Meantime, numerous academies were established such as Ger mantown (1760) and Episcopal academy (1785). Other insti tutions developed: College of Pharmacy (1821) ; Jefferson Med ical college (1825) ; Woman's Medical college (1850) ; Protestant Episcopal Divinity school (1862) ; Lutheran Theological seminary (1864) ; La Salle college (Roman Catholic, 1867) ; St. Vincent's Roman Catholic Theological seminary (1868) ; Medico-Chirurgical college (i881), now affiliated with the university of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann Medical college (1888) ; the Williamson Free school of Mechanical Trades (1888) ; Drexel institute (1891) ; and Temple university with a large student-body and many schools, at Broad and Berks. Gratz college (1893) and Dropsie college (1907), were founded in furtherance of Hebrew learning. The university of Pennsylvania (q.v.) is the largest educational institution in the city. (See ART and SCIENCE for other educa tional institutions. For Girard college, see GIRARD, STEPHEN.) Public Schools.—In 1818 the old board of control gave way to the board of education, and the Lancasterian plan to the com mon schools. The first Central high dates from 1838; Girl's high, 1859 and Girl's high and normal, 1876. At the end of the 19th century, it was manifest that the blight of politics was on the public school but reforms were successfully inaugurated. Two high schools have been succeeded by 13, with 22 junior high schools. There are evening high schools, evening elementary schools, classes in English and citizenship, classes for handicapped children, vocational schools and summer schools. In 1934 the total enrolment was 308,922 and the disbursements amounted to $27,578,012. There were 423 public schools in 310 school build ings; of these, 207 were elementary.
Libraries.—Several growths of increasing vigour sprang from the seed sown by Franklin in the "Junto" period of the i8th century—the American Philosophical society, already noted, the university of Pennsylvania and the Library company of Phila delphia, organized on July 1, 1731. Franklin was its London agent, 176o-75. It absorbed the association and union libraries and, in 1792, became trustee for the library of James Logan, which, through the benefaction of Dr. James Rush, was nobly housed (1868) in a granite structure of the classic order. The Library company, with its noted collections—Philadelphia ma terial, Civil War books and Americana—has 278,551 volumes. Other libraries (in addition to those noted under Science and Art) are those of the Pennsylvania hospital, 1761; the College of Physicians, 1789; the Athenaeum, 1813; the German society, 1817 and the Apprentices', 1820. The Free library of Philadel phia, chartered in Feb. 1891, has 31 branches and 3 deposit sta tions in various parts of the city; 25 of the branch libraries occupy structures erected from Andrew Carnegie's gift to the city of $1,500,000. The Free Library had in 1935 800,664 vol., large pamphlet and document collections and a circulation of 4,580,302. The art and music departments are especially rich. There is also a library for the blind. The Law library in the City Hall dates from
1802. The Biddle Law library is at the university of Pennsyl vania, which, besides the general library (1749)—noted for its Danteana, American and Spanish drama and incunabula—has 15 special sub-libraries. The Mercantile library (224,762 vol.), is notably strong in Irish literature, Shakespeare and Junius letters. The Special Libraries council of Philadelphia lists 209 libraries in the city and environs in 1937 including private collections accessible to students upon application. Historical and genealogi cal students from all parts gather at the library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Port.—Transatlantic, coastwise and West Indian trade de veloped early. Grain, flour and lumber were exported. In 1725, 140 vessels arrived and cleared; in 427. During the Revo lution, Philadelphia became an interstate port, profiting by the imposition of import taxes on goods brought in for trans-ship ment. Marine construction grew apace; and Philadelphia ships and sailors won high repute. The Humphrey model revolutionized frigate building. The old navy yard gave place (1876) to the League island yard. In the Girard epoch (1775-1831) came fast clippers; and, after the Fisk-Fulton-Rumsey-Evans period of steamboat experimentation, came the Liverpool packet service of Thomas P. Cope. Then Peter Wright and Son handled Liver pool boats. The Cope, Winsor, Clyde, Ericsson lines identified themselves with the river. The Corn Exchange (1854) became the Commercial Exchange (1868). Pilot service was established on Oct. 4, 1788. The station for pilot boats is at Overfalls light, 89 m. from Chestnut street pier. The Philadelphia-to-the sea 35 ft. channel was completed in 1934. The Schuylkill channel is from 22 to 3o ft. deep. Delaware avenue, the riverfront street, originally 25 ft. wide, has a present width of from 150 to 250 ft., and a length of 20 miles. In the middle of this marginal street are four railroad tracks, including the Belt line, which affords direct track connection for three trunk roads, by means of sidings, with all piers. The port has 4o piers belonging to the city, 159 piers under corporate or private ownership, and 25 U.S. Government piers. The main triple-decked tide-water ter minal is 1,500 ft. long, can simultaneously berth 15 steamships, and has 734,372 sq.ft. storage space. At Port Richmond, the Philadelphia Electric company occupies 3,854ft. of river frontage with one of the largest steam-electric plants in the world. The Reading company's Port Richmond terminal has a river frontage of 1.7m., a trackage of 6om. and storage for 6,000 cars. It is said to be the largest tide-water terminal in the world. It has a perishable produce terminal, a large grain elevator and also electrically operated ore-loading machinery with a capac ity of 1,200 tons per hour. The Pennsylvania railroad has elevators at Girard point. The Greenwich point coal plant handles Soo cars a day. The water front extends 38.38m., of which nearly 20M. are in use; ioo deep-draught steamships can be docked at once.