Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13
A QUESTION OF RANK AND NAME.


Elsewhere in to-day's DISPATCH Mr..
George 7. Oliver tells how a compact and
homogeneous city Of 49, 900 inhabitants,
ranking seventh on the list of American
cities, could be made out of Pittsburg, AL
legheny and some of the suburbs. Mr.
Oliver speaks by the book. He has Just
finished an earnest and successful super
vision of the local census. He has the in
struction of official figures and the quality
Of Judgment which carries weight with the
community.
In expressing the desire for the proper
rank and prestige for Pittsburg, Mr.. Oliver
but states an intensely prevalent feeling.
Nearly everybody who is interested in
Pittsburg's prosperity, no matter where re-
siding, wishes this. Yet there are already
signs Of difference when we come to discuss
plans. 1t has already been made clear
that some of the Northsiders who are in
politics do not like consolidation. 1t is not
absolutely certain that all the Allegheny
and suburban property holders have got
over their suspicion that Pittsburg is rashly
extravagant, or their preference for the
small economies on their own side, which
result in low tax rate and slow and meagre
Improvements. There is even the added
factor that Pittsburg is not now so anxious
for Allegheny as it was in 1868. The pros
pect that Allegheny will bring an early ex-
pendiiure of millions for new water works
and badly wanted street improvements, is
not calculated to warm the courtship.
And yet Mr.. Oliver and the hundreds of
other prominent men of Pittsburg and Alle-
gheny who have expressed the same opinion
are rightin insisting that Pittsburg should
have its proper rank by population, as it
has by business, among American cities.
The question then is how to accomplish
this, disarm all opposition and produce con-
IT Of action in place of division, suspicion
and distrust
THE DISPATCH long ago set out the
,eeded plan. 1t will now revert to it.
What everybody comedies to be primarily
desirable is that the city in name and pop
ulation should rank rightly before the
country. This can be had and still leave
70 Pittsburg and Allegheny and to each Of
he boroughs its own separate government
bsolutely as each now stands. All re-
Iuired Is q simple act Of the Legislature
creating cities of fourth class-such TO be
created where two or more contiguous cities
and boroughs elect to assume a common
name, retaining, however, their separate
governmental functions and Offices strictly
under previously existing laws. This
would leave absolutely the matters of Offices,
politics, indebtedness, improvement and
taxation in every respect as they are now.
The combined city might have few nom-
inal, ornamental or honorary officers, with
Einecures and no salaries, if it choose, or
sort Of honorary council to confer on mat
ters Of common interest. Practically every-
thing might be the same. but the name end
rank OF the new corporate city. Pittsburg,
Allegheny and the boroughs would still be
severally each in its own class as it is now,
and governed only by the laws Of that class.
This arrangement is not theoretical merely.
The great city OF London is so governed.
OF course it may be argued that consoli-