Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-29
CITY COUNCILS.
Placing the Electric Wires Underground
MIR. Wightman Resigns His Seat With
out Reasons Given.

Placing the Electric Wires Underground
Mr.. wighrman Resigns His Seat With
out Reasons Given.
Both branches of Pittsburg Councils were
in session yesterday afternoon.
In Select Council the contract of j.
Schinneller, for furnishing new infuent
pipe for the Bedford water works, to cost
g, 400, was approved. The contract of the
Gamewell Company, for furnishing new
switchboard system for the central fire alarm
Office, to cost S., 600, was approved, but not
until Superintendent Mead, of the Bureau
of Electricity, was called upon to explain
that the system now in use was totally made
quate for the size of the city.
A resolution requesting the Chief of the
Department of Public Works to furnish an
estimate of the cost of constructing con-
duit or subway for electric wires on the
principal streets of the city west of Grant
street, caused Mr.. Robertson to ask what
was the object of such resolution. MIR.
Heating said he was not the author of the
paper, but presumed that the member who
had presented it had IN mind the line OF
action adopted in Eastern cities, of the city
constructing such subways and then passing
the necessary legislation to compel all cleo
trio companies to use them and pay for the
privilege, the object being the protection OF
life and limbs of citizens and the improve
ment of the streets by the removal of the
unsightly poles and wires. The resolution
was adopted.
The ordinance for the widening of Cecil
alley, from Liberty street to Duquesne way,
was taken up, and Mr.. Treusch presented
remonstrance against it signed by A. Speer
& Son, owners of go feet fronting on the
alley. The remonstrance was formally re-
ceived and filed, and then the ordinance
was finally passed, Messrs. Treusch and
Brophy voting against it.
Among ordinances passed were those for
paving Boquet street from Atwood to Sem
pie, and Copeland street, from Ellsworth to
Walnut.
The ordinance to pave Linden avenue
was laid over on the advice Of the City At
torney.
The joint resolution to rent the Fifth
avenue market house to the Eighteenth
Regiment and Battery was passed unani-
mously.
In Common Council Mr.. W. A. Magee
was called to the chair in the absence of
President Halliday. On the call of the
wards the following was presented by Mr..
kearns and referred: An ordinance provid
ing that all individuals, companies and cor
porations using, owning or controlling cleo
trio light, telephone and telegraph wires, or
any wires used for electrical purposes shall,
within one year after April 1, 1890, place
said wires under ground; providing that be-
fore such work is done, plan for doing it
shall be submitted to the Chief of the De-
partment of Public Works for approval,
and the Chief of that department shall have
the authority to amend the plan and make
such suggestions as to the proper laying of
the wires as in his judgment may seem best
for the interest of the city.
The ordinance also provides that any
company refusing to comply with the pro-
visions shall forfeit and pay to the City
Treasurer $40 for each day beyond the time
fixed to place the wires underground, and it
is made the duty of the City Attorney to
bring suit to compel the payment.
The Chair read a communication from j.
S. Wightman, member from the Twenty
second ward, in which he rendered the resig-
nation of his seat No reason was assigned
in the communication and no one seemed to
know Mr.. Wightman's motive. Mr.. Mac
Gonigle moved to postpone action. Mr..
Bigham said he had no direct knowledge,
but he understood that Mr.. Wightman's
business prevented his holding the position
longer. Mr.. MacGonigle said he asked for
postponement because no reason was given.
To be sure, Mr.. Wightman may mean to
apply for license next spring and wants to
fix things with Judge White, but Councils
ought to know this. The resignation was
postponed, and Council adjourned.