Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-21
TAKING FRONT RANK.
Allegheny Will Increase Her In
debtedneSs half a Million
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE STREETS.
Belgian Block on Concrete Foundation to
be Used in Paving.
NEARLY ALL TO BE EXPENDED At ONCE

Allegheny City is to have improved
streets, but the city is to be bonded to the
extent of $500, 900 to make the improve
ments.
All the streets over which the Pittsburg,
Allegheny and Manchester Traction Com
pany will run its tracks are to be paved
with Belgian block, on a concrete basis. The
Committee on Streets and Sewers so recon-
mended last night. and instructed Con-
troller Brown to prepare an ordinance tor
the issue of $500, 900 worth of bonds for
street improvements. The bonds to run 20
years.
There was no fight over The matter; the
only question was the amount Of the bond
issue. 1t would very probably have been
for 81 ,000, 900 had it not been beyond the
power of the committee to increase the
bonded Indebtedness OF the city over per
cent of the assessed value of the taxable
property in the city. As the valuation OF
the city is only $50, 000, 900, the limit to the
bonded Indebtedness is S2,5O0,ooO. The
present bonded indebtedness Of the city is
81, 78S, 900, so the new issue could not ex-
ceed about 500, 900.
AN ESTIMATE AS TO THE COST.
When the meeting opened City Engineer
Ehiers presented his report on the cost OF
paving the streets traversed by the tracks OF
the Pittsburg, Allegheny and Manchester
Traction Company. The total number OF
square yards is 9S, ,S5S The estimate for paving
this was as follows: With Belgian block, on
the old gravel bed. S2s6, ,574; Belgian block. on
concrete bed. 1896. 432; Belgian block, on new
gravel bed 1886 III.
Chairman McAfee stated the object OF the
meeting. and Councilman Hartman at once
offered resolution for the $500 600 bond issue.
AS large number of citizens was present,
their views were asked, and William McCreery
made short address. He had been through
Buffalo and a number of other cities whel e
asphaltum pavements were used, and he
thought them the best in the world.
II have been quoted, +" said Mr.. McCreery, "as
| saying would not accept the best team and
carriage in Allegheny as present and have to
| drive it over these stree!s. Such an offer was
made to me and refused the horses although
not nit to put horse on. We are away behind
the age The issue of bonds ought to be for
Sl,00O,0O0. The bonds will find ready sale, and
if they are not paid off in this
generation the next can pay them. Our streets
must be fixed, and another thing to be removed
is that death trap. the Fl Wayne Railroad. am
not contractor. but would be willing to take
the contract for less than million dollars and
elevate the tracks above the streets and not
stop single train. We citizens will not only
appear before you, but we will also 60 before
the Finance Committee and plead for this bond
ISSUE More than this, the ladies of Western
avenue have petition for better streets, which
they will lay before that committee"
ONE OF THE CHANGES OF YEARS.
John s. Slagle followed with a "reminiscences
of the time he was in Council and they issued
500, 900 worth OF bonds to improve the COM
mons. The people were ready to hang the
Councilmen, but they would now be just as
ready to hang any man who tried to abolish the
parks. He believed it would be the same with
the bond issue for street improvements. John
Walker and Hay Walker then made addresses
in behalf of the bond ISSUE Mayor Wyman
then stated he was in favor of better streets.
but as the contracts are now let out to dozen
different contractors and there is no one to see
they do the work properly.
Mr.. Patton said more attention should be
| paid to the foundation of the streets, and the
| committee was almost unanimously in favor OF
having a concret bed for all streets.
| Mr.. Knox said: AT least 25 per cent of the
money now expended on streets is lost because
| contractors do not do the work properly We
/ should have street inspector VINO should
have no other duties than to see that all con-
tracts were fulfilled to the letter."
Mr.. Patton wanted to increase the bond
issue to 81, 900 600. but his amendment found an
! early death. and the original resolution was
passed unanimously.