Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-06
TO A 6O-F0OT STREET.
California Avenue May be Widened,
Notwithstanding
THE PROTESTS OF BUSINESS MEN.

Notwithstanding
THE PROTESTS OF BUSINESS MEN,
A Lively Session Of the Allegheny Council
Survey Committee.
THE MATTER MAY 60 TO THE COURT
The Allegheny Survey Committee held
special session last night to consider the
ordinance for the widening Of California
avenue from Strawberry lane to Jacks run.
During the afternoon the committee had
gone over the thoroughfare and examined
carefully as to the merits of the proposed
Improvement. Several promiaent citizens
and business men who reside in the lower
end of the city were present at the meeting
last evening. some to oppose and some to
and Mr.. Kerr, Of the law firm of Bakewell
81 Kerr, represented some of the property
owners. Messrs. James 1. Bennett. David
B. Oliver, job n D. Bailey and others were
present.
At previous meeting of the committee it
was decided to make the street 30 feet wide,
but this was not satisfactory to some Of the
property owners
Mr.. Holman vigorously opposed any change
in the width of the street, and intimated that If
any was made his clients would take the mat
ter into the courts. Mr.. Bailey also opposed 1t.
ua i'm fouo NJ a fone afr
it would give an opening to that section of the
city and would greatly enhance the value Of
properly out that way Mr.. Bennett was at
first opposed to 60-foot street; but after being
on the scene with a committee, be had arrived
at the conclusion that 60 foot street
wAsANEcEssITy.
There was quite little 3r of words be-
tween the citizens, Messrs. Holman and
Bailey intimating that it was scheme to es-
tabllsh boulevard for the pleasure of few
citizens who were the owners of fast horses.
The committee reconsidered its former action
of 50-foot street and passed a motion that
Strawberry lane to Jacks Run, the engineers
report on the same being adopted.
DISPATCH reporter yesterday made a tour
OF the business men and property owners In
that section of the city to ascertain their views
on the subject. The business men on Mcclure
avenue say that should the proposed street go
through and open up the territory back
of Woods Run that all the
trade of those people who now
go 10 Woods Run will then be diverted to
PittsburG and leave them out in the cold Mr..
+. 7. Dimming a property holder on Mcclure
avenue where the viaduct will pass over the
street, said that the whole thing was engi-
neered BY David @ o. Oliver: OF the M iirm OF Onves m
open up. He said that Select Councilman Nc
Afee was in the employment of the firm of
Oliver Bros Phillips as as manager Of Lone one pf
Oliver said. A Mr.. Jones has also been work.
ing up the extension scheme among the prop
erty holders, it Is said, in Mr.. divers interests.
MIR. Cummings property is near where the
viaduct crosses and he says Jones told him that
he could not get any damages. and he thought
that while it would benefit one portion 1t would
demoralize Mcclure avenue, and thought that
part should be considered.
DR.. Scheffer said he had noticed that what
ever was done. McAfee and Councilman Hart.
man and John r. Hendricks the two latter Of
the Ninth and Eleventh wards, respectively
all pulled together SO that they had things their
own way.
QUITE UNANIMITY.
A number of the other property holders along
Mcclure avenue were interviewed and gave
similar expressions, and the business men all
thought it would demoralize the trade of the
avenue. Some property holders near where
of grief could be swallowed If they. received
enough damages, and that they would fight for
the same.
Mr.. James ]. Bennett. a citizen of Superior,
objects to the route of the extension. as he says
that much of it represents the entire possessions
of many bard-working men, who had saved and
scraped along to build their homes, and that 1t
would in many cases ruin whole or part Of
them, and he wanted justice done them.
nxx< hor &1av osprl lfxrA - ffo lar
property holders In the direction of Bellevue
are anxious to see the ordinance go through.
Mr.. David b. Oliver was seen yesterday by the
reporter and told of the objections to the ex-
was real estate scheme, and in reply gave
clear exposition OF the proposed route and
answer to the objections as follows:
Tenth and Eleventh wards Of Allegheny City
that for residence purposes are now included
that e. to Tss so ans s
splendid, water pure and with frst-class
views Of the Ohio river and val
ley Almost the only inlet; to this
| and the Perrysville road, which run parallel
to each other at distance Of from amile to a
mile and half apart The & outlets n1s are totally
| as is abundantly proved by. the low
prices at which property is sold. l have
been a resident here now for nearly
| 20 years, and have always deplored its
| inaccessibility and consequent want of de-
| velopment and an effort has recently been
made, in which have taken an active part to
extend California avenue, which starts at
Sedgwick street. near its junction, with WASH
| irgton avenue, and ends at Superior avenue.
We propose to extend it from Superior avenue,
near Superior station, on the Fort Wayne
road, directly along the crest Of the hill,
SPANNING THE VALLEY
and Mcclure avenue at Woods Run by q
viaduct 600 feet long, keeping along the hills
| and descending the slope into Jacks Run
and going into Bellevue and through there to
West Bellevue. I consider that the CON-
pletion of the project will bring
| into the market very large tract of ter
ritory that is now practically inaccessible,
and the laying Of a traction or electric road,
one Of which have no doubt will be done.
will prevent our people rushing to the East
End and soon cover our hills with beautiful
homes---hills now largely covered with the
primeval forests. or seed for market garden
purposes"
.sThe v1adues over Mcclure avenue is pro-
posed to be built by the Ohio Connecting Rail-
way Company in return for the vacation of the
roadway and that Of the Piftsburg and Fl.
Wayne road. and for the right to cross Preble
and Mcclure avenues and the Leckey road at
a height of 10 to 20 feet from the street level.
consider this most advantageous PROPOSE
tion to property holders interested, and one in
which have no doubt Mcclure avenue will
concur"
what have you to say about the complaints
| of the people on Mcclure avenue In regard to
| its taking trade awayr' was asked.
"Wel, / have no doubt 1t will. 1met with the
| same opposition years ago from the very same
| class of men, and some of the same men, In my
efforts to have the street car lines extend down
Preble and Mcclure avenues They insisted
| that with such means of getting to and from
the city people would 60 to- town to do their
trading, and the event proved that was right
and they wrong; and believe the same result
| will be shown after the extension OF California
avenue is completed. The more people come
in the more will want to be supplied. We
CAN'T HOLD BACK THE WORK
of improving such large region merely to