Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21
BROKE ITS PROMISE.
The Failure of the City to Keep Its
Pledge Will Spoil the
BEAUTY OF THE NEW POSTOFFICE.
Architect Malone Says Great Improve
ment is Retarded.
CHIEF BIGELOW BLAMES COUNCILS


Government building, made call at City
Hall yesterday on an important mission
He desired to see some members of the
Board of Awards in regard to the grading
of Fourth avenue by the city to conform
with the foundation of the building. The
board was to have held meeting yesterday,
but the members failed to get together and
Mr.. Malone was unsuccessful in finding
any of them.
During the afternoon a representative of
THE DISPATCH accompanied the Superin-
tendent to the building and had the situa-
tion explained.
Mr.. Malone said: 'When the Govern
ment decided to erect this building the city
agreed to make the grade of Fourth avenue,
from Smithfeld to Grant street. conform
with the grade of Third avenue between the
same limits. Though a number of years
have elapsed no move of any sort has yet
been made. That the work should be done
is manifest from many standpoints.
A NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT.
s'It certainly is one OF the important i'm
provements needed in the lower part of the
city. So far as the building is concerned it
will be greatly dlsfgured on that avenue for
all time. Relying on the promise OF the
city to keep its contract, the foundations of
the structure were laid in accordance with
the promised grade line. The proposed
grade to reduce the hump would cut the
street down about six feet at the highest
point, Cherry alley and Fourth avenue, and
would not be a very expensive work. On
the other hand it would be of immense ad-
vantage to the thoroughfare, and all the
property owners favor it, so that no objec-
tions would arise from this source. II it is
not done, however, as 1 stated, the building
will be disfgured permanently"
On examination it was found that the en-
tire front of the building on Fourth avenue,
with perhaps the exception of few feet on
the Smithfield street corner, is below the
present street grade from one to six feet, ac-
cording to the increase of the hump up the
thoroughiare. At the avenue entrance a
broad flight of eight steps have been laid.
1t the city does not make the grade, four of
these will
HAVE TC BE BURIED UP
in making the building yard level with the
street. A wall so feet long from Cherry
alley down will have to be built, and this
will leave the corner rooms one OF which is
to be used by the superintendent of mails,
about five feet below the surface. Another
well will have to be built along Cherry
alley between the avenues which will to an
extent obstruct that part of the building
considerably.
The urgent necessity of the case will be
seen when it is stated that the Government
is preparing contracts for the completion of
the work at once, which will leave it in con-
formity with the present grade unless the
city acts promptly. Should the cut be made
at any time after this is done, then the city
would be liable for damages to Uncle Sam
for removing the fences and pavements and
uudoing the work mentioned above, which
would be quite heavy.
Continuing his talk, Mr.. Malone said:
"The progress of Fourth avenue has been
retarded Tor years owing to this hump.
Below Smithfeld street number OF mag
nifcent buildings are now in course of,c
struction, and several have been completed
since the Government work began. Between
Smithtield and Grant streets not single
improvement has been made during that
time.
SHOULD KEEP ITS PROMISE,
''I fail to see why the city cannot carry
out that promise. 1 notice that whenever
auy street railroad companies require grad
ing done 1t is attended to promptly. am
not in a complaining mood, but this is a
matter that interests everyone who takes
pride in the new building, and it should re-
ceive attention"
Chief Bigelow, of the Department of Pub
lie Works, and also a member of the Board
of Awards, was seen last night. He said
that the board could not get Councils to act
in the matter, and he was about certain that
it would have to go over for another year.
He was aware of the fact that this would
knock the improvement out, as he knew the
Government intended to act at once. He ex-
pressed regrets and said it was shame to
mar the beauty and usefulness of such
splendid building, and he was sorry to see it
done.
II Mr.. Bigelow is light in his surmise the
promise of the city will come too late to
avert what Mr.. Malone considers a very Sc
rious mistake on the part of the municipal
ity.