Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-30

this large amount of money from which the city
is deriving no benefit cannot be invested at the
rate OF So per cent interest. why not invest It
at per cent and thus insure an annual income
of SO, OOO? Why not, If necessary, invest II at
"a per cent and by SO doing increase the
revenues of the several sinking funds OF the
city by the annually acquiring interest OF 80
600? Leaving out of the question the express
requirement of the law, and viewing the sub
ject simply in the light of q business PROPOSE
tion the conclusion must be reached that the
best interests of the city will be subserved by
the investment of this money, even at lower
rate of interest. Better have it produce some
thing than nothing,
The pressing necessity of a city hospital is
becoming more and more manifest as the city
grows and the years advance.
Almost daily some of the officials are visited
by the SICK or unfortunate, the old and de-
crep;t wasted or worn by the fnhrmitles OF
age. penaiess and in need of protection and
care. Some of these destitute people are
strangers who have reached the city on their
way East or West in search of friends with
whom they hope to find a home. Others are
men and women who work for meager wages.
and hence have been unable to accumulate
sufficient money to provide for their necessities
in the hour of sickness. MANY of them are not
proper subjects for the Poor Farm. and others.
Industrious when able to work, have horror
of such an institution.
Strong Arguments for City Hospital.
What such people need Is the temporary
cure and attention of a hospital. The various
hospitals of the city are exceptionally kind and
considerate, hut they cannot. and ought not, be
expected to receive, gratuitously, the sick and
destitute persons who should be provided for
at the expense OF the municipality.
l do not believe the. present an expedicnS
time to undertake the work of establishing
city hospital and yet 1 earnestly think some
thing should be done for the relief of persons
such as those to whom l refer.
Would it not be well, therefore, in the alb
sence of any better arrangement at the present
time, to make an appropriation of, say, SlO.0OO,
to be used under wise restrictions in providing
in the several hospitals of the city suitable re-
lief for the sick and destitute who may be
deemed worthy of such attention? make this
inquiry simply in the form of a suggestion.
which trust Councils may deem worthy OF con-
Sideration.
There is an almost universal demand, espe-
clally by the Southside, for free bridges. The
people more particularly interested in this mat
ter aggregate, at least approximately one-Jhird
OF our cty's population: in consequences of this
TACT, II for no o5her reason. the claims so earn.
eStly urged by them are entitled TO respectful
consideration. They naturally feel that the
structures spanning the Monongahela, and con-
Meeting different sections of the Same munic-
ipality, should be as free to the citizens as the
streets and highways of the city.
The Justice of their demands must be con-
ceded, but how to meet them even partially
without increasing to very appreciable ex-
tent the burden of taxation, is problem
worthy Of the highest consideration of Coun-
cilS.
An Appropriation for Free Bridges.
The purchase of these bridges, which have
been erected at large expense by private cor
porations even if possible, is not practicable at
the present time Such an undertaking would
involve q greater expenditure than the munich
pality will be prepared to assume until her
present debt shall have been more nearly ex-
tinguished. Perhaps all that can be done by
your honorable bodies at the present time is to
make reasonable appropriation to be held in
reserve and increased by future appropriations
until a sufficient sum shall accumulate with
which to build 4 bridge or purchase the right of
way. Of course, the time is coming when all
these bridges must and will be tree but this
cannot be expected in the immediate future
In this connection permit me to add
that there is pressing necessity for bridge
across the Monongahela, from the mouth
of Twenty-fourth or Twenty-fifth street.
Southside. The growth and business interests
of the city demand the means of communica-
tion at this point. Besides, such q structure
would make Scbeuley Park comparatively ac-
cessible TO large proportion of the Southside
people, The citizens of this part of our city
bear their proportion of the expenses attend
ing the improvement of the park, and if they
are to enjoy its advantages and benefits it
should be made as easy of access as possible.
This bridge, when built, should be built by the
city and made free to all the citizens.
leave this matter with you, entirely satisfied
that your action will be determined by what
you conceive to be for the best interests of all
concerned.
1 had hoped to be able to-day to transmit to
you the reports of the several departments of
the city government; but as all these reports
have not yet been received by me- this is i'm
possible. Whatever l have to say concerning
these documents and kindred subjects will be
said when present the reports to Councils.
Yours respectfully.
H. 1. GoURLEY, Mayor.