Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-08

already authorized for such a purpose
Councilmen Robertson and Binder, and
Controller Morrow objected to the price for
the leases. They thought it too high,
THOUGHT THE PRICE Low.
Mr.. Holiday said that Mr. Schmitt had
at first wanted $4,000. He and Councilman
Heating thought the figures very low. The
resolution was approved. Controller Nor
row then said that he did not believe a reso-
luton of Councils was sufficient to author
ize the payment OF the 81, ,000
Ordinances were then read authorizing
Chief Bigelow to buy lot from John H.
McElrov and another lot from Florence C.
Miller both located on Emerson street, IN
the Twentieth ward. Each lot is "a by 100
feet The price to be paid MeElroy is
s.. 800. and that to be paid Miller So, $50.
Chief Bigelow said that the two lots ad-
Join the property on Emerson street owned
by the Department of Public Works and
used for the keeping OF wagons, tools and
lumber The new property was needed, he
said. There is a house on each lot, and
they would be removed. He thought the
city would obtain something from the mate
rial In those houses. He said the fact that
one house was better than the other ex-
planned the difference in the prices. The
ordinances were recommended.
HOW FLYERS ARE PASSED.
The titles of three other ordinances were
then read. The ordinances were in blank,
only the titles having been written. This
is what is called flyer" After the fyer
is indorsed the ordinance is written by the
Councils Clerk. Some of the careful officials
In City Hail do not approve of this manner
OF doing business but 1t is so done, never
theless. The three ordinances authorize
of IN hnr riorbf 4
joining lots of ground on the western line of
the Highland Reservoir Park, in the Nine
teenth ward.
For the most southerly of the three lots,
containing Is acres and 15S perches, H.
Sellers Mckee is to be paid S16,720, a rate
OF 81, ,046 per acre. For the center lot, con-
tanning 10 acres and 101 perches, the heirs
OF Jacob Weber are to be paid S11, 600,
rate of S1,O35 per acre. For the
northerly strip, containing 9 acres and 154
perches, Thomas w. McCune and R. A.
Balph are to be paid S11, ,495, rate of s, 154
per acre. The entire 3613 acres will cost
$S9,215.
CAN'T SEE IT'S NEEDED.
Councilman Robertson objected to this
purchase. He said that the land was not
needed, and that at the present time the
city could not afford to pay out such a sum
of money. There was a heavy deficiency in
the city's accounts, and he could not see any
excuse for the purchase. He asked: "Why
do you want to buy this land?''
Chief Bigelow replied: "It will square
out the city's property. 1t is wanted for
reservoir purposes. There is q leak from
the reservoir into the property of one of
these parties. For several years the city
has been paying 1920 year tor that leak.
We thought we had better buy the leak"
THAT is true" said the Controller. HE
comes in every year and just gets his money
For three successive years he sued and got
judgment, but now he just gets his money
as matter Of saving COSTS
LOOKED AT AS AN INVESTMENT.
"This land" Mr.. Bigelow said, sis verv
cheap. 1t is bought at the rate of 81 900 an
acre. Land adjoining it, which is not so
desirable, is held at from 81, 900 to s., 900 an
acre. These lots will be good investment.
The city can. at anv time, dispose of them
at good profit. The other day gentle
man who owned some land down on the
side of the hill, came to me and offered me
option on his property. He said be
would make sort of donation to the city,
and his price was s., 500 an acre.
Mr.. Heating approved the purchase, saw
ing that the city would lose great chance
if it did not take the land at the price
quoted.
But" asked Mr. Robertson, sis the land
needed? Why buy it at all?''
"Well, Chief Bigelow replied, SIT will
square out the city's property"
Mr.. Donahoe moved that the ordinances
be recommended for enactment, and the mo-
ton was carried. The committee then ad-
journed. After the adjournment Mr. Rob-
ertson said: "This is a great way to do bust
ness, blowing in money on all sorts of land
schemes, when we haven't got the money to
SPARE" Messrs. Robertson and Binder
feel that the East End ought not to have
any more park improvement until some
thing in that line is done for the Southside.
ANOTHER PARK IN VIEW.
Chief Bigelov says that he is now work
ing to secure park for Mt. Washington.
and hopes soon to succeed.
Chief Bigelow has secured the recon-
mendation of these purchases with the view
TO making a handsome park around and ad-
joining the Highland and Brilliant reser