Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-30
THE CITY's PART.

The statement of Mrs. Schenley, as given
in the cable specials of THE DISPATCH
yesterday, that the Schenley property at the
Point will, at the expiration of the present
ground leases, be converted into warehouses
for wholesale business and manufacturing,
indicates the full adoption of the policy fore
shadowed by her sons expressions while
here, and urged by THE DISPATCH for
many years. The prospect of the improve
ment of this section in the near future is of
the utmost significance to the city. 1t
should produce the adoption of settled plans
on the part of the municipal government for
facilitating and stimulating the improve
ment.
In the section below Fifth and Ferry
streets there is an area fully half as large as
the present business section, which is at
present in a condition far from creditable to
the city. The purpose of Mrs. Schenley to
erect business blocks on that large portion
belonging to her estate will bring out its
fullest capabilities. 1t is not only equally
available for business purposes as the pres
ent business section, but with the proposed
improvement of the rivers, its facil-
titles for shipment will make it
the natural center for wholesale traffic.
The example of the Schenley estate
will 60 far toward inducing similar i'm
provements by other property owners; but
the city government has duties in connec-
tion with the same work of improvement
that, if properly discharged, have the
greatest effect in securing the full utiliza-
ton of that important but at present mis-
nsed section.
The first of these duties will appear very
plainly when we consider the character of
the streets throughout that section. They
are not only almost without exception
roughly paved, but were laid out at such an
early era in the city's development that the
needs of modern commerce for wide and
well-kept streets could not be foreseen. 1t
is an actual and demonstrated fact on some
of the streets of this character, which have
been partially devoted to wholesale trade,
that their further use in that way is made
impossible. and the rest of the property is
condemned in great measure to discreditable
uses, simply because the streets are too
marrow to accommodate any more traffic.
If this section is to be made as il should
be, the future wholesale quarter of the city,
the first thing tn be done is a general widen
ing OF the streets. The fact that the entire
section must be rebuilt makes it easy to do
this gradually and at a minimum of cost.
When it is done the widened streets with
modern pavements will practically double
the present accommodations of the city for
wholesale trade.
Another matter which the city should
1ooA 10 in advance is the provision of transit
and transfer facilities for the future bust
ness quarter, both for freight and psssen-
gers. With regard 10 the former, # is q
leading illustration of the absence Of mu-
uicipal policy that our one broad and ade-
uuate avenue, running like backbone
from the extreme lower end of the city clear
through the business quarter, is burdened
and spoiled by a railroad track. Railroad
facilities should reach the new section; but
st is not necessary to spoil the best street Of
the city to do it. An intelligent municipal
policy ought to succeed in emancipating
Liberty street from railway tracks and sub
stituJe for it 8 belt line passing around the
section by the river banks and affording
access for any railroad that wishes to send
its cars there. A similar consideration
should apply with regard to local transit.
Business streets must not be entirely taken
mp with cable and electric liuesj but belt
line might easily be established On one or