Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-29
OUR MAIL POUCH.

New Manufacturing Sites Needed by Pitts.
burg-The Allegheny and the Ohio Vail
leys should Not be NegIecfed-How
sIackwater on Both WouId Benefit Busi.
| ness,
| 10 the Editor of The Dispatch:
Much of late has been said Of the great bust.
ness worth of the Mononganela Valley with
its miles of mills and factories, its wonderful
developments in coal and iron, and its various
other widespread interests but of region SO
full of enterprise and activity too much. in
deed, can hardly be said. But, while factory
upon factory Is making its way into
the already crowded section comprising
the valley from McKeesport down, it
certainly stands to reason that but few years
will be required to fill up all the available man
ufacturing ground for which there is now such
growing demand. Already considerable diff
ficulty is being experienced by manufacturers
| In securing sites for extensive plants, and de-
srable locations can be had only at high
| figure. There can scarcely be any doubt,
| then, but that soon but little prop
erty will be left within 16 or Is
miles of Pittsburg from which to supply
the fast increasing demand. AS these manu-
| featuring lands are rapidly being taken up
then there seems to be but one course to pur-
| sive business here, namely to go up higher, as
we already see them doing. But what does this
| mean to Pittsburg? Is it thus she is to let 20
| her grasp on what she has ever boasted Other
| measureess iron works? Are these new facto-
ries and furnaces and mills, instead of budding
| about her at least, if there be no room inside
distance of 30 or 40 miles? True. even at that
| distance their influence would be felt, but 1t
| seems to me that the extent Of Plttsburg's in
dustries should be measured only by her
ings for their accommodation, and that no en-
terprlse should be allowed to seek location
elsewhere SO long as 1t is within her power to
furnish room for 1t.
Can we provide room, and how? are the
questions now confronting us. Looking about
us we find that there is much unoccupied terri
tory in our neighborhood apparently equally as
well adapted to manufacturing purposes as are
the bottom lands of the Monongahela.
Going down the Ohio river, for instance. we
find in the first Is miles of it fats aggregating
not less than from 5000 to 1000 acres, one-half
of which lie almost waste while the other half
is used for farming and gardening. Passing
thence into the Allegheny similar view is met.
Either of these magnificent valleys offers fully
as good inducements In the way of natural re-
sources as does their neighbor, yet they are not
IN favor. Let us inquire then what makes the
Monongahela Valley preferable, and possibly
solution of the problem will present itself.
To this question l maintain there can only be
one answer; there can only be one main
cause to which her preference, and conse-
quently her prosperity. may be attributed.
namely, to her excellent slackwater navigation.
giving her interests permanent and reliable
shipping facilities. This is undoubtedly the
soul of the business worth of this great valley.
1t is true that railroads now thread her IN every
direction. and much of the production of the
region is handled by them; but it must be re-
membered that the impetus given the indus
tries originally was derived directly from the
excellence of the river facilities. and that the
other means of transportation followed only as
a natural sequence, adding, of course, their in
fuences also. And dare say that if to-day
you take away from this busy valley her slack
water, you will m0rtaliy wound more than one
half of her numerous enterprises.
Seeing then that slackwater navigation has
played such prominent part in building up
this section, why are we so slow to take ad-
vantage of the circumstances which at the
present offer us like facilities in the Ohio and
Allegheny valleys? Why shall we not employ
every effort in securing the benefits of the pub
lie improvements which are now laid at our
doors, aye, almost urged upon US through the
persistence of those interested in navigation.
When we stop to consider that the recon-
mendation of Colonel Merrill, that Congress
appropriate 100000 for the commencement of
two more locks and dams in the Ohio river in
the interests of navigation will open up thou
sands of acres of the finest of manufacturing
lands no farther distant from Pittsburg than
are hOuesleau OF DIaQuOCb. Or LudG Vi SlUU,-
900 for the construction of the Heirs Island
dam in the Allegheny river offering similar re-
suits, why is it that the business people of our
two cities and suburbs do not encourage the
project by giving it their heartiest indorse.
ment and urging our Representatives not to
stop with $780, 00O for each OF these grand works,
but to zee that at least 5000 be appropriated
to these improvements, which will be worth
millions to the business interests of our cities
as well as to the navigation which now is and
tn at may hereafter be established. Other COM
mn mir lya vic Nyha
we view with utter indifference, or at least do
not apply our energies to secure.
One more lock and dam in the Ohio river
would place within our reach the whole Of
Neville Island, tract of about l, 600 acres, or
as great an area as nearly the whole of the land
applied to manufacture in PIttsburgtproper,
and indeed much more desirable being almost
level, nearly all above the flood height of 1884,
and having not swamp on it. The first dam
in the Allegheny will give navigable water to
all mills and factories now existing on
as well as to open up all that vast
fiat extending from that point to Verona, now
largely unoccupied by profitable employment
1t will also let out some of the coal now entirely
dependent on railroads. These are some of the
with which we trifle as though
they were daily occurrences and our day of
grace never ended. Surely we ought to take
advantage of them now instead of waiting to
learn by experience the necessity of such acourse
when perhaps there may be great difficulty in
securing favorable hearing. There is time to
accomplish much even this season, provided |
prompt action he taken to secure the means.
ONE INTERESTED,
PITTsBURG, March 2s.