Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
COVERS A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.
The Office Guarded, While Chief Clerk
0Stermaier WreStlcS With the
Typewriter.
FREE BRIDGES WILL BE RECOMMENDED
Suggestions to Aid the Finance Committee Figuring
on Appropriations.

sage TO Councils.
An air of deep mystery has hung like
pail over the elegant suite OF rooms occupied
BIZ His Honor, and every suspicious-looking
stranger was greeted by hasty rustling of
papers and a slamming of desks.
The Mayor, like a good general, has kept
his forces posted to prevent surprise.
Messenger Gale guarded the outer door and
discussed the next Moyoralty contest in low
whispers. In an inner room sat Assistant
Mayors Clerk Finn, with one eye watching
the Sparrows on the roof, and the other de-
youtly fixed upon the door of the Mayors
private office.
from the municipal shrine issued strange
noises. Chief Clerk Ostermaier's painful
struggles with the new typewriter, as he
tried TO play the Mayors message on the
machine TO the air of Annie Rooney"
were plainly and uncomfortably audible.
Ever and anon he would dash out of the
room and hustle Messenger Gale after
fresh supply of machine oil. As he would
slowly re-enter the abode of mystery and
carefully bar the door, the spasmodic work
Iags OF his countenance revealed the diff
Guilty he was having 10 reconcile Noah
Webster with the wayward typewriter.
Composing the Mayors Annual Message.
The Mayor has hardly been visible for a
week past. He had but little patience to
spare for people who wanted to take up his
time, and the audiences he granted were ex-
ceedlngly brief. An occasional glimpse of
him might be seen as he sat 1T his desk, the
lines of thought on his forehead giving it
the appearance of a railroad map, taking
copious draughts of inspiration from such
Of the city reports as has been turned in to
him, and making voluminous notes on big
sheets of paper. The work was hard, and
presumably heating, as on one occasion, at
least, His Honor was forced to open the
windows and let the cool, pure air rush in.
The work is done, and tomorrow Coun-
cils Will be regaled with a digest of the
Mayors opinions on municipal matters.
The first typewritten draft was finished Fri |
dav evening, and after being again cor
rected and amended was turned over to MIR.
Ostermaier, that he might make fair copy,
wIde-spaced TO give the hypercritical a
chance to read between the lines. 1t is
great document, weighing, at a rough guess,
shout two pounds. Tomorrow afte rnoon
Mr. OStermaier will bear the missIve into the
legislative halls, and after the announce
ment, "The Mayors Clerk with a message to
Councils from HIS Honor" the document
will be given to the world.
Covers Wide Range of Subjects.
While the Mayor declines to allow the
contents OF his message to become public
before it is received by Councils, yet it is
irtimated that it will cover wide range of
subjects, including free Southside bridges,
a city hospital, parks. and last, but not least,
retrenchment and reform. A number of
suggestions will be made as to the best
method of preparing the appropriation ordi-
nance for next year.
The MAYORS message will not be the only
important matter before Councils to-mor-
row. The SOuthsiderS will have chance to
talk about free bridges, the location of
the Carnegie Library is expected to raise a
breeze, and the new ordinance for the pur-
chase of a Poor Farm site will be taken up.
Little or no discussion is expected on the
latter, as it is merely an amended copy of a
similar ordinance which expired on the
failure of Councils to agree upon any one of
the sites offered last summer.
The free bridge question will come up to-
morrow upon the reafhrmation OF the ord-
nance presented at the last meeting of
Councils and returned TO the special COM
mlttee.
\ meeting Of this committee was held yes
terdav. City Attorney Moreland was present,
and stated that in accordance with resolu-
ton passed by Councils at the last meeting,
ne had proposed two acts, both of them gen.
eral in their character. One was an act au-
tuorizing boroughs and cities to purchase
and condemn bridges and the other was an
act authorizing borouehs and cities to build
bridges over nayIgable rivers. These papers
would De presented to Councils at their next
meeting.
The City Can Build Bridges.
Major Moreland stated that under the act
OF 1873 the city had undoub btedly the right
to build bridge, and the money appropri-
ated Tor that purpose could not in any way
20 to the sinking fund.
A. c. Robertson said: 'There should be
no obstacles thrown in the way of free
bridges. Now is the time to push the mat
Ter, as the people are in sympathy with the
movement. The idea is not to purchase
bridge. but to build one. l have been told
by gentleman who is thoroughly informed
on the subject that bridge suitable for all
purposes can he built for $3.50 900. Ny idea
is 10 get an appropriation of $50 600 as
nucleus for 4 bridge The bridge should be
DUltI IL SuCu i place ludi III WOulu Jure the
traffic of the other bridges. If we under
take TO purchase bridge now the stock
holders will boom its stock to an outrageous
figure.
Reducing Values of Toll Bridges.
'The idea is TO build bridge, take away
the traffic from the other bridges and the
result will be that the value OF the stock of
other bridges will come down. l think the
bridge should be built from Grant street to
South First street. as that will affect both
the Smithfeld aud Tenth street bridges
The object is to get one bridge built and in
less tnan five wears all the bridges will be
free"
1t was decided to once more return to
Councils with an affirmative recommendation
the papers providing for the city acting
under the special law of 1873. If Councils
agree 20 this b. I. Jones will be asked to
fiji up the LIST of appraisers.
Another matter OF interest to Southsiders
will probably be brought up by Councilman
Finn, Of the Twenty-eighth ward. He
wants to know why it is that only Carson
street, on the Southside, is illuminated by
electricity, wneH, rs he understands il, the
contract ior electric lighting covered the
whole city.
dinanccs, passed at the last meeting of
Select Council, will be brought up in CON-
mon Council for final passage.
Almost Wrecked a Fire Engine.
last evening in answering an alarm of fire
from box 19. They were coming down Din
widdie street, and were turning on to Fifth