them on 
election nights and occasions of public celebrations, was "more 
honored in the breach than in the observance." 
Whole number of alarms, 279 ; of which 76 proceeded from 
some cause, and 203 were without cause, or false. Quite a 
number of alarms were caused by the lights of fires in adjoining 
counties and in the State of New Jersey. Brilliant displays of 
the Aurora Borealis gave rise to several. Some were created 
by mischievous parties springing signal boxes. The setting 
of the river Dalaware on fire by a Frenchman on one occa- 
sion, and the issuing of a thick mist from the Bank of Penn- 
sylvania building on Chestnut street, at another time, was the 144 
cause of the State House bell striking alarms. False alarms 
have been very rare for the last three months. This is to be 
attributed to the admirable course pursued by the Chief En- 
gineer of the Fire Department, in stopping the senseless ring- 
ing of the bells of engine and hose houses, without occasion. 
The Fire Detective Department, of the police, during the 
year, arrested 89 persons on the charges of arson, attempting 
to commit arson, robbery and arson, suspicion of committing 
or intending to commit arson, conspiracy to perpetrate that 
crime, being accessory to it either before or after the fact, or 
both threatening to burn property, and instigating others to 
do it. Number of convictions, 12-being just one a month. 
Prior to the establishment of this branch of the police, the 
records of the Crimminal Court show that there were, in a 
period of thirty-seven years, only thirty-seven convictions for 
arson in Philadelphia, or an average of but one in every 
twelve months. Sometimes, there was not a single convic- 
tion for several successive years. 
The total number of arrests, since the organization of the 
Fire Detective Police-now a period of nineteen months-is 
181. Of these, 43 have been indicted, and 39 tried. The 
number of convictions have been 20, and the acquittals 19. 
Died in prison, after confessing guilt, and while awaiting 
trial on indictments, 2. Forfeited recognizances, after being 
indicted, and fled the country before trial, 2. Indictments 
remaining untried, 2 ; bills ignored, 5; cases awaiting action 
of the Grand Jury, 3; discharged by the Court of Quarter 
Session, after hearings on writs of habeas corpus, 8: held to 
bail by the Judges of the Criminal Court, to keep the peace, 4; 
forfeited bonds and fled from justice, before indictment, 5; 
died while awaiting trial on bail, 1; sent to insane hospitals, 3; 
killed, in escaping from police officers, 1; fugitive brought 
back from another State, 1; fugitives sent to other counties 
for trial, 4; awaiting sentence, 1; not sentenced, after plea 145 
of guilty, on condition of emigrating to Africa, 1; charge of 
arson not pressed, after conviction for other offences, 3; 
arrested on suspicion of arson, and after examination com- 
mitted to answer other charges, 5; discharged from prison by 
the Court in mistake, and fled beyond the reach of process, 1; 
bound over by magistrates to be of good behaviour, 46 ; repri- 
manded and discharged by the Mayor, Recorder, Chief of 
Police and Fire Marshal, 28; discharged by committing 
magistrates for want of proof, 15; escaped from officers in 
the dark, after being arrested, and never afterwards iden- 
tified, 5. 
Two of the parties arrested for incendiarism, but discharged 
from custody owing to the insufficiency of the evidence, sub- 
sequently met violent deaths-one of them having been 
murdered. Besides those arrested, 16 have run away-one 
escaping to England, and another to Germany-to avoid 
arrest, who were known or suspected to be guilty of incen- 
diary acts. Some of the latter, after fleeing from the city, 
engaged in the naval, military, mercantile and other services 
of the country. At this time, likewise, several persons, strongly 
suspected of arson, are under the strict surveillance of the 
police. 
I am gratified to be able to report to your honor a gradual 
decrease of the crime of arson. Since the creation of the Fire 
Detective Police, there has been a diminution in the number 
of cases of incendiarism of about forty per cent. During the 
past year a marked check has been given to this heinous 
offence. To prevent its perpetration for the future, and bring 
to justice those who may venture to commit it, all my ener- 
gies, both mental and physical, will be unceasingly exerted. 
To assist me in this difficult and arduous labor, I appeal to 
every good citizen, and particularly to every good fireman. 
The dastardly wretch who would apply a torch that might 
involve the destruction of human life, besides the ruin of pro- 146 
perty, should be shown no mercy; nay, receive no counte- 
nance anywhere'. The true fireman cannot do otherwise than 
take a bold stand against such contemptible criminals. Last 
year, two incendiaries who were convicted, were arrested upon 
information furnished by members of fire companies. This 
fact, I assure you, sir, has afforded me a peculiar gratifica- 
tion. Every company that follows the example thus set, may 
rest assured of winning golden opinions from their fellow 
citizens. 
While Philadelphia has been comparatively exempt from 
willful fires of late, an incendiary spirit has been running all 
through the country. Gangs of barn-burners have been at 
work in Bucks and Montgomery counties, and in the towns 
along the river Delaware, in New Jersey. In a number of the 
towns in Pennsylvania, and in numerous places in other 
States, this fiendish spirit has prevailed to an alarming extent 
for some months past. In Canada, too, many bold arsons 
have been lately perpetrated. 
There is no doubt that the prompt and searching investiga- 
tion which is now instituted, immediately on the occurrence 
of fires, will, in time, very much reduce, if it does not en- 
tirely prevent acts of incendiarism. When certain exposure 
and punishment follow close upon the offence, few will be 
tempted to run a risk that may prove at once profitless and 
ruinous. 
The clever and able editor of the Evening Bulletin, Mr. 
Leland, thus writes in relation to fires and fire detection : 
" In the cities, fire-telegraphs, steam-engines, judicious 
laws, and, equal to them almost in value, a wisely adminis- 
tered fire detective service, can, as experience has demon- 
strated, reduce loss to an incredibly low amount. When it is 
known, as it should be, that the incendiary is always followed 
up, that every little indication is registered, and that months 
or years after, justice is still busy on the track, incendia- 147 
rism must soon cease. This patient, unforgiving, unforget- 
ting perseverance should always characterize the fire detec- 
tive service, and everybody should do their best to make it 
known." 
Fires for the purpose of defrauding insurance companies, 
which were formerly of frequent occurrence, are now very 
rare. The cases of this kind that do now and then happen, 
are confined to a class of small dealers of doubtful repute. 
These people have been known to resort to some shrewd 
dodges to cover up their villany and baffle detection, but they 
are almost sure to be exposed. The paucity of such fires in 
the mercantile portions of the city, prove that the old race of 
Philadelphia merchants-business men of sterling integrity- 
is not yet extinct. 
The motives that incite to the perpetration of arson, are 
but little understood. They are a subject full of interest to 
the moralist, and are the earliest guide to successful detection. 
The incitement to most of the incendiary acts that are perpe- 
trated, is a spirit of thoughtless, reckless, wanton mischief. 
Spite and revenge are frequent incentives, and avariciousness 
is every now and then instigating its votaries to the commis- 
sion of the crime. Sometimes, the human inclination to burn 
property, assumes the form of a disease. The disposition be- 
comes a regular monomania. This malady is peculiar to the 
young of both sexes, and is witnessed the oftenest among 
children of the African race. Some of its phases are strange 
and unaccountable. Nothing is more puzzling to those who 
have to deal with crime than this moral disorder. 
Last winter, three cases were fully investigated by me, 
where the object, it was evident, was to burn the premises in 
order to get the work of rebuilding them. Although every 
effort was made to punish the parties, they could never be 
legally reached, so completely was the criminal act covered 
up. In another remarkable case, a black girl was persuaded 148 
by a white man to burn a barn, to give him the job of rebuild- 
ing it. Just a year afterwards, the same girl, at the instiga- 
tion of the same man, burned the same barn. The young 
female, after making a full confession, died in prison. The 
implicated man was arrested, but the death of his guilty 
accomplice and accuser, saved him from being put upon his 
trial. 
The means used to perpetrate arson are sometimes extraor- 
dinary. I have on record one case where an attempt was 
made by an ingeniously prepared infernal machine ; another 
by a jug of gunpowder and a lighted cigar. In another case, 
a quantity of phosphorous was thrown into a cowshed contain- 
ing a bedding of shavings. In another, a ball of tarred cord, 
was ignited and pitched into a stall in the stable of a dairy- 
man. A stable was set on fire by throwing a lighted cigar 
into the hay loft, through an open window. In another 
instance, a ball of blazing combustibles, was hurled through 
a broken window-pane into a sash factory. In still another 
case, a pair of ottomans, made of velvet carpeting, were taken 
from a parlor, and the shavings with which they were stuffed, 
used to kindle the fire. This was one of the most remarkable 
and interesting cases that ever came under my notice. Some 
of these acts were marked by astounding boldness. 
However much it may be deplored, it is nevertheless true, 
that, among the rising generation, at the present time, there 
exists a perfect mania for fires. The mischief of boys of all 
ages, is getting to be the cause of quite a long list of small 
fires in the course of a year. The faithful execution of the 
recent order of your Honor, in relation to minors running 
with fire companies, will do much to cure this passion. There 
are to be found in all the purlieus of the metropolis, gangs of 
vicious lads, who fire places, some for excitement and amuse- 
ment, and others for chances to pilfer. They hang about 
corners, and plot mischief and concoct rascality. Some of 149 
them are vagabonds of the most depraved habits and wicked 
dispositions. They are deemed unfit for the House of Refuge, 
and for their restraint and reformation, a House of Correction 
is demanded. 
Corner lounging in the evening, and the frequenting of 
drinking shops at late hours of the night by half-grown young 
men, are practices that lead to the perpetration of many wan- 
ton acts of incendiarism. The keeping open of such public 
houses until one, two, or three o'clock in the morning, espe- 
cially on the Sabbath, as is often done, is an evil that should 
be corrected. I have known several arsons to be concocted 
in these places by minors, who when they sallied forth to 
commit them, were intoxicated almost to madness. 
The Lucifer match, whether in the hands of the diabolical 
house or barn burner, or the mischievous urchin, or the un- 
conscious child, or the silly idiot, or desperate madman, 
causes more destruction of property than all the other fire- 
producing agents put together. Its name is truly no misno- 
mer. It therefore cannot be too strongly impressed upon 
every body-especially, as every body uses them-to observe 
caution in keeping them. They should never be left where a 
child, a dog, or a cat, or a rat, or a mouse, could reach them. 
The match safe ought to be an indispensable article of furni- 
ture in the kitchen and chamber of every well regulated 
household. 
The largo and daily increasing number of terrible and dis- 
tressing accidents from camphene and burning fluid, ought to 
induce the utmost caution in regard to the use of these dan- 
gerous lights, which I should rejoice to see banished from the 
house of every family. The circumstances attending some of 
the casualties occasioned by them last year, were heart-rending 
in the extreme. 
As a means of avoiding casual fires, and guarding against 150 
accidents from burning, the following directions are considered 
worthy of a place in this report: 
Keep matches in metal boxes, and out of the reach of chil- 
dren, and likewise away from parrots, jackdaws, and other 
pets. 
Wax matches are particularly dangerous, and should be kept 
out of the way of rats or mice. 
Be careful in making fires with shavings, and other light 
kindling. 
Do not deposit coal or wood ashes in a wooden vessel, and 
be sure burning cinders are extinguished before they are de- 
posited. An ash barrel on one's premises is never safe. 
Never put fire-wood upon the top of a stove to dry. 
Do not leave a lamp or candle burning upon the steps of a 
stairway, nor on a window-sill, bureau, trunk, or chest. 
Never place ashes or a light under a staircase. 
Do not put gas, or other lights near curtains. 
Never replenish fluid or camphene lamps while lighted or 
heated. Fill these lamps only by daylight, and never near a 
fire or light. 
Always be careful in extinguishing lucifers, tapers, and 
other lighters, before throwing them away. 
Never pour out liquors within the range of an exposed 
light. 
Covered lights should always be used when drawing turpen- 
tine, varnish, and other inflammable liquids. 
Never throw a segar stump upon the floor, nor into a spit- 
box containing sawdust, without being certain that it retains 
no fire. 
After blowing out a candle, never put it away upon a shelf, 
or any where else, until sure that the snuff has been entirely 
extinguished. 
A lighted candle ought never to be stuck up against a 
frame wall, or left burning upon any portion of the wood- 
work in a stable, manufactory, shop, or other place. 151 
Never enter a barn or stable at night with an uncovered 
light. In Baltimore, there is an ordinance inflicting a penalty 
for carrying an open light into a stable after nightfall. 
Ostlers should never smoke pipes about stables. 
Never take an open light to examine gas meters. 
Do not read in bed by candle or lamp-light. 
Never take a light into a closet. 
Place glass shades over gas lights in show windows, and do 
not crowd goods too close to them. 
No smoking should ever be permitted in warehouses, espe- 
cially where goods are packed, or cotton, rags, or paper 
stored. 
In feed establishments and broom stores, gas lights ought 
to be covered with tin shades, and no portable light should be 
used, except a brass lantern. 
An open light should never be carried into a spirit room, 
or into an apartment where gas is escaping. 
Never leave drying clothes too near a fire-place or stove, 
on going to bed. . 
Stove-pipes should be at least four inches from wood-work, 
which ought to be well guarded by tin. 
Do not deposit oily rags in a closet. 
Never leave a dog, a cat, or a monkey in a room where 
articles of wearing apparel, or bed or table linen, are drying 
on a clothes-horse, or a towel stand, around a fire. 
All wood-work should be at least eight inches from steam- 
pipes, and furnace flues and registers. 
The principal register of a furnace should always be fast- 
ened open. 
In cotton factories, do not neglect to keep the machinery 
well oiled. 
Never leave young children locked up in a room where 
there is either fire or matches. 
Rags ought never to be stuffed in stove-pipe holes. 152 
Do not leave shavings, or other light fuel, near a furnace, 
fire, or a steam boiler. 
Never place a stove too close to a fire-board. 
Use wax tapers to light gas, instead of paper lighters. 
Never hold an uncovered light close to a window or bed 
curtain. 
Gas lights ought never to be placed nearer than twelve 
inches to woodwork or ceilings. 
Openings into chimney flues for stove pipes, which are not 
used, ought always to be securely protected by metallic 
coverings. 
On leaving a store, office, or other place, where fires are 
kept all night, never close a stove door after putting in fresh 
coal. 
On detecting the escape of gas, have the pipes examined at 
once, and all leaks discovered, repaired without delay. 
Wood, when permitted to remain within four inches of a 
heater, hot air conductor, or register, must in the course of 
time, become so dry and inflammable, as to be subject to or in 
danger of ignition at any moment. Where fire takes place 
from the charring of wood too near furnace flues, a smell like 
the overheating or scorching of pine wood, is observable for 
several hours previous to the breaking out of the fire. Upon 
the discovery of the first premonitory symptoms, an examina- 
tion should be immediately made around the registers and 
furnace. 
Fire Marshal Baker, of New York, in one of his able 
reports, in mentioning a newly discovered cause of fires, says: 
"Laborers employed in the construction of new buildings, 
have a careless habit of throwing rubbish from the top of the 
premises down the chimney flues, in the belief that it will 
reach the bottom. Chimneys, in this way, become choked, 
and on making the first fire, an accident occurs. After a 
building is finished, chimney flues should be examined, to see 153 
that they are clear, by dropping a plumb-line down them." 
The same careless practice prevails among workmen in Phila- 
delphia, and should be avoided. 
Never close up a place of business in the evening without 
looking well to the extinguishment of lights, and the proper 
security of fires. 
When retiring to rest at night, always see that there is 
no danger from your fires, and be sure that your lights are 
safe. 
The above directions, if carefully observed, it is believed, 
will prevent many fires, and preserve not a few valuable lives. 
They interest everybody, and are a sure guide and constant 
monitory in regard to the use of fires and lights. 
For the prevention of incendiary fires, the following recom- 
mendations will be found to be deserving of particular con- 
sideration : 
Owners or occupants of properties should exercise the 
utmost care in protecting them against the intrusion of in- 
cendiaries, by strong and safe doors, windows, gates, fences 
and other securities. 
No combustible materials, such as shavings, hay, straw, 
rags, paper, waste cotton, fodder, dried leaves, or trash or 
light rubbish of any sort, should ever be left in exposed situa- 
tions about shops, manufactories, mills, barns, stables, store- 
houses, lumber yards, sheds, outhouses, or any other premises. 
Such refuse articles always afford the readiest means at hand 
to facilitate the perpetration of the crime of arson. 
The security of unoccupied buildings and unfinished houses, 
should never be neglected. Vacated dwelling houses are 
often left so insecure as to become the resort of bad boys for 
play and mischief, and the most untiring watchfulness on the 
part of the police is not unfrequently necessary in order to 
prevent them from being burned. New buildings in progress 
of erection are seldom secure from the intrusion of incen- 154 
diaries. Workmen go away at the close of the day, leaving 
the doors and windows either without any protection at all, 
or with fastenings so weak that a push or a kick is all that 
is required to gain admission, while every floor, from the cellar 
to the garret, is strewn with shavings, sawdust, and other 
combustibles. Such properties are sometimes a source of no 
little uneasiness to the vigilant and faithful patrolman. 
Farmers in the rural wards of the city, should use every 
possible precaution as to the strength and safety of the fas- 
tenings of their barns, stables, carriage-houses and other 
buildings. The windows of barns ought never to be allowed 
to remain open, with hay or straw protruding from them, 
and the doors of these buildings should always be locked at 
night. 
All openings made in the walls of stables, to give air to 
horses, should be wired on the inside. I have on record a 
case of incendiarism, which a miserable creature perpetrated 
by inserting an ignited match through one of a number of 
auger holes bored to ventilate a stall in which a horse was 
standing. The loose hay that hung down from the loft into 
the rack, was fired, and the poor beast shockingly burned 
before he was rescued. 
Kindling-wood in cellars should never be piled near a 
window. 
Farmers should never stack hay near to a frequented road 
or lane, when they can avoid it. Ilay-ricks close by the road- 
side are tempting objects to strolling vagabonds and vicious 
juveniles, affected with a mania for burning. 
No wayfarer or vagrant should ever be permitted to sleep 
in the haymow of a barn or the loft of a stable, who has a 
pipe, a cigar, a tinder-box, or a match, especially if under the 
influence of drink. A number of fires in the country are 
caused by the carelessness of these people. 
The most effectual preventive of incendiary fires is cautious- 155 
ness in securing property from depredation. The incendiary, 
unlike the burglar, does not break locks, bolts and bars. 
Wherever access can be obtained without difficulty, it is there 
he applies his torch. His diabolical work has to be done 
quickly, and speedy flight is his surest shield from discovery. 
The noise of a forcible entrance may sound an alarm, and if 
he delays, though but for a moment, after striking the match, 
the sight of the very fire he has kindled may detect him. 
For the further prevention of fires, whether accidental or 
incendiary, I would advise the employment of private watch- 
men for blocks of unfinished buildings, large factories, livery 
stables, board-yards, and other extensive establishments. 
The following directions given by me in a previous report, 
respecting the management of fires in their early state, I deem 
it important to repeat: " On the first discovery of a fire re- 
quiring the services of the firemen, all doors, windows, or other 
openings to a building, should be kept closed until the engines 
arrive, and are ready to put on the water. This should 
invariably be done, and the police ought in all such cases, to 
make it a paramount duty. Of course this attention will not 
be so essential in cases where the officer finds he can control 
the fire by beating or stamping it out, drowning it with a few 
buckets of water, or extinguishing it by any other means 
ready at hand." 
The police of London understand shutting up fires so well 
that they have, in many instances, kept fires, two or three 
miles distant from the engine stations, shut up till the firemen 
arrived in time to extinguish them. There a policeman who 
discovers a fire, and gives the first alarm, receives a reward of 
half a guinea from the insurance office interested, and there 
is no reason, I think, why our underwriters would not find it 
to their interest to offer a similar incentive. At any rate, 
they might try the experiment, say for a year. I feel satis- 
fied that time would demonstrate the policy as well as justice 
of the practice. 156 
In the event of a fire on the premises of a farmer, or at the 
country-seat of a gentleman in the rural wards, the engines 
from the nearest villages do not usually reach the scene of 
conflagration in time to save the building in which the fire 
commenced, but they generally succeed in preventing the 
flames from extending to the adjacent buildings. The want 
of water is often a serious obstacle to success in mastering the 
devastating element. Where there is a scarcity of water on 
farm seats, I would recommend the construction of artificial 
ponds within a convenient distance of the buildings on the 
place. These ponds would yield an abundant supply of water 
for the extinguishment of any ordinary agricultural fire, be- 
fore it had time to extend much beyond the building in which 
it originated. 
The covers to hatchways in warehouses, stores, and facto- 
ries should always be shut down at night. When closed, in 
case of a fire in the building, they help to confine it, but ■when 
raised up, a strong draught is created, and thus the progress 
of the flames is certain to be accelerated. Besides, hatches, 
when open, are frightful man-traps to brave firemen effecting 
an entrance in the dark through upper windows in pursuit of 
the fire. 
In the last report made by me to Mayor Vaux, in April, 
1858, I urged the necessity of a mounted police for the rural 
wards, as the only reliable means of guarding life and pro- 
perty in those parts of the metropolis from the depredations 
of incendiaries and other criminals. A further experience of 
nine months has only served to confirm me in my belief of the 
absolute need of this preventive force. The duties of my 
office call me to almost every nook and corner of the First, 
Twenty-fourth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and Twenty- 
third Wards, and I have had the most ample evidence pre- 
sented to me in favor of making this addition to the police 
department. 157 
The experiment of a mounted patrol, upon a limited scale, 
tried now for about a year at Chestnut Hill, has accomplished 
all that the citizens of that beautiful locality could desire. 
Not an arson has been committed there since the detail of 
that small force, and depredations upon the dwellings of the 
wealthy gentlemen who reside there, that were once so alarm- 
ing, are now unheard of. I would, therefore, urge upon Coun- 
cils the pressing importance of the measure I have proposed. 
Since I first suggested the organization, New York has added 
to her police department a mounted patrol of thirty men for 
the region of her mammoth Central Park, and other parts of 
her semi-rural wards. 
Along our wide extended Delaware city front and beyond 
the beats of the policemen on the avenues, besides the shipping 
in port, there is a vast amount of property of great value, 
comprising goods in transitu, temporary storage sheds, ferry 
houses, screw-docks, boat sheds, lumber yards, mast sheds, 
shipyards, mills, machine works, factories, wood yards, shops, 
&c., at all hours of the night, liable to the depredations of the 
incendiary, to which the present police arrangements can 
offer but a very inadequate protection. For the better security 
of this property, I am persuaded that the time has arrived 
when the organization of a river police is necessary, and I 
throw out the suggestion for the consideration of your Honor 
and the members of the City Councils. 
The Fire Underwriters of New York employ a body of 
men, called the " Insurance Patrol," for the protection of 
properties in the business parts of the city, on which they 
have the heaviest risks. They are about sixty strong. At 
night, one half of them do patrol duty among the valuable 
stores, big warehouses, heavy forwarding depots, &c., while 
the other half remains at the station. The patrolmen are 
always on the alert for the first indication of fire. On the 
alarm being given, the men at the station drag with them a light 158 
wagon containing axes, buckets, hose, oil cloth coverings, and 
other implements and appliances for the extinguishment of 
fires in an incipient state, and the protection of goods. So 
valuable are the services of the patrol, that notwithstanding 
it costs the insurance companies the snug little sum of 
$30,000 a year, they consider it cheap, and the money well 
spent, such is the saving to them in the prevention of losses. 
I would suggest to the Fire Underwriters of this city, the 
formation of a similar force. Many fires might, with such a 
body of men ever on the watch, be suppressed in their inci- 
piency, and a vast amount of property saved. 
I am constantly met, at the outset of my investigations, by 
the story that a place has been set on fire, when an examina- 
tion will prove such a thing to have been utterly impossible. 
Numbers of persons get into their heads the idea of design, 
and they will contend to the last that they are right-advanc- 
ing the most absurd and ridiculous theories-and even when 
convinced by the most cogent reasoning, based upon the most 
reliable testimony, they are of "the same opinion still," be- 
cause having been convinced against their will. 
Several weeks since afire commenced in a manufactory, at an 
early hour in the morning, which, but for its quick discovery 
and prompt extinguishment, would have proved a serious con- 
flagration. The fire began in a box of sawdust, in which a 
number of oily polishing rags had been left by the workmen. 
Spontaneous combustion ensued in eight hours. The proprie- 
tor of the concern insisted that the fire was the work of an 
incendiary, and all reasoning failed to convince him to the 
contrary. There was, however, an entire absence of any evi- 
dence to sustain the theory of design, and the case was so 
plain to my mind, that I pursued the investigation no further. 
A few months ago, two fires occurred within the space of 
ten days, on the premises of a baker. Both were charged to 
design on the part of some unknown enemy. The matter was 
probed to the bottom by a cautious examination, and the sup- 159 
posed enemy soon turned out to be a myth. The baker was 
in the habit, when he wanted the fires to go down, of pulling 
out the hot coals from under his oven into a sheet iron pan. 
The first fire was caused by putting this pan of live coals too 
near to the weather-boarding of a shed. The second fire was 
occasioned by pushing the pan of coals, after the fire they re- 
tained, it was foolishly thought, had died out, under the 
kneading-trough. At the time the latter fire happened, the 
baker was sleeping upon a table in the very room where it 
started, and slumbering unconsciously with the floor burning 
away within a few feet of him, came very near forfeiting his 
life as the penalty of his own folly. 
It is surprising how reluctant some people are to acknow- 
ledge that a casualty like a fire, could, by any possibility, 
occur from their own neglect or heedlessness. Hence, they 
eagerly grasp at the idea of design. Arson is certainly the 
most convenient theory. It saves the trouble and annoyance 
of inquiry, and relieves of all responsibility as to negligence 
or carelessness. Sometimes though, those who adopt it with- 
out consideration, discover themselves in rather awkward pre- 
dicaments, and are glad to yield their position, however rashly 
taken and stubbornly adhered to. 
Some time ago, on asking a merchant how his place caught 
fire, he unhesitatingly and positively asserted that the fire was 
the work of an incendiary. On proving to him that the build- 
ing, owing to the condition in which it was found when the 
fire was discovered, could not have been entered from without, 
(the store was burned at night, after it was closed up,) he 
suggested that the incendiary must have been concealed in 
the building at the time of closing. Satisfying him that an 
intruder could not have effected his exit, after applying the 
match, he was silent. It was plain now that if any arson was 
committed, somebody about the establishment was the offender. 
But the reputation of the house forbade such a supposition, 160 
and then no sign of motive was evident anywhere. He at 
once joined me in a patient investigation, and we were not 
long in tracing the origin of the fire to the negligence of an 
employee, who after repeated stout denials, admitted that it 
was the case. 
As an evidence of the absurdities in which such persons in- 
dulge, the Fire Marshal will be told that the incendiary 
scaled high walls, climbed over half a block of yard fences, 
clambered over sheds and mounted roofs, (incendiaries do no 
such thing, or my experience has been wofully at fault,) en- 
tered second-story back windows, and descended into garrets 
through traps. Before this year passes, it would not astonish 
me to hear some one asserting-say, where a fire in a house 
has been caused by the carelessness of a servant girl or some 
one else, who is unwilling to admit it-that an incendiary 
actually came down the chimney, and even went out, perhaps, 
the same way ! 
A history of all the fires that occur in Philadelphia in the 
period of a twelve month, would be highly interesting. The 
incidents of some of the cases, would form a graphic and ex- 
citing chapter. Many of these occurrences are singular and 
strange; some deeply mysterious and puzzling; others, 
extraordinary and amazing. Again, there are cases that are 
amusing; and then again others that are sorrowful. The 
limits of my report, however, forbid my giving any of the 
reminiscences of a fire detective. 
The introduction of steam into the department, I look upon 
as the entering wedge to the greatest reform that has ever 
been heretofore witnessed. The steam fire engine has already 
achieved a triumph, of which its original advocates (almost 
everybody is in favor of it now) may well be proud. Its undis- 
puted success has disarmed prejudice, and all misgivings in 
relation to its practicability and usefulness, have vanished. 
The general introduction of these powerful and valuable 161 
machines for the extinguishment of fires, which another year 
will witness, will be hailed as, and must mark a bright era in 
the history of the Philadelphia Fire Department. The draw- 
ing of apparatus to fires by horses, will do more to rid the 
department of that abominable nuisance of fires and alarms- 
I refer to the juvenile rabble-so long deplored, than all the 
police regulations that can be adopted. Our City Fathers, 
fire underwriters, business men, and owners of property of 
every class, should extend to the new means of fire-extin- 
guishing the most liberal support. 
That old and time-honored organization, the Philadelphia 
Hose Company No. 1, which was the pioneer in steam appa- 
ratus, should never cease to be remembered for their noble 
advocacy of this great modern improvement for the preserva- 
tion of property from the ravages of that dreaded spoiler, the 
fire-fiend. 
The active and enterprising members of that highly respect- 
able and favorite organization, the Diligent Engine Company, 
likewise deserve to be favorably remembered for their intelli- 
gent, enterprising, and persevering exertions in remodeling 
the steam engine Young America, which, at the Lawrence 
street conflagration the other day, proved herself, under the 
able direction of the Diligent members, a tremendous fire- 
extinguisher. 
The enterprise of the Hope Hose Company, in securing a 
steam fire engine for the protection of the government stores 
and other valuable properties in the south-eastern part of the 
city, has elicited the praise of hundreds of their fellow-citi- 
zens, and their beautiful apparatus, the production of Phila- 
delphia artizans, is pronounced by their brother firemen, and 
all others who have seen it perform, the model steamer of the 
department. 
It affords me peculiar pleasure to inform your Honor that 
the Fire Department of Philadelphia has never been, within 162 
my recollection, (and I speak from a direct personal know- 
ledge and close observation of twenty years,) so orderly and 
efficient as it is at the present time. The election, last fall, 
for Chief Engineer, owing to a warm feeling of partizanship 
between the adherents of the two rival candidates, upon which 
the department, now almost one hundred companies strong, 
was very nearly equally divided, gave rise to considerable acer- 
bity. This feeling, though, I am happy to say, is gradually 
dying away, and mutual sentiments of a more manly and 
magnanimous nature, taking its place. The Chief Engineer, 
Samuel P. Fearon, Esq., has, since his re-election, taken a 
firm position in favor of the maintenance of exact discipline. 
All companies disposed to be refractory and to indulge in 
rowdyism, have been promptly brought to an account, and 
compelled to submit to wholesome regulations. The good 
results have been so apparent as to attract the attention of 
the whole community. I have ever been myself a strict dis- 
ciplinarian, and the course of the worthy Chief in checking 
and restraining insubordination, has met my fullest appro- 
bation. In whatever he is right, Councils, and the commu- 
nity at large, should, and no doubt, will feel it a pleasure to 
sustain him. His position is a laborious, arduous and haras- 
sing one, and he is entitled to, and should receive the most 
generous encouragement in his efforts to maintain good order, 
and secure efficiency. 
I feel it to be my duty to call the attention of your Honor 
to the fact of the great want of fire-plugs in many localities 
in the suburbs, to which improvements have extended. A 
recent fire on a windy night, in the vicinity of Germantown 
avenue and Seventh street, showed an urgent need of addi- 
tional plugs in that neighborhood. This matter is deserving 
of the earliest attention of Councils. 
I am opposed to any further increase of companies in the 
fire department, where it can be safely avoided, yet I am 163 
forced to acknowledge that there is a pressing necessity for 
at least one, if not two companies, to be located in the Nine- 
teenth Ward. In the whole of that portion of this extensive 
ward, comprising what was the former District of Richmond, 
where there is an immense amount of valuable property, much 
of which is greatly exposed, there is not a solitary fire appa- 
ratus. The admission into the department by Councils of the 
Kensington Engine, and a new organization, called the " Key- 
stone Engine Company," would supply the deficiency in that 
growing part of the metropolis. 
I cannot close this portion of my report, without express- 
ing my most heartfelt acknowledgments to the Chief Engineer, 
his able assistants, his accomplished and gentlemanly clerk, 
and to the officers and members of the department, indivi- 
dually and generally, for the deep obligations under which 
they have placed me, by the pleasant courtesy that they have 
extended to me on all occasions, and by the cheerful and 
important assistance they have rendered me in my investi- 
gations into the origin of fires and exertions to ferret out 
incendiaries. 
The police and fire alarm telegraph, under the control and 
direction of its clever and able superintendent, Mr. Philips, 
and the management of his corps of polite and attentive as- 
sistants, has triumphed over every vestige of prejudice and 
opposition, and has attained the very proudest position among 
the departments of the city government. It is the most 
powerful arm of the police and fire departments, and, as an 
agent for good, its usefulness to the entire community cannot 
be rated. Its popularity is universal, and our citizens could 
not be induced to do without it for an hundred times its cost. 
Being, at all hours of the day and night, within hearing of 
the tinkle of its tiny bells, I can bear the strongest testimony 
to its immeasurable worth. 
There is but one drawback to the complete success of the 
fire alarm telegraph, and that is the want of signal boxes in 164 
certain localities, not only in the suburbs, but in the thickly 
populated parts of the city. There should be a larger num- 
ber, and more judicious arrangement of boxes. Several 
fires occured last year in the southern and northern sections 
of the city, one or two of which were quite destructive, 
where the policeman of the beat had to run half a mile to 
give the alarm. To cite instances: For a fire at Front and 
Moore streets, the alarm came from Second and Washington 
streets, there being no signal boxes south of the line of Wash- 
ington street; and for two other fires, one at Germantown 
avenue and Oxford street, and the other at Germantown ave- 
nue and Sixth street, the alarm was given from Fifth street 
and Girard avenue. 
I would recommend that there should be a wire run out 
Brown street, from Second, there being but three alarm boxes 
between Callowhill street and Girard avenue, and from Second 
to Broad street, viz : at Ninth and Green streets, Ninth and 
Poplar streets, and Twelfth and Coates streets. I would fur- 
ther recommend the placing of signal boxes at the following 
points, or as near to them as can be conveniently done, viz.: 
Fourth and Brown streets, Ninth and Brown streets, Sixth 
and Poplar streets, Seventh and Jefferson streets, Ninth and 
Oxford streets, Germantown avenue and Thompson street, 
Germantown avenue and Columbia street, Germantown ave- 
nue and Seventh street, Girard avenue and Hanover street, 
Water and Chestnut streets, Eleventh and Walnut streets, 
Seventeenth and Walnut streets, Twenty-third and Walnut 
streets, Twenty-second and Pine streets, Fourth and Catha- 
rine streets, Sixth and Shippen streets, Eleventh and Catha- 
rine streets, Third and Wharton streets, Fifth and Dickerson 
streets, Sixth and Reed streets, Ninth street and Passyunk 
road, and Eleventh and Federal streets. There should also 
be several additional boxes, suitably located, in West Phila- 165 
delphia. Boxes might likewise be placed, with much advan- 
tage, in the houses of a number of the fire companies. 
This arrangement, I think, would be judicious, and would 
make the line about as complete as could be desired. I would 
most respectfully submit to your Honor the propriety of your 
directing the special attention of Councils to this matter. 
Their speedy action in the premises is urgently demanded by 
a due regard for the safety of property. 
Next to a keen and faithful policeman, in the prevention 
of arson, is light. The skulking incendiary dreads the tell- 
tale glare of a bright lamp. Additional lamps are sadly 
needed in the southern, southwestern, and other sections of 
the city. The fluid lamp is at best a poor apology for a light, 
and many of those now in use are everywhere in a miserable 
state. They should be dispensed with, and their places sup- 
plied with gas lamps as soon as possible. 
The main dependence, though, after all, for the prevention 
and detection of incendiarism, is an able-bodied, watchful, 
shrewd, upright, brave, and well disciplined police. . The po- 
liceman who never skulks, or winks at crime, who is ever on 
the alert, whom no sympathy or appeal can influence, is 
dreaded by the sneaking incendiary; whereas, the negligent, 
weak, corrupt, and pusillanimous officer, who can be hood- 
winked and deceived, or approached and influenced, is des- 
pised. Our present police organization, although it has been 
gradually improving in character, discipline and efficiency 
since consolidation, is, nevertheless, still imperfect, and, in 
many respects, unreliable. It can never be what it ought 
to be, or what the community demands it should be, until the 
mode of appointments is radically changed. Sad experience 
has demonstrated, beyond all cavil, that political appoint- 
ments in the police department are wrong, and that as long 
as they continue to be made, the public will constantly suffer, 
and the policeman will never be respected, and his office will 166 
always be a bone of petty contention, and his name a byword 
and a reproach. 
The day has come, when police appointments should be 
made for individual merit and qualifications, irrespective of 
politics, religion, or nativity, and the appointees retained 
during good behaviour, and, while in place, held to a strict 
accountability by the most rigid discipline. In fact, the dis- 
cipline of the force should be equal in rigidness to that of 
the army and navy. The patrolman, during his tour of duty, 
should be taught to feel that he was ever a sentinel on guard, 
and that he could never desert his post without disgrace. He 
should also feel that every life and every property on his beat 
■was sacredly committed to his care. 
The London policeman, as he walks his rounds, erect and 
manly, in his neat insignia of office, with truncheon in hand, 
is beheld with admiration, and viewed as the embodiment of 
the English law. His person is sacred and his word supreme. 
None dare touch him, and none would disobey him. If he 
should be wrong, there is a prompt and just tribunal to which 
he is amenable. The Empire City of America, ever progres- 
sive, has caught the idea, and is following in the footsteps of 
London. Shall it be said of Philadelphia-the great metro- 
polis of American intelligence and wealth-that she is behind 
New York in municipal progress ? I cannot believe it, Old 
fogyism and political supremacy have run their race, and 
public sentiment is now ripe for this much desired reform. 
For the protection of property from the torch of the incen- 
diary, however efficacious may be the labors of the detective, 
the preventive branch of the police is unquestionably the most 
effective. In contending with any crime in the calendar, in- 
deed, prevention is more than half the battle. In a large 
growing metropolis like Philadelphia, a police force, besides 
being permanent and well-disciplined, should be numerically 
strong enough to do, and do successfully what it undertakes 167 
to do. However good its material and perfect its discipline, 
if it is so deficient in numbers as to be inefficient on that 
account, there had almost better be no police organization at 
all. Then every man would cease to depend upon the watch- 
man, and would rely upon his own resources for defence. 
We have a municipal guard of 650 men. With this small 
force, we have undertaken to protect $350,000,000 of pro- 
perty in a territorial area that has a circumference of 75 
miles. Nine square miles of this area is solidly covered with 
bricks and mortar. In the same area, in addition to the 
original city proper, and adjoining incorporated districts, 
there are at least fifty villages. 
In the centre of the city, many of the beats are so large 
that a night patrolman cannot traverse them more than once 
every hour. In the southern section of the town, some of the 
smallest beats are nine squares long by four wide. In the 
south-western part of the First Ward, a single boat is bounded 
by Seventeenth street, South street, Gray's Ferry Road and 
Federal street. South of Federal street, where nearly all 
the brick yards are located, there is no police protection 
whatsoever. On the Schuylkill front, w'here there are exten- 
sive lumber yards, huge factories, large stables, &c., and a 
population notoriously lawless, there are but four men on 
duty at night from Vine to South streets, and from Twenty- 
first street to the river. In the whole of West Philadelphia, 
one of the most beautiful and rapidly improving parts of the 
city, there are only five men for each tour during the night. 
In the Nineteenth Ward, some of the beats are a mile long. 
In the favorite village of Germantown, which is increasing 
in wealth and inhabitants with astonishing rapidity, and 
where splendid mansions and ornate villas are fast dotting 
numerous newly opened and handsome avenues, there are but 
four officers for each tour of night duty, and some of the beats 
so extensive that if a man faithfully patrols them once during 168 
his tour, he is doing well. In the Twenty-first Ward, there 
are beats wThich it would take a policeman all night to go 
over, and others in the rural wards which he could hardly 
traverse in twenty-four hours. In the whole twenty-four 
wards, there are less than one hundred men on duty in day 
time. More than one-half of the entire consolidated city has 
no police protection whatever, either night or day. 
The city and county of New York, embracing the whole of 
Manhattan island, contains 26 square miles, only about 7 of 
which is thickly built. The city and county, or consolidated 
city of Philadelphia, contains 130 square miles, 9 of which 
are thickly built. The difference between the built-up por- 
tions of the two cities is this : New York is compact, while 
Philadelphia expands, and thus covers a larger space. In 
New York, there are 1185 police officers of all ranks, while 
Philadelphia has but 698. New York is now demanding an 
increase of her police, on the ground that the present number 
is inadequate. The present police force of Philadelphia is 
altogether insufficient to prevent and detect crime, and afford 
due protection to life and property. I do not hesitate to say 
that the consolidated city cannot be safely guarded by a man 
less than 1000 policemen. 
A word to the firemen. Active, self-sacrificing and heroic 
men,-you have been abused; yes, often more so than you 
merited. But your fellow citizens appreciate you, and you 
have a powerful hold upon their affections. Your nobility of 
character is ever the theme of the press, and virtuous woman 
never fails to come to your rescue. Still, you have your 
faults, and you should hereafter emulate each other in amend- 
ing them. Then let feuds and riots cease. They are disgrace- 
ful to the fair renown of your organization, and lead to the 
commission of crime. Again: you have been accused of 
making fires for the sake of the excitement they afforded. 
This no one believes any true-hearted fireman ever did. In- 169 
deed, I am sure you would scorn such an act. But you know 
as well as I know, and the public know, that reckless, heart- 
less young scamps, who have hung upon your skirts and 
assumed your names, have done these things. This fact is 
patent, and cannot be denied. "A fire for a run"-this is a 
common jest. You have it in your power to check this mis- 
chief, which brings odium upon your fame. Take a bold 
stand, then. Place yourselves upon the side of the law and 
its stern executors. Do not fear to meet the evil. The firing 
of a building is a cowardly deed. An incendiary is a des- 
picable poltroon. Show him no quarter. The public will 
applaud your course, and you will win fresh laurels. 
The following admirable remarks on the subject of the best 
means of preventing and arresting fires, are extracted from a 
paper presented to the Society of Arts by Mr. James Braid- 
wTood, Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade : 
"Some years ago, upwards of <£100,000 were lost through 
the partner of a large concern lighting gas with a piece of 
paper, which he threw away, and thus set fire to the premises, 
although it was a strict rule in the place that gas should only 
be lighted with tapers, which were provided for that purpose, 
In one department of a great public institution, it was and 
is still a rule, that only covered lights should be carried about, 
and for that purpose four lanterns were provided; yet on 
inquiry, some time back, it was found that only one was 
entire, the other three being broken-one having lost two 
sides and the top ; still they were all used as covered lights. 
" The opportunities for inattention to fires and lights are 
so various, that it is impossible to notice the whole. Incau- 
tiously approaching window and bed curtains with a light, 
and airing linen before the fire, are almost daily causes of fire 
in London, and some of the most distressing cases of loss of 
life have originated from these and similar causes. Children 
playing with fire, is also another constant cause of fire and 170 
frequent loss of life. The dresses of females taking fire adds 
very much to the list of lives lost by fire, if it does not exceed 
all the other causes put together. Taking off the burning 
coals from a fire, and laying them on the hearth, also causes 
fires occasionally. Reading in bed by candle light is another 
source of the same evil. A very serious annual loss is also 
caused by want of due care in hanging up or removing the 
goods in linen drapers' shop windows when the gas is burning. 
Flues taking fire often result in mischief, and it is believed 
that many serious fires have arisen from this cause, which can 
hardly be called accidental, as, if flues are properly constructed, 
kept moderately clean, and fairly used, they cannot take fire. 
" From what has been said, it will be seen that care and 
attention will do a very great deal towards the prevention of 
fire and consequent loss of life. It is very easy to make good 
rules and keep them for a time, after having been alarmed by 
some serious loss of property or life ; but the difficulty is to 
maintain constant attention to the subject. The most evident 
plan for effecting this seems to be for the masters thoroughly to 
examine and consider the subject at certain stated periods, 
not too far apart, and to constantly warn their domestics, 
workmen, or others, of the danger of the improper use of fire 
and lights. 
" There is another very common cause of fire, which seems 
to come under the head of construction, viz: covering up a 
fire-place, when not in use, with wood, or paper and canvass, 
&c. The soot falls into the fire place, either from the flue 
itself, or from an adjoining one, which communicates with it. 
A neighboring chimney takes fire, a spark falls down the 
blocked-up flue, sets fire to the soot in the fire-place, which 
smoulders till the covering is burned through, and thus sets 
fire to the premises. 
" It may often be observed, after a house has been on fire, 
that one floor is comparatively untouched, while those above 171 
and below are nearly burned out. This arises from the doors 
on that particular floor having been shut, and the draught 
directed elsewhere. If the fire appears at all serious, and 
there are fire engines at a reasonable distance, it is best to 
await their arrival, as many buildings have been lost from 
opening the doors and attempting to extinguish fires with 
inadequate means. If no apparatus is within reach, the 
best thing is to collect as many buckets outside the room on 
fire as can be obtained, keeping the door shut; then creep 
into the room on the hands and knees (if the heat and smoke 
are considerable) and throw the water as nearly in the direc- 
tion of the fire as possible, keeping the door shut while more 
water is being collected." 
The Fire Marshal earnestly solicits attention to the sugges- 
tions made in this report for the hindrance and repression of 
fires. All occurrences of fire will be promptly investigated 
by him, and he particularly requests all citizens of every class 
and condition in life, to send him the earliest information of 
any fire, however trivial, that may happen on their premises. 
Where arson is suspected, all communications made to him 
will be sacred. 
The penal code of Pennsylvania, being about to undergo a 
complete revision, various radical changes will perhaps be 
recommended for the action of the Legislature by the Legal 
Commission appointed by the Governor for the purpose. I 
would suggest that there be such an alteration of the statute 
against arson, as to make the penalty for setting fire, in the 
night time, to any building in which human beings may be 
sleeping-DEATH. The deterring effect of such an enact- 
ment, would do more to check the incendiary spirit that pre- 
vails in our city, than all the vigilance of the patrol officer or 
the acutest sagacity of the detective. 
The New York statute has four degrees of arson-the first 
degree, which is the firing of any building in which some 172 
human being is sleeping or lodging, being punished with 
hanging. In that State, there are two persons under sen- 
tence of death at this time, one in the city of New York and 
the other in Albany. In Massachusetts, the penalty of arson 
is imprisonment for life. In several other States in the 
Union, this horrible crime is punished with death. 
I cannot close this report without expressing my obliga- 
tions to the Chief of Police, Mr. Ruggles, and to the Lieu- 
tenants, Sergeants, and Policemen of the several divisions, for 
their courtesy to me individually, and likewise for their 
prompt and cheerful execution of all orders emanating from 
me. These gentlemen have rendered me valuable assistance 
in making my investigations, and I have received from them 
every mark of kindness and respect. 
In conclusion, permit me, sir, to tender to you my sincere 
thanks for the warm interest you have taken in the fire detec- 
tive branch of the police, as well as for the wise counsel you 
have, at all times, given me as to the performance of my deli- 
cate and responsible duties. My warmest gratitude is also 
due to you for your uniform kindness to me personally. For 
the future, accept the assurance that no effort shall be want- 
ing on my part to prove myself worthy of the confidence you 
have so generously reposed in me. 
Very respectfully, 
Your ob't serv't, 
ALEXANDER W. BLACKBURN, 
Fire Marshal.