17th & Walnut

17th and Walnut. On this block in the 1870s. , A virtually traffic-free Walnut Street greeted passersby in 1865. The homes in this photo housed the city's wealthiest, most influential citizens. Rittenhouse Square can be seen in the center of the photo, with the tower of Holy Trinity Church rising above it. More than a century later finds Walnut Street a bustling retail and restaurant destination, far more lively than this photo., In the 1870s , President: Ulysses S. Grant (R), Rutherford B. Hayes (R) , Mayor: Daniel Fox (D), William Strumberg Stokley (R) , Philadelphia population: 674,022, Money matters , Single horsecar fare 7¢, 4 tickets 25¢, Children under 10 4¢ , Postage stamp 3¢, 1870s transportation , 1872, The "epizooty," or horse disease, made its appearance in Philadelphia. It continued its ravages for about a month; during that time almost every horse in the city was affected. Two of the passenger railway companies during this period suspended the running of cars for six days; others suspended on Sundays, and ran but few cars on weekdays. The transportation of goods and other articles almost ceased for some days, and wagons and carts were drawn through the streets by men., October 27, 1874, F.H.G Brotherton concluded, at 806 Green Street, the pedestrian feat of walking 1000 half-miles in 1000 half-hours, being 1000 half-hours of consecutive hours, which was commenced on October 6., November 12, 1874, Fast travel on Pennsylvania Railroad from Jersey City to West Philadelphia depot, 1 hour 47 minutes, including two stoppages. From Philadelphia to Baltimore, 2 hours, 15 minutes.