Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-01
ANEW PARK PETITION.
LaWrenceville Citizens Nov
ing for a Breathing Spot.
SCHENLEY TOO DISTANT.
What Prominent Citizens Of That
District Say
MILLMEN AND CHILDREN'S WANTS
SCHENLEY TOO DISTANT.
MILLMEN AND CHILDREN'S WANTS

For several months past an agitation has
been in progress in Lawrenceville among
the prominent residents to educate the peo-
pie up to the needs of q park. The only
available ground which could be used for
such purposes is q plot belonging to
the Allegheny Arsenal, between Butler
street and Penn avenue, covering about 80
acres. Mr.. Samuel Patterson, postmaster Of
Station B., who has been the initial mover
of number Of schemes for the betterment
of the working class of the district, has
drawn up petition. The following is g
copy:
To the Senate and House of Representatives Of the
United States.
We, the undersigned citizens of the Law
ren sVille district. of the city Of Pittsburg
State of Pennsylvania, respectfully represent
that the United States Of America is possessed
of large piece of ground lying between Butler
street and Penn avenue. being part of the
ground of the Allegheny Arsenal, which is very
little used by the War Department, and which
owing to its vicinity to the homes of the work
men in our mills and shops. would make park
of priceless value to the families of all our peo-
pie.
Therefore, we do humbly petition the Con-
gress of the United States to grant Us the
of that portion Of the Arsenal grounds during
these peaceful times to the end that our people
may be elevated and improved by admission to
an accessible and healthy place Of recreation
and rest
This move on the part of Mr.. Patterson is
hailed with pleasure by the people of the
locality. No part of the city is more deserv-
ing of park than Lawreneeville Most of
the residents of the district are the sons of
toll. In the hot summer days the men work
in mills. and it can be truly said of them
that they learn their bread by the sweat Of
their brow" After these men finish their
days work it is too far for them to go to Al
iegheny or the Schenley Park. To open this
unused ground will be great boon to the
neighborhood. That it will be fully appre-
ciated and pstronized there can be no doubt
UNCLE SAM is RICH.
Now that benevolent lady, Mrs. Schen-
ley, donates large tract of land near Oak
land, it is not too much to expect that Uncle
Sam, who is much richer than Mrs. Schen-
ley, will acceed to the request of the Law
renceville petitioners. Congressman DalzeIl
has already asked for a donation of the
ground by bill, and when the true wants of
the people are set before Congress it is ex-
pected that the upper portion of the arsenal
will be thrown open.
Lawrenceville is peculiarly the home of
the industrious workmen 1t is built up of
small, but neat, houses. Every year ths
district is becoming more and more popular.
About a month ago The DISPATCH called
attention to the large increase in residential
property in that section. Within the dis
trict there have been above 600 houses built
during the past year, which means a large
accession to the population. With this fact
before the men who are fathering this
scheme, they think that park would not
only be luxury, but an absolute necessity.
It is proposed by the petitioners to make
the prospective park popular by introducing
music on summer evenings, and laying out
portions for games. The latter will be a
special feature. The young men of the dis
trict are practically without place to enjoy
outside sports. In the past years it was
usual sight to see congregations of youths
standing on the corners of the streets be-
moaning their fate because they had no
place to go to where they could participate
in innocent sport. All the disaffection of
the young men would be swept away BY
having such park as the Allegheny arsenal.
BOON FOR CHILDREN.
There are other considerations which
ought to go far to consummate the park pro-
ject Some open space ought to be pro-
vided where the children may 90 after
school has closed. Now the streets are gen.
orally packed in the evening by children.
If the arsenal was opened the children
could go to the park, and it would obviate
the noise and clatter which is so prevalent
on the streets
Mr.. Samuel Patterson, to whom all
praise is due for having started this scheme
said: 'Lawrenceville ought to have park,
and project is now on foot to obtain that
which the neIghborhood needs. This dis
trict is the home of the toiling masses. No
suburban district of Pittsburg is 80 badly
off for place of recreation as this district. |
When the mill men come home from their
work in the summer time they are generally
tired. Most of them work for ten hours in
mills before furnaces, or at the rolls, and
when they come home, after washing
and dressing, they are not disposed
to 60 three or four miles to a park. The
result is that they sit out on the door steps
in narrow streets, and in many cases they
are denied the free gift of breathing pure
air. Let us open this ground. II is lying
practically unused now. There is nothing
in the wind that we can hear that sounds
like war. The United States is at peace
with all foreign nations, and more than this
the bonds that tie the North and South to-
gether will never again be snapped. In
face of this fact think it but reasonable
demand to ask the Congress of the United
States to let us have the use of this ground
for our enjoyment and for the good health
of the neighborhood.
WILL MEN NEED IT.
"Men who toll in mills ali day, ought to
have a place where they can spend their
leisure hours. In this locality there is
only the arsenal grounds which can be
used for park purposes. It is near the
homes of the mill men, and if the Govern
ment grant our petition, these toilers will
hp hpffnr oh IN l.
after spending the night previous in green
fields and breathing pure air."
The petition will be industriously cireu-
lated, and Mr.. Patterson feels sure that |
every man In Lawrenceville will sign it. |
II long list OF names appeals strongly to |
doughty Congressman the bill Of Mr.. |
Dalzen appropriating the arsenal ground |
to the city will surely be passed.
DR.. Covert, a prominent physician of |
Lawrenceville, said: "The park project |
which is now on foot is a splendid idea for |
this part of the city. For years the people |
have longed for such a place, where the |
hard-worked men in our factories and mills |
can go after their labors are over to breathe |
pure air and rest their bodies
MONEY Is NEEDED.
''The probability is that the scheme will |
be enthusiastically favored bv the great mass |
of the community. To convert the grounds |
into park would require an expenditure of |
money to make it attractive. 1t lis question |
able, however, in my mind whether the peo- |
pie would regard it of sufficient benefit or |
importance to justify the additional taxa
tion necessary to make the improvements.
The grounds would have to be laid out in |
walks and drives; fountains, strawberries, |
flower beds and other concentrations would |
be required. There is spring in the grounds |
which would furnish water If a miniature |
lake was constructed.
''The appreciation and want of such park |
are shown by the thousands who flock there |
whenever the grounds are thrown open to |
the public. The Government has no special |
need Tor the ground. The lower portion is
sufficient for all Governmental purposes.
In the summer season music could be fur