6 PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



in 1750, consisting, it is supposed, of members of the old Junto. 

 It enlarged its scope and its name in 1766, and again in 1768, 

 and became " the American Society, held at Philadelphia, for 

 Promoting Useful Knowledge." Franklin was made its presi- 

 dent. The original American Philosophical Society was resus- 

 citated in 1767 by six of the old members, to whom otrierswere 

 afterward added. In January, 1769, the two societies were 

 united as the American Philosophical Society and Franklin was 

 elected president, after an exciting contest with the Hon. James 

 Hamilton, president of the original society of that name. He 

 continued to be president till his death in 1791. 



Franklin's useful activity as a citizen was visible every- 

 where during his life in Philadelphia. A paper on fires, which 

 he read in the Junto and published in 1736, gave rise to a proj- 

 ect for forming a fire company. Some thirty persons were 

 found to engage in the scheme. This act was the suggestion 

 for the formation of other fire companies. 



When applied to for a subscription for the establishment of 

 a hospital he was told, to enlist his more active interest in the 

 scheme, that the people would not take hold unless he was in it. 

 He secured a charter and a grant for the institution from the 

 Legislature. Of his agency and course in this matter he char- 

 acteristically observes : " I do not remember any of my political 

 manoeuvres the success of which gave me at the time more 

 pleasure, or wherein, after thinking of it, I more easily excused 

 myself for having made some use of cunning." 



Again we find him pioneering in the improvement of the 

 street pavements. He had the street around Jersey Market 

 paved, and contracted with a man to keep it swept. A general 

 awakening on the subject followed, paving was done all over 

 the city, and shortly became the object of a law. Subsequent- 

 ly, on one of his visits to England, he published plans for 

 cleaning the streets of London and Westminster. The first 

 street lamps set up in Philadelphia were dim and smoky. 

 Franklin inquired into the causes of the inefficiency of their 

 light, and found that they were closed at the bottom so as to 

 cut off the draught. By his direction the bottom was opened; 

 the form of the lamp was changed from a globe to a lantern 

 of four flat panes, with a funnel above to draw up the smoke. 

 This form of lamp prevailed in our cities till recently, and may 

 still be found in many towns where gas lights are used. 



