Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-04
ONE MORE CHAPTER.
Chief Elliot Will Make Another At
tempt to Purchase a Poor Farm.
HE WILL ADVERTISE IMMEDIATELY
Councils Will Consider Whether River
Frontage is Needed.
THE STATE BOARD MAY INTERFERE

The rain yesterday broke the ice under
which the Poor Farm troubles have been
sleeping Within the next ten days Chief
Elliott will advertise for a new site for the
Poor Farm, and it possibly may be adver-
tiseG for tomorrow.
With this action is expected stock OF
led lights and tableaux beside which the
Poor Farm troubles of the past will not be
a marker. Important changes are contem-
plated in the ordinance defining the requl-
sites of the site, and they are all changes to
which Chief Elliott will not submit.
In the various offices in the City Hall
Yesterday it was rumored that the Poor
Farm ordinance would be amended so that
the clause stipulating that the new farm
must have river frontage will be stricken
out. AS the ordinance now reads, the De-
partment of Charities can only advertise for
farms that front on one of the rivers. AL
though the rumor received general credence,
it could not be located. None of the Coun-
ciImea that could be seen would plead
guilty to having any such intentions, al
though they believed such change should
be made. Mayor Gsurley was intervi ewed
on the subject and said:
THINKS 1T A MISTAKE.
81 have not been apprised OF any such
intended legislation, although believe the
ordinance, as it at present reads, is a mis-
take. 1t is mandatory on Chief Elliot to
advertise only for farms which have a river
frontage. l don't see why a farm back from
the river would not answer all the purposes of
Ear located n
river We could buy such a farm much
cheaper and get better ground, because the
coal lands and fiat river fronts are in such de-
mand for manufacturing sites that the price is
raised too high for anyone to use 1t for farm
ing purposes.
II had hoped that Councils would see the er-
rorof the present ordinance and have 1t cor
rected. and although nothing has been done SO
far l believe such action may be taken. Time
is slipping around rapidly, and as we can only
hold the present buildings for three years, 1t is
time something was being done"
Chief Elliot however, has number OF ideas
of his own concerning the Poor Farm which
Will not ride smoothly with the City Hall in
tentions and yesterday he unburdened himself
as follows:
This department is run separate and distinct
from City Hall and have not heard any of the
rumors down there. L had no idea such
change was contemplated. No one has spoken
TO me concerning it. intend to go on and ad-
vertise for a site within The next ten days and
may possibly do it tomorrow. 1 wish TO con-
suit with number OF people hrSt,
MUST HAVE RIVER FRONT.
Councils will make great mistake if they
try 10 put the farm in inland locality. l
know something of how much water is required
and we must have a river frontage The city
has less to do in the matter than they imagine.
The great power over all public institutions is
the State Board of Charities. Even though the
State does not pay cent toward the maintenance
| of the Pittsburg Poor Farm, this department
could not build even an additional ward to the
| home without first having this board approve
of the plans. They are all fine, capable gentle
| men and are not meddlesome, but they have
their duties to look after, and even the doors of
| the Poor House must swing open when they
| want to inspect it and anything they don't like
| must be corrected.
1--WE can go on and select site, Councils may
| tie it up with certain restrictions and then if it
| does not meet the approval of the State Board
| of Charities new one will have to be selected.
| OF course do not know that they will give
| direction to the selection of site, but they
| will have to approve of the plans of the new
| building aud there is nothing to restrain them
from declaring what shall be the requisites of
! the farm site ITSELF