Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-05
THE POOR FARM SOLD.
Stewards Property, at Parnassus,
Chosen as the New Location.
PROMPT ACTION BY COUNCILS.
Mayor Gourley States His Objections to the
Purchase.
A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR TIE CITY

new location purchased. The Department
of Awards, consisting of Chiefs Brown
Bigelow and Elliot and Mayor Gourley,
yesterday accepted the bid of s432, 900 made
by Black & Baird for the Homestead prop.
erty, and, with the exception of the Mayor,
voted for the purchase of the Stewart farm
at Parnassus for S1S6,00 This action was
afterward ratified BY Councils.
The Poor Farm matter came MP first in
Select Council on the question of approving
the report of the Department of Awards.
Mr.. Heating made motion to approve the
report recommending the sale of the old
Poor Farm, and Mr.. Robertson presented q
few figures, similar to those published in
THE DISPATCH several days ago, showing
that Black & Baird would not realize an
unreasonable profit if they cut up the prop
erty into building lots.
WANTED MORE MONEY.
DR.. Evans said the farm was being sold
too cheaply. He thought reserve price Of
$500, 900 ought to have been set upon the
property, and if the terms Of the sale had
been more favorable it might have brought
$500, 900 or 100000. Some further discus
sion ensued, but when the roll was called
the sale was approved by a vote Of 81 to 1,
DR.. Evans voting in the negative.
Common Council then took action on the
Poor Farm sale. Mr.. Bighsm said he had
had some experience in real estate. and he
thought the bid was fair one. To this Mr..
O'Donnell took exceptions. He had been
told that the property was worth more, and
he thought it ought to bring in the neighbor-
hood of 81, 900, 900. He was proceeding to
talk about the purchase of the Stewart tarm,
when he was called to order by Chairman
W. A. Magee, who was acting in the abb
sence of Mr.. Holiday, as the subject was
not under discussion.
Mr.. Ferguson said the capitalists of this
city had ten DAYS to make up their minds
as to the worth of the City Farm, and there
was no use crying over split milk. The
bids were bona fde, and unless the Carne-
gies took part of the land and increased the
capacity of their works the bidders would
not get out even. He was in favor of the
sale, but he would oppose the purchase of
the Stewart farm.
VERY FAIR PRICE.
Mr.. Finn said that the action of Councils
in retaining possession until the new farm
was ready had prevented the bids from
being as high as they would have otherwise
been. Under this reserve clause he thought
the price very fair.
Mr.. Bigham said the school board Of
Homestead had squatted on two lots on
Eighth avenue, opposite the Poor Farm.
He lad been retained in the case and had
taken evidence in over 100 cases of the
value of property in Homestead. He had
found that in the business portions the rate
was $50 per foot front, and for residence
property from $40 to SIS per foot front. TAX
ing the City Farm and laying it out on the
plan of Homestead the average price was
a little over S11 foot. He held this to be a
fair price, as much of the land which lays
above the township road would not bring So
q foot
The vote was then taken and the sale was
approved by vote of 80 ayes to no. Mr..
O'Donnell cast the one negative vote.
The section of the report recommending
the purchase of the Stewart property, near
Parnassus, for $1S6, 600, was then taken up,
and Mr.. Heating moved that it be approved.
Mr.. Warmcastle opposed the motion.
This was different from the sale of the old
farm. He had voted for the latter because
he thought the city was getting enough for
the property but he would vote against the
purchase of the Stewart farm because the
city was asked to pay too much. He
thought 500 too high figure for land SO
tar away from the city, and as several farms
had come to the front since the bids had
been closed that could be purchased for
much less money, he believed that the
PROPOSALS SHOULD BE REoPENED
and see it the city could not do better.
Even if farm was not as eligible or as well
located, if it could be bought for half the
money it could be made to answer the pur-
pose just as well. Mr.. Warmcastle was
afraid that if $1S6, 900 was paid for farm
The cost of the buildings would require tax
upon the people to complete them. He
thought the matter had not been sufficiently
advertised as many owners of farms had
never seen the notice in the newspapers.
Mr.. Heating. thought that if the Stewart
arm was so well suited and was so valu-
lble land it would be to the city's interest |
% buy it because in 80 or 40 years 1t would |
lave to be sold again and if good property
would bring good price. He asked Chief |
Elliot to make statement on the subject.
Mr.. Elliot, who was present, said he |
would be happy to answer any question |
Isked him about the tarm. He related the |
7isit of the committee to the various farms. |
arm to all the others. He said the COM
,arison OF gold to old metal would be ap-
,licable to the Stewart farm compared to the |
others. He referred to its elegant location,
rood orchard, splendid soil in high state OF |
the coal underlying it and the
Of natural gas, the farm lying,
lie said, on the belt between the Murrays-
lille and Butler fields.
Mr.. Robertson-Win the money for the
Id farm buy the Stewart farm and COM
,lete the new buildings in first-class shape?
Mr.. Elliott asked several contractors
nd they said the kind OF buildings we want
ould be built for from S175, 900 to 500, 900.
dr. George Rice, of this city, built the
ycrristown Insane Asylum, the largest and
NEST institution of the kind in the State,
or $3.50, 900. It has room for ], 800 inmates.
lie says we can build q frst-class ireproof
'uilding large enough for 200 inmates for
200, ,000 We have only 460 inmates now"
INDoRsED CHIEF ELLIOT.
Chief Brown was next called upon. He
7as very brief, indorsing all that Chief
elliot had said. and adding that In his
pinion the best site for such a building in
Western Pennsylvania was the Ross estate,
bove Sharpsburg. Next to it was the
stewart farm. From o monetary point of
Jew he thought the city could not make
etter investment than to buy the Stewart
arm.
Mayor Gourley agreed in the main with
he gentlemen who had spoken, except that
700 was too high price for the city to pay
Or Poor Farm, giving the same reasons he
ad given through the press during the past
TeeE In answer to Mr., Lambie's question
% said he thought the land worth 500, and
ompared with other farms visited much
nore. But no farm was, he said, worth
700 for farming purposes.
In answer to Mr.. Warmcastle's question
be Mayor said he knew of half a dozen