This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ...power of rings and corporations had not obtained the malignant influence which they exercise to-day, and the care of so compact a territory was not nearly so exacting as that involved by our present territory. It was in such matters as police and finance that the lack of a scientific business-like ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ...power of rings and corporations had not obtained the malignant influence which they exercise to-day, and the care of so compact a territory was not nearly so exacting as that involved by our present territory. It was in such matters as police and finance that the lack of a scientific business-like administration was most noticeable. FOURTH PERIOD, 1854-1887. The country adjacent to the city and beyond its prescribed limits, especially that along the Delaware known as the " Liberties," very naturally soon began to be densely settled, to assume an urban appearance, and to experience the necessities incident to a city life. This territory was divided into districts, which, beginning with Southwark, were incorporated by successive acts; the government was placed in charge of Commissioners to be elected by the citizens. Other acta incorporated the Northern Liberties, Kensington, Moyamensing, Spring Garden, West Philadelphia, &c., and in the county were various boroughs, towns and townships, such as Germantown, Frankford, Kingsessing. i So intimately connected had become the life and necessities of the most adjacent of these, especially in the matters of police, making and repairing the highways, education, care of the poor, public health, &c, that by the middle of the century many of the most active and influential of the citizens, both of the city proper and the outlying districts, conceiving that the general good would be conserved by a consolidated government, began to agitate the necessity and propriety of such an act being passed by the Legislature. The matter was discussed in the newspapers, public meetings were held, and a bill prepared and presented in the Assembly, but failed of passage owing to the opposition of the...
Read Less