Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-12
INTO SCHENLEY PARK
A Big Fight Brewing Over The Squir-
rel Hill Road.
ITsEEMSTOCUT THE PARK CORNER
BigeloW and Brown InterpOse Vigorous
Objections.
WHAT EVERYBODY CONCERNED SAYS

Electric Railway Company and the city
authorities over the right of way given the
company to pass over portion of Schenley
Park, by Francis Torrens, the agent of the
Schenley estate. before the park had been
ceded by Mrs. Schenley.
Just why the matter has been kept so
quiet is difficult to determine, unless 1t be
that each side hoped to effect some kind of a
quiet compromise that would prevent
scandal, if such term may be applied to
quarrels of almost daily occurrence and
seemingly necessity in these days of turn
ing over all things old and making all
things new.
READY TO JUMP THE JOB.
Some gentlemen were conversing on the
street yesterday, and one of them remarked
that the railway company was ready to
Jump the job" by putting its track down
suddenly at night The conversation was
casual one, and the speaker evidently did
not know that he was telling news. He
thought there might be fight, but did not
talk as though he expected gore.
A reporter at once sought Mr.. r. @.
Whitten at the Office of the Internal Reve-
uue Collector, but Mr.. Whitten blandly
made answer that the report was news to
him. He said the road did cut into the
park slightly, but did not hurt it and had
been graded for some time. He seemed sur
prised that at this late day there should be
objection made.
Mr.. Loughry was next sought for, but ne
was not at his place Of business. His ab-
sence was regretted, as he is good talker.
WHAT SECRETARY KAY SAID.
Mr.. F. G. Kay, Secretary of the company,
was next visited, and he made light Of the
matter, stating that the relations of the
company and Mr.. William II. Brown, the
city engineer in charge, had always been of
the most amicsble character, and that in fact
the city authorities generally had shown the
company the utmost courtesy on all occa-
sions. Mr.. Kay, however, deprecated any
allusion to the matter, as he said it could
not do any good, and there was a possibility
of friction arising from possible misunder-
standing or irritation.
After some additional parley, the in
quirer was convinced that further applica-
ton of the probe to Mr.. Kay was useless,
but as the news was given so circumstanti-
ally that it seemed impossible to conceive
there could be no fire, inquiries were prose-
cuted in other directions and with better re-
suits.
OFFICIAL ACTION TAKEN.
When the ordinance granting the road
a right of way through the streets was
passed by Councils last July the plan which
accompanied it showed that the line was to
traverse the western end of the Schenley
property, now Schenley Park. Francis Tor
rens, agent for the property. gave the right
of way, and the line ran through the ex-
treme west end of the park. Beginning
at a long trestle bridge the road
was to be built at Joncaire street
over the hollow through which the
Junction railway runs, and continuing
for about 500 feet along the western
slope Of the park property. The Squirrel
Hill Company proceeded with the work of
grading and preparing this part of the road
and have lately been at work constructing
the trestles to connect the two sides of the
ravine. The work on the road was so nearly
completed that the company have already
some of their cars here ready TO put on the
tracks.
Last Friday Chief Bigelow paid visit to
the park, and seeing the rapid progress
being made with the construction ofthe |
road, decided to prevent its passing through |
the park. The next day City Engineer |
Brown, acting under Chief BigelQF's orders,
went out to the ground and IN tie presence |
Of Martin Frank, who is the contractor on |
the framework of the bridge, ordered Mr.. |
the civil engineer, who is super |
vising the construction of the road, to stop |
work Immediately. Mr.. Trimble followed |
for that day, but on Monday |
went to work again, although the weather |
has permitted him to do but little since.
UNFAvoRABLE TOPOGRAPHY.
Mr.. S. Diescher, the chief civil engineer
,f the new road, said last evening that if |
Mr.. Bigelow insisted on the road Keeping |
entirely outside of the park it would cause |
great deal of trouble, as the topography of |
he land in that section is such that it would |
be next to impossible to get around the park
without changing q large portion of the
route, which, since so much had been ex-
pended already for grading, would be very
expensive. However, he thought Mr.. Bige- /
ow would not insist on a change, as the part
If the park traversed by the present route is
absolutely useless for any purpose on ac-
count of the steep grade.
Mr.. Joseph Loughrey, one of the directors
u the road, said that as the company had
occurred the right of way through the prop
,rty before the city got possession of it, the
,ity could not stop them from going ahead.
de thought there was no doubt but that the
york on the road would be pushed right
Llong despite the City Engineers orders,
md was at a loss to know what object Mr..
3igelow could have in obstructing the COM
)any's plans.
Howard Morton, whose father was the
,riginal protector of the road, said, when
Isked concerning the trouble, that he
hought the position of the company was all
hat could be desired. He thought the line
# road skirted the park, but did not cut it
n any place. and he supposed there would
,e no trouble, as the Legislature and Pitts
'urg Councils had both agreed in giving
he company not alone as much as they
sked, but more. The question of right of
Fay was settled long ago. and he thought
hat any objections made now would hardly
Iold good.
PRESIDENT MURDoCH's VIEWS.
Alex. Murdoch, Vice President of the
SQUIRREL Hill Company, was seen, and said
be company had six cars, which had arrived
nd were stored at the power house of the
'raction Company at Oakland. A half
nile out of the three miles of road had been
aid in rails, and the greater portion of the
Dad had been graded. The trestles were
aid across Boundary avenue, or nearly so,
nd work was progressing in very favor
BILE manner.
''How about that trestle work on Boundary
venue? The understanding is that when you
saoh the other side in the same direction you
III oe stopped by the city authorities"
THAT know nothing about and have no de-
ire to speak about If you want any facts re-
arding the position of the Squirrel Hill Rail-
bad shall give them to you but have moth
lg to say regarding its rights, except that
ouncils have already granted right of way"
but at that time the Schenley Park was pri-
ate property. and the city had no right to
rant right of wayP'
Il have nothing to say about that"
POINT BLANK QUESTION.
docs the Squirrel Hill RaiIroadrun through
le park or not?"