Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-15

wait on his hands, so he took stroll through
the side of the town toward the Mononga-
hels river. After leaving the network of
railroad around the airbrake works, the
solid slate filing of the low ground attracts
attention. What was almost q marsh year
ago is now leveled to railroad grade, making
yard room for the railway yard and that Of
the airbrake factory. On the Mononga-
hela side of the town is park, in which
grows 16 kinds of trees, on what looks like
re-historic-sacrifcial mound. In the CEN
ter of the park is an electric light tower,
which sheds its soft, silvery light over sew
eral squares as we'll. A couple of squares
east is the new station house OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, now
being erected. It is an elegant structure,
and will cost $20, 900. On the terrace above,
and to the right, is the clubhouse and
library, built by the airbrake company for
the benefit of its employees. 1t will cost
SAC, 600, and will be similar to the clubhouse
OF the Cambria Iron Company, at Johns
town. 1t has library and reading rooms.
dormitories and a natatorium, the sight of
which would ravish the heart of youth in
any latitude south of the Arctic circle.
When filled with water the depth will
satisfy an expert diver. The superintend-
ent's residence, a stately brick building, Is
near the clubhouse. On the same level is
building nearly finished which will be
vell-appointed hotel of 80 rooms. Not far
from the hotel is a plot of ground donated
by the East Pittsburg Improvement Com
pany, on which $25, 600 schoolhouse will
be built.
WHAT MAKES A CITY.
The basis of city is composed of sewers,
paved streets, water, fuel and light. Given
these sud completion is small matter, and
Wilmerding starts equipped with all these,
as well as hundreds of substantial houses
built during the first year of its existence.
The East Pittsburg Improvement Company's
water reservoir is on the high hill overlook
ing Port Perry. Water is taken from dam
No. 2, on the Monongahela river, and the
pressure in the pipes on the level of the air
brake works is 105 pounds. and IS pounds
on the highest terrace, giving ample protec-
ton from fire without the aid of engines.
The water works cost $3.50, 900. The streets,
as well as residences. are lighted by cleo
tricity. The town is but seven miles from
the Murraysville natural gas reservoir, and
in addition is Connected with the 16-inch nat
ural gas main leading to the Bellevernon
field.
AblO0 lIOm unsurpassed udturd1 bCcu-
cry, Wilmerding is connected with the two
great railway systems of the United States
the Pennsylvania Railway and its connec-
tions and the Baltimore and Ohio Railway
and connections, and il has the same freight
rates as this city. Ordinarily, these COM
bined advantages only come with age, and
are very expensive to make after cities
solidify. but here the inhabitants start fully
equipped Tor housekeeping on the most ap-
proved modern plan. The airbrake COM
pany, looking to its own benefit as well as to
the comfort of its employees, builds them
substantial houses not on the usual corpor-
ate plan. but each by itself. with spacious
yards and room for adornment according to
the varied tastes of the occupants and sells
them on terms and time that enable tenants
to pay for them at a slightly increased cost
OF rent. Added to this is the fact that
taxes will be light and borough taxes almost
nominal, as only revenue sufficient to keep
up repairs will be required.
LIFE MADE PLEASANT.
To many people Of aesthetic taste, residence
in a manufacturing town is almost unen-
durable, but notwithstanding the whir of
machinery and the hustle of a restless popu-
lation, reminding one of that met in a min
ing camp, there is an air of elegance about
Wilmerding not experienced elsewhere in
new places. This may be largely accounted
for by the fact that to be an approved work.
man at the airbrake factory q man must, to
a considerable degree, be educated,
or at least intelligent, which is
pretty much the same thing. It is not to be
expected that when 1000 or 5000 men are
hSddled in the space of few acres nothing
will ever occur, but it is safe to
saw that the moral tone of the town is un-
usually high, and as, under the regulations |
Of the controlling influences of the place, |
lbject squalor cannot gain foothold, as in |
me paper towns and shanty towns, usually |
The nucleus of manufacturing centers, that |
tone will be maintained.
In conversation with several householders |
who have gone to Wilmerding to better their |
condition, it was learned that they are
not anne1ationists. They say that they have |
almost all the advantages they could have |
from a residence in Pittsburg; taxes are |
light, and if variety be wanted other than |
supplied by hill and dale and purllng
brooks; from association with their neigh |
bors, Braddock and McKeesport, it is but a |
few minutes ride to Pittsburg, and COM |
munication is almost constant during hours |
" hen honest people are abroad.