Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-09
MONEY RUNNING LOW.
Allegheny Street Improvements Eat
ing Up an Appropriation.
GOOD ELECTRIC LIGHT WANTED.
Unsuccessful Attempt to Settle Schenley
Park Bridge Damages.
SOME SNAP SHOTS AT CITY MATTERS

The Allegheny Committee on Public
Works met last evening with w. NJ. Ken
nedy in the chair. A large amount of bust
ness was transacted The principal sub
jects discussed were the system of lighting
the city and the releasing of the stalls in
the market house, but nothing definite was
arrived at in either case.
The first business was to hear statement
by DR.. Langftt, one of the stockholders of
tbe Allegheny Heating Company, relative
to their building that is on the wharf
property. DIR. Langftt stated that they had
secured the ground rent for $50 per year
from the city, and had erected thereon a
building at cost of 81, 300. The lower part
ofthe building was used as a reducing sta
tion, and the upper part they had rented
out as cigar store at rental of $50 per
month. Lately someone has seen fit to ad-
vance their rent from $50 to $3.50 per year,
and he thought that was too much. The
matter was taken under advisement. The
pay rolls and bills were next approved.
AN APPROPRIATION NEARLY GONE.
Mr. Wertheimer called the attention of
the Chief of Public Works to the fact that
the appropriation for street improvements
was nearly run out, not more than $40, 900
remaining, and as Chairman of the Finance
Committee he served notice that there
would be no transfers from the sinking
fund or any other fund, and that the depart
ments would have to retrench and live on
their appropriations.
The contract for paving Myrtle avenue,
on which there was tie between Fred
Givinner and Thomas Carson vas awarded
to Mr.. Givinner and the contract for paving
Ehlers alley was awarded to Thomas Car
son. The resolution for a stone retaining
wall on California avenue was referred to
the city solicitor for an opinion and the
resolution for retaining wall on Perrys-
vile avenue was affirmatively returned to
Councils. An ordinance fixing the rates to
be charged by the city weighmaster was re-
turned to Councils with an affirmative recon-
mendation.
The ordinance doing away with the cleo
trio light towers and substituting mast arms
was next taken up.
A BETTER KIND OF LAMP WANTED.
Mr.. Knox suggested that the city was
using an inferior lamp, and proposed that
the tower at the corner of North avenue
and Federal street be manned with Thomp-
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ner of Lacock street have Brush lamps
placed on it, then it could be ascertained
which were the best.
Mr. Gerwig said the trouble was that the
city didn't know what it wanted The best
plan was to wait and find out what it did
want. The ordinance was accordingly laid
over.
A number of propositions to put in smoke
consumers were referred to a subcommittee.
The question of repainting the market
house was called up and number of bids
were presented. Mr. Lowe called atten-
tion to the fact that the general committee
had not authorized the advertising for bids,
and as this was found to be right it was
decided to return all bids and readvertise.
City Solicitor Elphinstone, who was pre-
sent, called the attention of the committee
to the fact that they had no authority to do
any such thing and that they were violating
the provision of the Wallace act. Before
any money could be spent out of the treas
ury, it was necessary to get an ordinance or
resolution through Councils authorizing
such an expenditure.
This matter causedconsiderable discussion,
the members having hard time to get at
an understanding of it, and after discussing
it at some length the committee adjourned.