Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-18
Mayor GOurley Will Send a Recon-
mendatiOn to Councils Asking
Them to Take Measures
FOE THE RELIEF OF SOUTHSIDERs.
His Honor Favors a ViadHct Across the
honOngaheia at South Twenty
Sixth Street.
A GRAVE QUESTION FOR CITY SoLONS.
Annual Reports of All the Departments to be Printed
in One Volume

The agitation for free bridges between the
Old City and the Southside, which has been
continued spasmodically ever since the an
nexation of our neighbors on the south side
of the Monongahela river, is at last to be
brought to a climax. Mayor Gourley, as
Chief Magistrate OF the city, will include in
his annual message to Councils, recon-
mendation that some definite action be
Immediately taken looking toward that end.
Ills Honor's ideas on the subject are yet
nebulous, except that he sees very plainly
his goal, which is to abolish a system
whereby thousands of citizens are forced to
pay tribute for the privilege of returning to
their homes after day spent in toiling for
the welfare of the community. He is CIV
ing considerable thought to the subject and
will doubtless evolve some plan which will
be practical and silence the clamor of the
Southsiders, who claim that they only
agreed to annexation upon the basis Of free
bridges.
BURDEN ON THE POOR.
Mayor Gourley, in speaking about free
bridges yesterday, said: Toll bridges with
IN the limits of municipality, like toll
roads, are an hindrance to the growth of a
community and an evidence of being away
behind the times. Many visitors to Pitts
burg are disagreeably impressed by being
compelled TO stand at the end of q bridge,
exposed to all the force of the elements
while they search through their pockets for
penny, or else have to break bill and load
themselves down with lot of small change.
- ;s H.
especially laboring men whose wages are
small, and to whom each cent is an import
ant factor in the struggle for existence.
These men, who work for 81 or 81 25 a day, |
and are compelled by stress of weather to |
lose considerable time, are forced to obtain /
cheap houses for their families Now, they |
can't find this in the heart of the citv; they |
must 90 out into the suburbs. The East |
End is being built up with costly residences,
and there are but few cheap houses in that |
neighborhood. This forces the poor man to
the Southside or Allegheny.
IMMEDIATE RELIEF SUGGESTED.
"Oi course, when 1 speak of Allegheny,
merely make the reference to convey nv
meaning more fully. We must make the
bridges free within our own city limits be-
fore we attempt anything further
How these bridges are to be made free is
a subject for long and serious consideration.
The vested interests in these bridges are ex-
tremely valuable, and the condemnation and
purchase of them would necess1tate the ex-
Denditure of an enormous amount OF money.
Perhaps this burden might be made easier !
by the creation of sinking fund, but have
mo- cot so TAR as that yet in considering the
subject. ,
10 afford a great and Immediate relief tn /
the Southsde, think free bridge should be
built across the Monongahea river to South
Wenty-sINth street. As it is now Southsider
who wants TO reach Hazlewood or the East
End has to come clear into the city and then
almost retrace their steps. believe there IS A
skin ferry that is sometimes used, but that
cannot accommodate the large amount of
travel which would take advantage of a bridge
located at that point. and il will undoubtedly
open up a large amount of territory in the |
mill workers.
The question of building bridges is. now.
ever, one for Councils to decide In conversing
with number of the members l have found |
them generally in favor of some such project |
which would relieve the residents of a larpe |
section OF our city from the petty annoyance 20
say nothing OF the expense of paying / or Q
cents every time they want to cross a bridge"
ARRANGING THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Mayor held conferences with Controller
Morrow and Chiefs Bigelow and Brown vestar.
day IN relation to the printing of annual re-
ports OF the various departments. Heretofore
1t has been the custom for each department to
have ITS own report printed and issued indie |
pendently of the others, but last week the |
Mayor sent communication to the chiefs sug-
gesting that it would be better and cheaper to
nave each department submit its annual report
70 hlm and then he would have the whole |
bound in one volume. Chief Elliot did nor
can 70 confer but the Others and the Controller
seemed TO ag-ee with the Mayors suggestion
and 1t will probably be followed in the reporfs
OF the city Tor the present fiscal year.
Another report Will be made at the end of ,
december. for the ten months of the fiscal wear
then passed, but this will be made simply for
the beneht OF the Committee on Finance
which will use It basis for the appronria ,
tons Tor 1881. Under the new charter ordi- ]
nance these renortS are first submitted to the
Mayor and by him sent to Councils These re- |
ports can not ne used as part of the annual
report OF the city. as they only cover ten
months OF the city year. but in submitting them
me Mayor VIII include message TO Councils. !
giving his views on municipal affairs with sug
n hp 10, !