The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-03
sTREErs AND ALLEYs.

a Council Committee IN search of In.
formation = Inspecting Pittsburgh's
system Of Managing Her street De
paFtment.
The information "boom" has struck
Council. Last week the Committee on
waterworks went over to GAINESVILLE to see
the worthington pump and schultz's new
Opera House, and yesterday the Commit
tee on Streets, Alleys and Grades went to
Pittsburgh to examine her thoroughfares
and take in anything else OF interest. An
ISrELLloEScER reporter accompanied the
expedition, and the committee was further
swollen and adorned by the addition of
Mayor Sweeney, Street Commissioner
Clerk Updegraff and several Of the
Council members not included in the
committee.
Among the members from both branch
es who put in an appearance were Messrs.
Wait, Boring, Kimberly, McAdams,
Hamilton, Cowan and Halsted. Several
others had intended going, but were de-
layed by circumstances over which they
had no control.
The delegation was met at the Z A. NJ.
train by Agent Belleville OF the P. W. <
K, who took charge OF the party, and with
Capt. Taits help, made its trip over the
road very pleasant one. The three
hours ride was occupied%ith discussions
on arts, sciences and paving literature,
and some OF the unpledged delegates de-
veloped considerable ability as novelists.
AT the Union Depot in Pittsburgh,
Mayor Liddell and Messrs. Gourley,
Thompson, Jones, Hunter and others gave
the excursionists hearty welcome, and
escorted the party to the City Hall, where
other officers OF the city government were
met. After an informal reception in the
reception room OF the Council Chambers,
Mayor Liddell stated that the reception
committee were ready to consult the
wishes OF the visitors as to the manner 0!
acquiring the information sought, and
after some little interchange OF views II
was determined to spend the remainder o.
the day in examining the various offices
OF the city government and the streets ID
the vicinity OF the City Hall, leaving the
outlying thoroughiares for further exami
nation to-day.
Beginning with birds eye view Of the
subject, the visitors took In as much o.
the city from the City Hall tower as the
smoke permitted them to discover. II
this portion OF the building they had an
opportunity also OF examining what Il
known as the Gamewell fire alarm ap
paratus. one Of the most perfect and salts
factory OF the systems in use, and which
in this case is supplied with every ap
proved device for guarding against delay
or accident In the transmission OF signals
From this department the visitors wer'
conducted to the Offices OF City Enginee
Dempster, and here got a new revelation
as to the system and order with which in
formation concerning municipal stree
matters could be gathered and furnished
Every street and alley, sewer, bridge ant
public improvement OF this character be
longing to the city was here shown IL
maps and sectional drawings, the histor!
OF every street paving improvements, IT
character, cost and durability so far q
tested, was exhibited, and every oppor
tunity OF acquiring information othe
than by personal inspection OF the work
was here afforded. 1t will give US pleas
ure hereafter to present some OF the stats
. teal information which Mr.. Dempste
kindly furnished. We have only time a
present to say that no portion OF the Git!
Hall visited was more enjoyed and appre
ciated by the visitors than his complete
, and well arranged office.
, Following the tour OF the City Hal
Offices, the excursionists took in the n ear
est engine house, and got, first elias
. chance to see how the Pittsburgh paid fir
department Is managed. The system !
similar TO our own, but the keeping OF al
the members employed at the engin
house, their uniforming and frequent drill
gives their exhibitions an effect that our
cannot reach. An exhibition Of tn
horses resulted in showing the engine
hose reel land hook and ladder truck read!
to start In nineteen seconds from the tim
: the alarm was struck, and 1t claimed tina
under more favorable circumstances tn
work had been accomplished in shorte
time. After pleasant hour here, durini
which Chief OF Police Fender, q cleve
, ex-Wheelingite, was encountered in 81
unofficial way by the delegation, the visit
ors dined at the Seventh Avenue Hotel
and got ready for the afternoons work.
At2 r. NJ. they attended a meeting o
the Pittsburgh Select Council, and listene'
TO discussion on the annual appropria
ton ordinance from which they derivet
hints that will doubtless serve them in ftl
ture oratoriGal contests Of their own. A
$3.50 p. NJ, they began the scrutiny Of thl
different styles Of street paving, exhibited
in the neighborhood Of the City Hal
building, and pending this interesting
pursuit, the reporter breaks of his chron
icles to permit the insertion OF portion
OF them In this issue.