Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-31
GROWTH Of THIC|TY
Demands Nearly a Half Million More
Dollars for Running Expenses
in 1891 Than liz 1891.
ESTIMATES OF CHEF BlGEL0W
Show That the Great Public Improvements
Needed Can't Be Made for Less
Than the amount Asked.
ESTIMATES OF CHEF BlGELOW
one FREE BRIDGE TO COST S1OO, 600.
Chief Ellie. Says Hs Csn Get Along Next Year With
an Increase Of IS, co.,

with SUNRISE. Chief Elliot modestly asks
for an increase OF s., 600 in his appropriation
for next wear. while the head of the Depart
luent Of Public Works thinks it necessary
that something less than half a million be
added to his appropriation. Last year his
appropriation was 81. .39S. 157 21. This year
he wants s., 742. .739 80.
The wonderful growth of the city, Chief
Bigelow saws, demands this increase. Last
wear million and n third was enough for
this end of the city government. but FOR
1891 4 million and three-qUarters will be re-
ouired. Nearly every bureau has TO be in
creased 10 keep pace with the advance OF the
city, The park entrance claims $4,000 OF
this amount. Another S75 900 is wanted for
a new water reservoir.
For fine bridge to the Southside, $780,
Oo0 Is the figure deemed necessary. Beside
this $50, coo is wanted ior two minor bridges.
Added To this the report shows hundred
places where the increase asked ior Will slip
away.
A Talk With Chief Bigelow.
MIR. BiceIow was asked TO what he at
tributed the increase in the demands of his
department, and he said:
81 don't believe there is much to say that
is not explained in nv report. The city is
growing rapidly and the expenses grow with
1t as 4 matter OF course. My department
feels the growth more than any other branch
OF the city government A the property OF
the city grows the expenses grow, too The
parks will cost money to put them in proper
condition, and there is large amount to
nav :or new ground. For instance We must
pav So, 600 in one payment for the Forbes
street entrance TO Schenley Park. Ii the
original plan 70 pay it in installments had
been followed we should not have felt the
purchase so much, but perhaps it's better to
pav it at one clip and be done with it. But
read the report and the letter to the Mayor
and you'll understand the situation per-
iectly."
The letter to the Mayor reads as follows:
PITTsBURG. Dec So
To the Hon. H. l. Gourley, Mayor City OF Pitts
burg:
DEAR SIR-Herewith please find scheduled
report OF the expenditures and receipts of the
DEPARTMENT of Public Works for the ten
months ending November 80. 1890. with ap-
rroxin,ate receipts for rhe months of Decem-
j v.
propriated for the several bureaus of the de-
1,a1tment. l am pleased to say will be sufficient
for the expenditures of the two remaining
months OF the hscal year
AnproSimating 5he amounts TO properly con-
duet the department for the incoming year,
have been compelled to increase the amounts
in the following bureaus: Engineering and
Surveys, City Property, Highways and Sewers,
Pubic Lighting Wafer Supply and DIstribu-
3D. -l-e
for the reasons given below:
In the Bureau of Engineering and Surveys
the work already proposed will nccessitate the
empioviug of an additional corps.
IN the Bureau of City Property the increase
is caused by the remodeling of the City Treas
urer's office, registry office. plumbing and
other repairing to Municipal Hall.
improvements in Streets and Sewers.
The LARGE number of streets improved and
miles of sewers constructed during the past
year, and the rapid growth of our city make it
necessary that the force be increased to keep
;lnace with the times. / had arranged TO pur-
chase machinery. horses, etc, out of the appro-
priatlon of 1890 buS on account of the storms
Of the mast Jyru weeks the expenditures of the
bureau have been so increased that they will
absorb tho greater part of the appropriation,
Con.puiliuC ne to add the aboye-uameu Items
in the approNlmated estimate for 1891.
In the matter o. public lighting nave pro-
vidtd for l69 arc lamps TO be placed on the
Southslde 50 ON Second avenue, II ON Butler
street and Stanton avenue. Il in the Oakland
district, - in Shadyslde and % i'll the East End.
In the Bureau Of Water Supply and DisJribu-
tion the increase Is caused by the item of nat
ural gas. In connection with this. l wish to
call vGur attention TO the fact that we pump at
least orC-half of the water used IN the city l20
feet higher than is necessary. To save this ex-
Deuse and to provide for the proper reservoir
capacity. I have placed the amount of S15.OOO
for 1hc purchase OF property for that purpose.
The Increase IN the office of the Board of
Viewers is on account OF the advance in the
salaries OF the clerks, which was ordered by
Councils.
In the item of parks, the purchase of prop
eriy and the law compelling us to pay the en-
tile purchase at one time, increases the amount
asked for over SlO9,OUO.
In the matter of repaving. the schedule
shows the cost of the several streets that in
nv Judgment should be repaved. Councils
have referred petitions for repaving many
streets that shall be compelled to leave over
for another year.
The subject of bridges is new one. have
placed the sum of Sl0O,O00 for bridge over the
Monongahea river, that amount seeming to
satisfy the demand of the citizens of that Sec
uion Of the city. have also added sec, ,OOO for
The bridge over Negley's run, $50 600 for one
over Forward avenue Twenty-third ward. be-
lievsng that the increased value of the property
VIII soon repay the city for the outlay.
Very reSpectfuliy. +. NJ. BIGELoW
Chief of department Public Works.
Summary of Expenses and Estimates.
Following Mr. Bigeiow's letter is 4 lengthy
summary of the expenditures of his depart
ment for the present year, and then the esti-
mated expenditures for 1891 are given, as
follows:
General Office Department of Public Works,
SlO50l Of this amount 5000 is the chiefs
salary. S5 100 the salaries of clerks, messen-
ger and lstenographer, and 500 for incidental
expenses.
bureau of Engineering and Surveys. S4OS6O.
The superintendent gets Se.400 of this: registrar,
s.. 500: assistant engineers 81, 800 each;
drauwhtSmen. 81, QUO: 3 transitmen. s. 100; rod
men. s.. lU0; chainmen Sl.SOO: axmen, 81, 500:
IjseEer inspectors. at S75 per month. Sl3, 800;
street inspectors S. 800: clerks, s.. 400 trans
porJation, $1,000: general expenses. $500.
Bureau OF City Property, S44, 2Z6. Office
salaries take 81. 800 OF this amount; market con-
stables, S3 geo; market sweepers, LOG go; mar
kCt cleaners $3.50; market carter, $500; repairs
70 Diamond markets, 500; market house SUP
plies, 81 600; Municipal Hall, SS,06j furniture
aud lnOleum for Council Chambers. $1,000; fur
niture for Registers office, $3.50: repairs
wafer assessments office, 500; desk for AS
sessurs office, 500; 20 water Closets plumbing,
etc. for four floors of Municipal Hall. $1,000;
counters. desks etc. for City Treasurers Office,
So 9UOU general repairs in City Hail, 81 500; sup
plies 81 3jG; observatory time. City Hall.
SdG5 o.; repairs to city scales. s33S 81; wharyes
and landings. 81. 600: Improvements TO Alle-
gheny wharf. 3 4C0
The Superntenden'is salary, 81, 400: assistants,
$780, clerk 81 200; 10 inspectors, So 0OO; labor,
repairing and cleaning streets and sewers Sl74-
COO: machinery, including D sweepers, 200
carts, lg sets harness. Sl2700; materials. in
cludiug lumber, hardware, gravel and sand,
stone. feed and blacksmithing, $4,000.
Bureau Of Assessments of Water Rents. So.
7ON OF this s. 400 goes TO the Superintendent;
clerks, 81 72G; Il depnties for April and May
fS2 OFF. incidental eXDenSes- Sts04