CHESTER, - Delaware County PA History

CIIE.C;TER, PENNSYLVANIA. 13
By Act of Assembly, February 13, 1866, Chester was incorporated
as a city, with the municipal authority placed in a
Mayor, Council, and other necessary officials.
FOOD SUPPLIES.
No city of any size in the country is bcttcr situated as
regards thc supply of food products. The Delaware teems
with a great variety of fish, in almost inexhaustible quantities.
Delaware shad-no need to praise thOll-oysters from the
Chesapeake, Jersey melons and cantaloupes, peaches from Delaware
and Maryland, together with an infinite variety of vegetables
from Pennsylvania's truck patch--)ersey, besides what
our own fertile county produces-all these arc abundantly.supplied
to our citizens. Delaware county dairies have a national
reputation, and the \Vhite Houso has long been supplied with
butter by one of its leading dairymen.
A CITY OF JlOME.'i.
If anything was needed to substantiate the fact that Chester
is inhabited by an industrious and enterprising people, the
mere statement that a round dozen of building associations arc
in active operation would be sufficient. It is a city of homes.
This is one reason why our comparatively small police force is
sufficient for the public safety. The buildings \ire nearly all of
brick, the erection of frame buildings within fire limits being
prohibited by city ordinance. The dwellings of the working
c1a!)ses contain from six to ten rooms, in many instant:es being
supplied with modern conveniences.
LEAIJIXG
IXDUSTIHE.-;.
\Vhile the cotton and \\'001en industry leads in the value of its
productions-about thirty mills being engaged in making fabrics
of various kinds-thosc of oil, steel, shipbuilding, boiler
and engine building arc vcry important. Beside thesc thcre
are a large nUlllber of other enterprises in successful operation,
such as the manufacture of dyewood extracts, edge tools, mill
supplies, lubricating oils, brass castings, leather belting, etc.