Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-03
A Street Railway Up Panther Hollow
and Through a Tunnel Will
Land Visitors Amid the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GIFT
Details Of the Most Wonderful Piece of
Engineering Ever Attempted
in PittSburg.
THRBE-CENT FARES ARE NOW ASSURED.
Gilt Rdged Prices Asked for the Squirrel Hill Electric
Road Franchises

A project is on foot, which it is expected
will soon be carried out to reach Schenlev
Park without running cars where they will
scare horses, or over any of the magnificent
drives of that great resting place for the
people. The plan is to land people in the
center of the park without disturbing any
BODY or anything. This work will be ac-
co.p..ished by a motor road up Panther
hollow to the bluff, then. bv a tunnel, to
some central point in the park, probably
near the present location of the menagcrie.
From there the passengers will step from
the car into an elevator, and, without the
least jar, be landed right among the trees
and green grasses of Schenley Park.
A number of Pittsburg capitalists are
pushing the scheme, Consultations have
been held, surveyors have been over the
route, and in few days charter is to be
asked for. As it is at present, the long,
tortuous climb over even the smooth roads
makes one tired before the beauties OF the
park are reached. Only the wealthy can
afford to drive, but by this means any one
can reach the park in half the time that the
finest blooded horses could get there. The
and the novelty of the underground ride,
and then the sudden rising to the surface
will make the scene more like Wonderland.
ALL ARE PICTURESQUE.
Bat that is not all. Each of the entrances
to Panther hollow has picturesque beauty
of its own. There are three routes under
consideration. One is to come down Bo-
I'LL
BY tunnel under the Junction railroad.
This route would bring the line right past
the bluff on which the Carnegie Library is
to be erected. Another way is to come up
Boundary street from Second avenue This
would also necessltate a tunnel under the
Junction railroad. The third is the most
magnificent of all. By it the hollow is to
be reached by bridge from Oakland ave-
nue. which will swing 100 feet above the
little run, and cross the junction road at an
elevation of about 80 feet. From
there, by an easy grade, it would
strike Panther hollow about 600 feet be-
yond. The bridge will be beauty in itself,
and the library and the handsome grounds
which surround it will spread out like a
panorama before the passengers. Looking
westward. the scene will be almost as grand.
Panther hollow is three-quarters of
mile in length. Its wonders are unnum-
bered. The wild scenery of rocks and leap
ing water will be undisturbed, as the road
will be built on t-estle work.
SOMETHING OF THE TUNNEL.
The tunnel will be less than !, 900 feet in
length, and will be nearly 20 feet wide at
the base. 1t will be perfectly water tight.
and arc lights will dispel the gloom through
out the whole length. A well 20 feet IN di-
ameter will be sunk at the end of the tun-
mel, and in that elevators are to be run to
carry the people to the surface, where
handsome station and waiting room will be
erected.
But that is not all. The real beauties of
Pantcer hollow can only now be seen at the
risk of ones neck. The new road will have
platforms erected at short distances along
the route, where people can get off and wan
der through the dark places OF the gorge,
and for their accommodation steps leading
UP to the brow of the bluff will be erected.
The cost of the road proper, by either the
BoCuet or Boundary street entrance, it is
calculated, will be about $50, 200. If the
bridge is erected from Oakland avenue the
cost will be increased S25, 900. The latter is
the shortest route, and undeniablv the most
picturesque. At present it is looked upon
as the most favorable one by the persons in
terested in the scheme.
Beyond this addition to its wonders, the
park is to be made :he greatest in America
Conservatories are to be built, fountains and
lakes Will be constructed, the geological gar
dens Will soon cease to be a Joke, and will
assume the proportions of a wonder.
A SCENE OF BEAUTY.
The place will be made one scene of
beauty, and with its fairylike underground
entrance it will be the greatest park in the
world.
There is also just now great activity on
the part of the Squirrel Hill Electric Street
Railway Company. An army of men is at
work on the grading. The bridges are
being constructed, and one span of the iron
work is almost completed Contractor Nc
kibben was out looking over the work him.
self yesterday. He thinks the road has
bright future. He said:
I'VE have our rights clear now. and the
road viii be built as fast as possible. The
Pittsburg Traction Company does not own
this road. At least at noon to-day it did
not. The road has rot been offered to that
corporation. but, OF course, it can be
bought. Already 100000 have been ex-
pended on it, and If / had the money,
would like to buy it in at twice that figure
Our line runs through one corner of Schen-
ley Park, and therefore the route has a
greater value. 1t would be impossible to
secure such franchise Is we hold now. Our
line runs right under the Carnegie Library
site, which adds another feature of value to
it. Yes. the road would be a bargain at
$50, ,000."
THREE-CENT FARES SOON.
In this connection it shonld be stated that
the prospect for Scent fares is brighter now
than ever before. The directors of the
Pittsburg Traction road met at the Wash
ingtOn street power house yesterday and
passed a resolution empowering Presi-
dent George W. Elkins to reduce
;he fare TO cents when he thought it was
necessary. Mr.. P. A. b. Widener left
TER under the impression last evening
S would be done as soon as the Du-
Traction begins operations. He took
the opportunity to deny that his
road would be sold out to the Du-
in the report that the Pittsburg Traction
was in a scheme to consolidate all the street
roads in the city. They had inspected the
road, and would leave for Chicago this
morning.
The names of those in the party appeared
in The DISPATCH of yesterday. Ex-Sec- |
retary Whitney was expected, but he is
III, and without him the faithful Dan La |
Iont would not put in appearance The |
gentlemen in the syndicate are thinking OF |
cutting the fares in Chicago to three cents,
VIII BuIId 200 Houses.
Al fbn second ga le of lots al Charlaro; x,as