Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-18
COUNTING THE COST.
The Proposed Diamond Street Widen.
ing Not so Expensive.
QUITE CHEAP FOR THE CITY.
Figures Of the Board of Viewers on Damages
and Assessments.
LEASEHOLDERS LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

Those interested in the opening Of Dia.
mond street were given peep at what may
be the figures upon benefits and damages
assessed upon property holders. 1t is we'll
known that reports of this character cannot
be relied upon as to exact figures until
signed BY the Board of Viewers and sub.
mitted to Councils. So the work of yester-
day was simply foretaste OF good things in
store for the lucky side of the proposed
street and unpleasant doses for the other
people. There was lively howl from some
quarters and threats of legal recourse are by
nc means slow in coming to the front
The greatest interest as we'll as the 1--we
Gest prospects for fight are concentrated
In the block lying between Wood and
Smithfeld streets. On the Fourth avenue
side there are at least two property holders
who will resent payment of benefits from the
opening of the street. Judge NJ. w. Ache
son owns the property fronting upon Smith
field street In his celebrated tilt OF some
weeks since with T. O'Leary, Jr., Judge
Acheson expressed determination TO take
legal measures 10 avoid assessment, because
his property fronts solely upon SmlthheId
street. The same action is looked for from
the Citizens National Bank, whose prop
erty fronts on Wood street.
TOO MAD TO TALK.
Those who are affected by the taking
away of % feet depth, and who are assessed
benefits covering or exceeding claims for
damages for loss of property, are so mad that
no opinions are voucnsafed. The Grand
Opera House Company, which is allowed
damages OF SIS, ,275 and charged benefits of
S46. Col, it thus costing them 81, 1856 and 20
Ieet depth of their property to be given the
privilege of tearing down the Opera House,
are somewhat in quandary.
The people who receive benefits along Dia-
mond alley, between Wood and Smithfeld
streets, profess mild elation at receiving five
feet additional depth to their holdings.
But the general feeling is that until the
award Of the Board of Viewers gets into
Council it is wiser to say little.
Mr.. o Leary read the list off at the meet
ing yesterday, to a deeply interested
audience. The kickers were by no means
backward in speaking up. Some curt inter-
changes of opinion were banded between
members of the board and other parties. A
representative of the Lynch estate charged
that some mysterious syndicate on the
lucky side of the street was being taken
care of bv the Board, and some hot re-
joinders whiled away several minutes.
MAKES HIM DIZZY.
Mr.. George Marshall said that the figures
made him dizzy: "We have to paw the city
Sc 900 for tearing down our building and
moving away" W. j. Sawyers said he
would certainly appeal.
The holders of leases were all left upon
the chilly outside in the figures submitted
yesterday. The butchers in the vicinity of
the market who put in claims of from
S., 600 to 1000 were ditched completely.
j. r. Weldin & Co. were gi.en no atten-
tion, despite their claims of nearly $50, 900
damages. Manager E. d. Wilt, of the
Grand Opera House, who put in claim of
S187, 900. was the subject of special state
ment by the board, the claim being advanced
that while Mr.. Wilt might claim his an
nual profits for the four years his lease has |
to run, he could net claim anything else |
than such q figure as some other manager |
would offer for the lease.
Mr.. Wilt was subjected to inquiry, but |
declined to say anything but that he had |
two attorneys who were under contract to |
talk for him when the proper time arrived. |
As J. r. Weldin & Co. have had Major |
A. NJ. Brown and John Hampton, ESQ.,, re-
tained for six months in their interest, legal |
proceedings against the opening OF the /
street may be counted upon with certainty. |
Mutterings in angry key were heard in
many quarters, but few of those seen were
willing to talk without further considera-
ton of the subject.
RUMoRs, BUT NO BAcKERs.
The charge was boldly made last night,
BY gentleman directly interested, that an
arrangement was already in
full blast by which especially virulent
kickers would be placated in generous
with a view of preventing such
as a test case of the legality of
the entire condemnation. Other charges of
an equally sensational nature were flying
from mouth to mouth, but the remarkable
of anybody to assume re-
sponsibility of the circulation of the ru-
nors was quite as remarkable as the context
Of the stories.
The list, when finally amended, will be
submitted to Councils in connection with
he ordinance. The list of damages and
benefits assessed, read yesterday, is as fol-
cws: