The state journal., 1884-04-12
ALL ABOUT THE CITY.
COUNCILS WORK OF THE PAST
YEAR REVIEWED.
Harrisburg's Great Improvement
Under the Present City
Government.

government.
We give as follows brief synopsis
of the prominent measures passed by
Councils during The past year, and we
believe that ia caring for the welfare
Of our city md in moving On in The
line Of progress, it has done more ID
the time than any preceding one. We
feel an especial Pride in this that it is
the first municipal government to
recognize the rights Of the color d
people, and we have for the first time
q colored representative elected TO
serve for full term, and one who Las
justified by his course the confidence
placed in him by bis constituents.
ELECTRIC Light. The electriclipht
ordinance protects the lives Of firemen
and the property Of our citizens, by
requiring all electric light companies
TO place cut,outs where requested, on
the outside of each building where
the light is used, so that ID cases Of
fire the current can be shut of.
PUBLIC And PRIVATE SEWERS.
Continuing the public sewers 10 low
water mark was pubic measure Of
great Importance, and it is expected
will be completed the coming sun
mer. The closing Of private sewers
to low water mark was measure Of
incalculabl4 value TO the he | h of oar
people and the general san tary con-
dition of the city. These conduits
were emptyiDg their filthy contents
on and into the banks Of tie river,
in many cases forty feet from loS
water, spreading laterally and perme
ating the slope, till the whole length
Of the city was an offensive mass Of
disease breeding pestilential odors,
often compelling people living on
that beautiful street, on which are
erected our finest buildings, to close
their doors during the summer season
in order TO escape the offensive odors.
SELLING TIE Old RESERVOIR
GRoUNDs This ordinance met with
considerable opposition, but was
finally passed, and the general verdict
has justified it, The removal of the
old basin, which has been Of no pos
sible use tor several years, is now
being doce and 10 a few more weeks
we expect TO see one Of the finest
thoroughfares in the city thrown open
to public travel, large revenue pro
duced from the sale, Of lots, and
another from taxes and water rents,
while the material IL being used for
filing up streets Wf1ich are not
graded, thus making property pro
ductiye which heretofore has been of
little value
MARKET oUsEs.-The question OF
building market houses in Market
Square, in place If the present sheds,
has been wreslled with for years, but
has been finally settled SO tar as the
passage Of the necessary legislation
is concerned but the money has to
be furnished by the sale Of lots in The
old reservoir grounds to pay for them,
and as Councils do not seem DESTROYS
Of putting any more lots 10 the mar
ket till the ground is all removed, and
as litigation may cnsae on the con
tractors beginning operations, it is
question yet, whether our old sheds
may not continue TO disgrace our
square for many years 10 come.
LIGHTING THE CITY.-The intro
duction OF gas in place Of coal oil
was step demanded BY the public,
and although the gas at the present
time is not as good as it ought 10 be,
it is better than the poor coal oil
lights and emits no vile odors. This
city ought to have electric lights, but
in this as in many other things, we
are permitting our near ncighbors to
60 ahead of us. We hope, however,
to have them all oyer the city the
coming year,
DOC ORDINANcE.-The passage Of
this ordinance rids our city Of many
worthless and dangerous ours, and
we hope it will be again enforced at
the proper time.
TAX AND PEDDLER ORDINANCE -
The passage of supplement 10 the
tax ordinance, wherein the peddler
nuisance was abolished, and Our mer-
chants protected from peripatetic
swindlers, who stay long enough in
the place TO fleece the people; and
the taxing Of telephone, telegraph
and electric light companies, was o
necessary and judicious measure 10
accordance with the wishes Of the
people.
INCREASE OF poLcEMEN-The in
crease Of the police force was a nee
essary act, and the Mayor is now
able to give protection to people liv-
ing in the outskirts Of the city. The
employment Of colored men on the
force reflects great credit on Mayor
Wilson. 1t was proper recognition
Of an element in our government
which can no longer be ignored, and
which we have no doubt will prove
faithful to the trust imposed.
PASSING TIE CRY TAX LEVITT
took this ordinance just FIVE months
to get through Councils, and it was
finally passed under the threat that
the Controller would ask for a man
damus from court unless it was done.
This delay was caused BY members
who were determined to attach sec
ton giving a rebate Of FIVE per cent.
to all persons paying city taxes before
the first Of July, but who finally gave
way under the threat Of the Con