Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03
Advanced by DR.. Evans in Behalf of
Cleaner ThOroughfareS.
THE ORDINANCE FINALLY PASSES
In Select Council, Without the Change Of
a Single Figure,
THOUGH THE TALK WAS INTERESTING

Llol uG DSA4Sf0N IL lOO DuI, since IQs
bureau system had been adopted, it was i'm
possible to tell from the ordinance to what
particular object the money was to be ap
piled. Chief Bigelow was sent for to ex.
plain the item. DR.. Evans then asked him
for what purpose the S20S, 900 was to be ex
pended. In this connection the doctor said
wish to say that last year the amount ap
propriated for this bureau was 100000. How
that money has been expended l don't know,
but 1 do know that it has not been enough tc
keep our streets clean nor in repair. No city
in the country is SO poorly paved, nor so miser'
ably dirty, as the city of Pittsburg and the
streets are dirtier now than have ever seen
them. Iwould like to know if S20S,0U0 will be
enough to improve this condition of affairs and
place our streets in half-decent condition.
Mr.. Bigelow replied he money was to be
spent where it would do the most good. As
for the money spent in 1885, the annual re-
port of the Department of Public Works
would be ready in few days, and would
snow how every dollar of the appropriation
had been spent.
DR.. Evans repeated his statement about
the filthy condition of the streets Mr.. Nc
Kee and Mr.. Epping also complained of
the streets in their wards, the latter stating
that there were streets in the Sixteenth
ward that had not been cleaned in five
years, and that there was not street in the
ward that was not in horrible condition.
Mr.. Bigelow replied that there were many
streets in the city that were clean, and that
all the important streets were cleaned as
often as practicable The weather of this
winter had been such that it was impossible
to clean the streets with any kind of regu-
larity. With the appropriation of S20S, 900
the department would be enabled to do bet
ter at cleaning the streets this than last
year, for in that amount was included the
purchase of street supplies that would great
ly assist in the work.
DR.. Evans also raised an objection to the
appropriation of S19S, 715 to the Bureau of
Water Supply and Distribution The
amount was not enough. The city had
pursued a very mean and narrow-minded
policy in regard to its extension of water
supply, and many citizens were without a
supply who paid taxes and were entitled to
it He thought $50, 900 should be added to
that item.
IT INCLUDED THEM ALL.
Mr.. w. A. Magee stated that the appro-
priation included every petition for water
pipe extension that had been approved by
councils.
Mr.. Dwyer created a sensation in Council
by making motion to reduce the appro-
priation for the Board of Viewers from S10,-
900 to IS, 600 and providing that the mem
berS of the board be paid a salary of $1,000
each, excepting Tim O'Leary, VINO should
only be paid 81 ,OOO.'
Mr.. Sullivan objected to the motion and
defended Mr.. OLeary. Mr.. Dwyer insisted
on his motion and called for the ayes and
nays The motion was voted down and one
member hoped that the fight between the
Randall Club and the County Democracy
would not be dragged into Council
Mr.. Evans moved to amend the item of
street repairing, by adding 500, 900, making
the total for that appropriation S345, ,747 so,
$40 900 of this to be devoted TO repaying
Second avenue. In support of this motion,
Evans said:
take the ground that last years appropria-
tion of S210OOO did not improve the streets of
the city; in fact, they are in worse condition
now than year ago, and the amount provided
there will not do it this year. The streets must
be improved, sooner or later, and it might as
well be done this year as any other. The bill
before us is unfair. In it, 1 understand the
Fourteenth ward alone receives $500 600 worth
OF street improvements, and SIS 600 is to i'm
prove the WImOt street bridge. Wilmot
street! 1t begins nowhere and ends nowhere:
is traYersed only by COWS and goats and per-
haps dozen persons a day. / tell you this
sum is TO be spent for the benefit of two or
three people, and it is shame, when the bal
ance of our streets. such as that prominent
thoroughfare. Second avenue are left in an
impossible condition, to dump SIS coo into that
unknown street. l am not IN favor of high
taxes, gentlemen: but am in favor of Justice
and Of giving the people what they really need
when they are willing to pay for it.
The tax levy has been cut down this year
The appropriations have been pruned and kent
down this year for an idea. That idea is to |
create the impression to the people that it will |
cost no more to conduct the city under its |
present government than iJ did two years ago. |
know what this is done for; but that's the |
inference the people are expected to take |
understand the situation perfectly; but the |
streets are a stubborn necessity and if their |
improvement is put off for year or two, the |
work will have to be done, and will be done |
and then the heavy appropriations will come |
taxes will boom away up and the people will be |
burdened with tax that they might as well |
pay now, when times are good Twelve |
mills is low tax for great city like this /
and there are not many cities of its size that |
are taxed nearly so low; yet there is not an |
that Il mills, 81 mills are necessary for the |
liked expenses, leaving 616 for the mainten-
ance OF the city. 1t is positively absurd to |
think of running the city on such a small sum
The city will be in condition of yagrancy at |
the end of year.
POLITICAL FAMILY TALK,
Mr.. Robertson replied, and, among other
things, said he was surprised to see that the
doctor had so turned about from the position
taken by the family to which he belonged,
and he wondered that the said family did
not admit, before the election, as the doctor
had now done, that Pittsburg was the cheap
est city in the country.
DR.. Evans responded hotly that he be-
1onged to nobody's family, and he was re- +
sponsible for no street talk but what he
made use of himself.
Mr.. Robertson apologlzed, and said he
hoped the doctor would understand that his
political, and not his social, relations were
referred to.
A vote was then taken on the motion of
DIR. Evans, which was voted down. Dr.
Evans then moved that the S25 900 appro-
prlated for Wilmot street bridge be stricken
out, and that amount be appropriated to re-
paving Second avenue. This was alse de-
teated. He then moved that $40, 900 of the
$6l, ,l47 90 intended for repaving Forbes
street be appropriated to repaying Second
avenue, and this was defeated
DIR. Evans next attack was directed to
the business tax levy, which he Character
lied as an unconstitutional, unjust check
upon the enterprise of the business men of
the city.
Mr.. Sorg wanted the special tar on old
East Birmingham Borough property rednced
from 8 to 2 mills, that in his judgement
being sufficient at the increased Valuation
of the Board of Assessors. The rate had
been mills in 1888, and there had heen
enough to pay the interest on the bonds
then; now the values had been raised so per
cent and still the millage was kept at the
same rate. His motion to that effect was
defeated, as was also motion to reduce to
~ mills. II
The vote was then taken on the adontion
Of the ordinance as follows:
Maoa-o Andareo, !