Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-11
UNION OF BOROUGHS,
Plan to Consolidate CHARTERS
and Mansfield.
A 100000 IRON PLANT.
J. w. Hammond g. Son Induced to
Build a Mill in the Valley.
APANHANDLE COMPANY SCHEME.
Thirty Acres of Land for Freight Yards and
Repair Shops.
PANHANDLE COMPANY SCHEME.
LETTERS GOING TO THE WRONG PLACES

A regular boom has struck the ooroughE
of Mansfield and CHARTERS. There is con-
siderable excitement just now over the ques-
ton of consolidation, the matter of estab,
fishing a water works, new iron and steel
plant and large repair shop for the Pan
handle Railroad. The movement to con-
solidate the boroughs is favored BY one fac
ton and opposed by another. The friends
of the scheme contend that it would mate
rally increase the importance of the place
in every way to combine them under one
government, and claim that it is only mat
ter of time until the project will go through.
Birth was given to the consolidation
scheme at a meeting held some time ago to
consider plan for the erection of a water
works. Two rival companies had applied
for the right to lay water mains through the
boroughs, but as a prerequisite asked the
boroughs to pay 81, 900 each for the use Of
water for town purposes. This demand was
considered unreasonable, and the boroughs
set about to make arrangements for a water
works of their own. At joint meeting Of
the Borough Councils the borough solicitors
advised them that, being two distinct cor
porations, it would not be legal for them to
enter upon the plan jointly. The question
oughs?'' And from that has grown senti-
ment in favor of consolidation that IS assum-
ing very large proportions.
A PUBLIC MEETING CALLED.
Two meetings Of the Borough Councils
have been held to consider the matter, and
it has been referred to the councils of each
borough to call public meetings in their
respective places to get an expression Of the
IL the c1h hiaat On that mint the
matter rests. The people who favored the
combination idea were not satisfied with
the result Of the joint meeting of councils,
as it was known that the majority of mem
bers of the two councils were opposed to the
scheme, and it was feared some trick might
be worked. Everything possible is being
done to get the meeting of citizens called,
and to find out what are the next best steps
to take
Burgess c. A. Willis, of Charters
borough, was seen at his home yesterday
by DISPATCH representative, and to the
latter he gave very complete explanation
of the consolidation scheme, together with
the benefits that are expected to result from
its eonsummation, and the general object
ions advanced by those opposed to it.
In tn first place, there is diversity of
nsmes that causes no little inconvenience of
3 serious character. On all the United States
maps e:ansfeld borough is marked 'Mans-
field" The postoffice is STYLED Mansfield
Valley" Hundreds of letters and other
articles of mail matter, addressed "Mans-
field, Pa" go to Tioga county where there
is another Mansfield. One day last week
more than 100 letters were received from
Mansfield Tioga county, that belonged to
Mansfield Valley. This arrangement of
things interferes considerably with the
banking and commercial interests. If the
boroughS were consolidated, both old names
dropped, and a new one selected, central
postofice could be established with the ad-
Tantages of free delivery.
Another advantage would be, that all
the business of the two boroughs would be
under one government. The streets could
be attended to better, the educational and
all other interests could be given better
attention. Fire and police protection could
be secured, something that one of the
boroughs is now entirely without and the
other is not well provided with. The water
works would be assured. 1t is claimed
taxes would be lower because the one gov
ernment could be operated at less expense
than the two now are.
BRIDGE OBJECTIONS.
The general objections to the plan include
the argument that the three bridges that
would then be within the borough limits,
and which now belong to and are maintained
by the county, would have to be kept up by
the borough. These are good structures,
probably worth $50, 900 and if one should
burn down or be swept away it would rest
with the new corporation to replace it.
Some of the Mansfield residents object be-
cause OF their more extensive improvements
over Charters. They have a good system
OF sewerage, macadamized streets, a Yolun-
teer fire department, a borough hall to
Offset an Indebtedness of s., 500. CHARTERS
borough has no borough property; not such J
well improved streets, but is free from debt. ]
Taking everything into consideration, the |
condition of affairs in each borough is about |
equal. The assessed valuation of CHARTERS |
is $9O6, 600 and that of Mansfield is about |
$500. 900. Combined they would have a |
population of about 5000 or 10000 The |
bOroughs have railroad connection with the |
Lake Erie road through the Pittsburp. |
Charters and Youghioghenv, and with the |
Pennsylvania system through the Panhan- |
die road. TweDty-one trains are run daily |
each way over the two roads. There are |
seven churches, three hotels, one rolling |
mill, two planning mills one Touring mill, |
two good school buildings worth $50. 900, |
The boroughs are located in the heart of a |
coal bed extending many miles south and |
west, and 1t is only ten mileC from good gas |
territory.
o. R. Cook, ESQ.,, Solicitor for Mansfield.
was also seen. He said the people of the |
two boroughs were beginning to realize that
they are falling behind other suburban com
munities and are commencing to take an
interest in town affairs. He thought it only
q matter of time until the two boroughs are
one.
Arrangements will be completed to-day
fo- the erection of $500 600 iron and steel
plant in Charters borough. W, J. Ham /
mond & Son, known as the Pittsbnrg Iron
and Steel Company, have quietly negoti-
ated for land on which to locate large mill.
Fifteen acres of ground IN the extreme west
end of the borough have been purchased
from David S. Carothers for $4,000 w. i
j. Hammond & Son pay $1,000 of this
amount and the balance has been raised
among the citizens Of Charters, and was Of
fered as an inducement to the company to
locate there. Colonel james Glenn, owning
properly adjoining, donated five acres out
right
A S30O,OO0 IRON MILL.
This makes 20 acres to be covered bv the
new plant, which will cost $500, 900. The
entire plant is to be completed and in
operation within three years Hammond &
Son manufacture sheet iron, merchant and
muck bar iron. 1t is understood that the
pudding department will be erected first
and will be in operation by April l. 1890.
Several hundred men will be employed
when the entire mill is completed. The
Panhandle Railroad Company has agreed
to build a bridge across the creek, and to
put up all the necessary side tracks for the
mill and do all they possibly can to encOur-
age the enterprise.
By the establishment of the plant in that
locality tract Of about so acres, excellently
adapted for manufacturing purposes, is
opened up, and Mr.. Hammond. being Presi-
dent of The Penn nsrlr-or,in IrI..t.;. c.-..nnu |