Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-04
THE ROAD PROBLEM.
For Scraping Mud in so Years the
State Has Spent $2OO,OOO,OOO.
COL. T. P. ROBERTS SUGGESTIONS.
The Chamber of Commerce Urges Faster
Work on the PoStOffice.
THE RESOLUTIONS SENT TO Mr.. WINDOW

The regular meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce was held yesterday. Colonel 7.
P. Roberts, who represented the organiza-
tion at the recent road convention in Harris
burg, made his report. The Colonel, after
referring to the opening of the convention
and expressing surprise at the number of
prominent Quaker City men who we're pres
ent, says:
The Philadelphia gentlemen appeared to
favor the taxation of corporate property now
exempt to assist, If need be, in the construc-
tion of better roads throughout the State. One
thing is certain, namely, that we can hope TOR
no improvement in our country roads SO long
as the unit in their control of construction and
management is the township. On this point
the convention agreed unanimously, but there
was difference of opinion as to how far the
State should go Independently OF county
action. The majority of the convention favored,
think, general law applicable TO all coun-
ties, vesting in the hands of the Commission ers
IN conjunction with an engineer, which last
named official be appointed by the court in
each Judicial or county district, the authority
to classify the roads, and to determine from
year to year upon which highways the proceeds
of general county tax might be expended,
and further empowered to supervise the work
and harmonic the system of improvement on
the less travelled road with view ultimately
of bringing all of the public roads into proper
condition. A State Board under this system
might be organized to adjust difficulties liable
to arise upon roads connecting county seats,
and to assist the poorer counties which have
such rocky roadbeds and finally to make taxa
ton uniform throughout the State.
THE MONEY SQUANDERED.
We have during the last so years squandered,
it is estimated in this State for scraplng up
mud from our roads upward of $500 200,
about 5000, 900 being now annually expended
for this same purpose. This system might be
pursued to the end of time with no good effect
in making permanent improvement. In Ale
gheny county we have 600 miles of roads, not
a single one of which is equal to the worst
mile of the National turnpike in Washington
county which was built 6S years ago. We
should have good roads intermediate between
the lines of the railroads entering this city
to the agricultural regions of Washington,
Beaver, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland
counties, but must pay fair share of the cost,
and must ask the Legislature to authorize the
counties to assist in their corporate capacity.
If Commissioners by law are authorized to
maintain and construct county bridges, and if
county aid be extended to the constant i'm
provement of bridges, why should it not be
given for roads also?
In re;erring to the labor of convicts on
the roads the speaker said the subject was
not considered to any extent at the conven-
ton; personally, he was not in favor of it,
and had been informed by an official at the
Western Penitentiary that there were not
enough conviets in the State to do the work,
and the cost of guarding them would result
in very little economy. In conclusion, the
speaker remarked on the importance OF i'm
mediate action on the road question, and
stated that it was not holiday work to re-
build the roads, but years OF time, labor and
fho mfr nf ho of
and the annual expenditure OF millions
would alone accomplish it. The report was
adopted, and Colonel Roberts thanked tor
his kindness in making one out.
RUSHING THE PosToFFICE.
Captain John F. bravo offered the follow
ing resolutions, which had received the in
dorsement OF the Special Committee of the
Chamber upon the Pittsburg Public build
ing:
Isasmuch as the various Government In
spectOrs who have recently examined the Gov
eminent building of PIttsburg have unani.
forward that by extra exertons on the part of
the United States Treasury Department. and
Supervising Architect Windrim, the building
can be completed, so far as the postal needs of
Pittsburg are concerned, by October l; there
fore be it
kesoved, That the Chamber of Commerce
hereby respectfully urges and requests the en-
ployment of a sufficient force to complete the
necessary portion within the specified time or
earlier, if possible and that the necessary steps
be taken for the earliest completion of the en-
tire building.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions
be forwarded to the Secretary of the Treasury
by the Superintendent of this Chamber for his
immediate consideration.
The resolutions were passed and Presi.
dent Kelly stated that consideration, he was
sure, would be given the resolutions. James
B. Scott gave brief review OF the success of
the committees efforts in securing the in
crease in the appropriation from $3.50, 900 to
81, 500, 600, and emphasized the needs of the
public at present. Colonel Roberts briefly
alluded to the fact that the committee Sc
cured the use of granite instead of any other
material used in the construction OF the
Government building.
WEAK stomach, ,Beecnam'sPills act like magic
PEARS Soap secures beautiful compl exon