Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-22
DIAMOND STREET AGAIN.
select Council Booked TO Do the Same
With IL ms Common Did-A Property
Owner In Defense of the Project.

selecr Council Booked TO Do the Same
With IL rs Common Did-A Property
Owner In Defense of the Project.
Controller Morrow was yesterday quoted
as having said he welcomed legal test oil
the validity of his new street law. He con-
sidered the ordinance passed by Common
Council over the Mayors veto for the wild
ening of Diamond street different matter,
however, and one not so we'll fortified from
legal standpoint.
A special meeting of Select Council is
announced for this afternoon, when passage
of the Diamond street ordinance over the
veto will be on the programme, as it was in
Common Council Friday. The prediction
is made by those having the liveliest inter-
est in the matter that the ordinance will, by
large majority, to-day become law.
In this connection the following communi-
cation, from an interested real estate owner,
who prefers to write under a nom de plume I,
but who gives his name to The DISPATCH,
is interesting:
To the Editor ofThe Dispatch:
As property holder and promoter OF the
project of widening Diamond street, write to
misstatements made wilfully to taint the pub
lie mind and cast reflections on those interested
in the project.
Those opposed to it have repeatedly made the
assertion that the scheme was forced upon
more than two-thirds of the property holders.
who had vigorously demonstrated against 1t;
even the Mayor IN his veto takes advantage OF
the same statement, when he must have known
that such was not the case, as several OF those
xpl,< IoA - ,,oI NI,a ian m.
provement had called on him to urge him to
sign the ordinance. The facts are, as was well
known by all the opposition. that the remon-
STRANGE handed into Select Council at It's last
meeting after a most thorough and complete
canvass, was signed by the owners.of only 10
feet, out of the 1,665 feet. fronting on Diamond
street, excepting the corners and the short lot
near the Market House, which would be almost
entirely taken.
The charge has been made that those max.
ing recent purchases in Diamond street had
done so with the purpose of speculation, hoping
TO enhance the value of their property at the
great disadvantage and loss of other property
owners on the street. Now If any man can
HANGED. and the property along side of it de-
preciated simply because 1t was unfortunate
enough to be held BY the original owner. that
man deserves TO live in higher sphere.
1t is well known fact that the property has
advanced on Diamond street from 5000, its
former value, to 81, l,S00per front foot since the
agitation Of the Improvement Now, II any
one Is dlssatlsned, OF AFRAID OIL tne conse-
quences let him sell out and he will be many
thousand dollars ahead Of his worth three
months ago. This being the case no one can
lose
Again, the property owners on this street are
willing and anxious for the opportunity to pay
all damages, thus presenting to the city a
magnificent avenue in place of filthy alley,
and increasing the revenue of the city in way
of taxes about slO0, 600 annually. Can any pub
lie official private citizen, stand in the way of
this generous gift, and do his duty to the city?
Is it any wonder Pittsburg has the name which
it SO richly deserves, of being slow and behind
the age?
We know it is favorite position of dema-
gogues to make "spead eagle" speeches declar-
ing themselves watch dogs of the City
Treasury and all such tom foolery," but let
them be fair, let them be reasonable, and we
will trust to the merit of our cause.
A PROPERTY OWNER.