Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-04
FIGURES DON'T TALLY.
W. a. Sipe's Preferred Poor Farm As
sesSed at Seven Thousand.
COURT RECORDS SPEAK OUT AGAIN.
Chief Elliot Demands an Investigation of
Recent Charges.
STILL INSISTS ON A LARGE ACREAGE
,URT RECORDS SPEAK OUT AGAIN.
STILL INSISTS ON A LARGE ACREAGE

The offer by Attorney William A. Sipe of
his farm at Brightwood station, on the Pitts
burg and Lake Erie Railway, eight miles
below the city, for $50, 900, as published,
was the subject of unlimited comment at the
Court House yesterday. This was stimu-
lated by the controversy Mr.. Sipe had with
the County Commissioners, and subsequent
" with Judge Ewing, in the matter of ap-
peals that he took two years ago. Some
people are inclined to think that Mr.. Sipe's
offer is intended as a travesty on some
others that have been made.
At the time of the appeal, Mr. Sipe was
assessed on 81 acres E,g75. On the appeal
the County Commissioners consented to a
reduction of $3.50 Mr. Sipe then appealed
to court and after hearing various testimony,
some of it going to show discrimination on
the part of the assessors, Judge Ewing re-
duced the valuation of the land TO S55, MAX
ing the assessment, minus buildings, 1886.
Mr.. Sipe's assessment for 1891 is, buildings
and ali, 81, ,015 on 81 q acres. AS above stated,
some people regard Mr.. Sipe's offer as
joke, for although his land does front
on the river, the latter would have ne COM
mercial value. The farm fronts on the back
river, which is dry most of the season, and
is not navigable at any time, but it must be
admitted that the vista from almost any
part of Mr.. Sipe's farm is charming beyond
the power of description.
ANeighbor Offers His for $4,000.
Joseph Wilson offers to sell the farm ad-
joining that of Mr.. Sipe, with the same
river frontage and ten acres more land for
$4,000, all oil and gas rights thrown in, and
saws he regards it as fair price for it. 1t
is the farm on which William Mole lives.
and Mr.. Wilson saws he regards it the equal
so far as fertility of soil and the gas and oil
production are concerned of Mr.. Sipe's, and
as to buildings they are of very little ac
count IN a purchase for poor farm.
Mr.. Sipe's offer Is helping along the good
work, as its discussion tends to confirm all
the statements made so far as TO the power
to purchase a dozen farms in the county
suitable for the purpose at s10o an acre, or
less. In justice to Mr. Sipe 1t should be
stated that he based his appeal on the
ground that the assessors had Disseminated
against him, and if all the surrounding cir
cumstances were related they might show |
the baleful effects that rural jealousy some |
times entails on q community. but all the |
same a farm assessed at SOB might be |
considered pretty well sold at $4,000.
Chief Elliot said yesterday that he was
not paving attention to the discussion of the |
Poor Farm question now. Il have per- |
formed the duty assigned me by Coun-
cils," said Chief Elliot, "and am now
waiting for Councils to act on nv work.
Mr. Alexander cannot withdraw his farm
until Councils say so.
Chief E!ior Out for Blood.
81 have refused to listen to outside chat
ter and / propose TO bring the people who
have made charges and insinuations to the
rock and make them prove everything they
have said. The Committee on Charities
will hear witnesses and must insist upon
their proving me guilty or innocent i
attempted to deal and they will say that in
each case told them that 1 insisted upon
dealing directly with them, and that 1
refused to hear or talk with any agent or
middlemen.
Regarding the size of the farm to be
purchased, / have been governed by the
practice of managers and authorities of other
institutions The commission appointed to
select a site for the incurabl. insane of the
State purchased at Reading about GOO acres
of land. Dixmont has about 500 acres.
The Allegheny County Poor Farm has
nearly 200. acres and has only about Is
patients. The poor farms in every county
In the State have from $50 to 200 acres of
ground and have always contended that it
is cruel to pen the unfortunates up without
giving them a breathing spot. We have
Schenley Park, the Northside people have
large parks and Vet there are people who
would say that the unfortunate, should be
crowded into small lot Just because they
are unfortunates. People should remember
that charity is intended TO be charitable"