Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-07
AFTER ONE MILLION.
An Allegheny Council Committee
Wants Fully That Amount
TO MAKE GOOD STREET PAVEMENTS
A Special Meeting Called to Devise Means
Of Raising Funds.
ORDINANCE FOR SPECIAL TAXATION

"We must stop first and devise means of
raising funds. Why refer ordinances for
paving streets, when the treasury is empty.
There is no other city in the United States
that has as poor streets as Allegheny. do
not believe it advisable to discriminate in
favor of Rebecca or any other street, until
first some way is found of raising funds.
And then let general crusade of street i'm
provements commence, taking the worst
first, and keeping at it until Allegheny has
better streets throughout.
"Mr. Chairman, I move that a special
meeting of the Street Committee be called to
devise means of raising funds. Then the
Finance Committee can meet with the Street
Committee and come to an understanding
before the new Councils are organized. I
believe we should raise fund each year, by
taxation, to improve the streets. An ordI-
nance to that effect should be passed by
Councils
STARTED THE BALL ROLLING.
The above quotation is from the lips of
Charles Hartman, at the Allegheny Street
Committee meeting last night. The words
are significant as the keynote Of very i'm
portant movement in Allegheny. Mr.. Hart
man but expressed the opinion of others of the
committee. and set the ball rolling. As re-
suit. special meeting, as suggested, was called
for November 20.
The appropriation necessary to meet the de-
mands will not fall below $500, 900, and some of
the committeeman think it will take sl.000O 900
20 fix Allegheny's streets. The members are
thoroughly enthused over the subject, and say
that they propose to have Allegbenys streets
in good condition just as soon as possible. The
improvements will be made on systematic
plan, the most important streets taken first,
and as much done at a time as the funds will
allow.
This sudden resolve to better Allegheny's
streets was brought about in an unexpected
manner, but it was by no means spasmodic.
The committeeman had been reading good
deal of the poor streets. The subject has been
talked over in Allegheny, with great interest,
for months. and though rather unexpected
just now, it was not strange that the commit
teemen should fall in with the move with such
ardor.
CAUGHT A QUORUM AT LAST.
The Street Committee held its first full meet
ing for a long time last night. At prior
meeting quorum was not present. Allegheny
politicians have been busy attending to water
works and lighting, and finally the election,
and the streets were forgotten. As result
when full meeting was obtained last night,
the table in front Of Chairman McAfee was
piled up with work.
The committee waded through some OF the
of a sleepy way, until the Federal street paving
ordinance came up and was finally passed.
Then the committeeman worked along again,
until the air in the room seemed dEowsy. q.
w. Neeb called up an ordinance to pave Re-
becca street. from Craig street to Western ave-
nue..
Chairman McAfee said: "Pardon me, but We
have do funds" 1t was at this juncture that
Mr.. Hartman arose and spoke as quoted.
Mr. Neeb wanted to get his ordinance through
before the storm came, and though the others
generally seconded MIR. Hartman's remarks
Mr.. Neeb kept pecking away insisting on the
ordinance, until at last it was allowed to pass.
Mr.. Knox wanted to INCLUDE all the streets.
MIR. McAfee said: Il believe that we must
first adopt plan and get funds. don't believe
in discriminating between the streets when all
are in such need of improvements. Rebecca
street needs paving, but SO does Ohio street,and
SO do many others. see the papers have taken
up this cry of poor streets, and think that it IS
about time Allegheny awakens to the sltua-
tion.Sy
DEMAND FOR BETTER STREETS.
"Yes, sir; funds are the first thing" said Mr..
Hartman. why, l have had no less than
hundred people come to me and say: Why
can't we have better streets? What's the use
of ordinances without funds? "
Committeeman Knox and number OF others
Joined in the advocacy of better streets and
meeting to devise means of raising funds. The
others did not object.
Before Committeeman Neeb could leave the
room he was button-holed and the matter
placed before him. Mr.. Neeb had got his
ordinance through the committee and, having
won, was not inclined to Kick about plans for
general struet-paving crusade.
1t is expected that the matter will be pretty
well talked about before the special committee
meeting. A plan of raising the money will by
that time have been formulated, and the first
installment necessary decided upon.