Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-14
MANY NEW FEATURES.
A Natural Amphitheater for the
Fourth Of July Speeches.
PLANS FOR A PATRIOTIC PICNIC.
Chief BigelOw Has Plenty of Arrangements
to Make for the Affair.
TWO NEW IRON BRIDGES IN PROSPECT

| Almost everybody ABOUT City Hall is talk
ing or thinking about the big patriotic dem
7 onstration to take place in Schenley Parl
, on the Fourth of July. Nearly all have
something to suggest as an attractive feat
ure for the affair, and if those in charge
. pick out the best of these ideas and put
them into practice, there can be no question
about its success One thing is certain, and
that is that when the people of Pittsbure
begin to realize the necessity of befttingly
, commemorative: the greatesS event in mod
ern history, no ordinary adverse c1rcum
stances will prevent them carrying out Their
ideas. Money and time will not be stinted
this year in the makeup of the days enjoy
ments. If the weather only does its share
the great broad acres of the park will
scarcely hold the people.
| Schenley Park has already become very
popular resort, and with many additional
attractions on the Fourth will become the
center ofattraction for all Allegheny county.
The prospect of a romp over green, wooded
hills, and a peep at the monkeys and bears,
with music, sports, plenty to eat and a
breath of pure air cannot fail to bring out
hosts of young people. Very few of the
older folks will care to miss an old-fashioned
celebration, bringing up memories of half a
century back.
Chief Tigelow Now Arranging Details.
| Chief Bigelow's preparations for the great
national picnic will have much to do with
| its success. There are hundred things to
be done about the park within the next few
weeks but the Chief is laying his plans, and
his end of the affair will not result in dis
! appointment. One of the most important
| features this year will be change in the
| speakers stand from that of last season.
| without the time e-honored custom of read
| ing the Declaration of Independence and a
half dozen stirring, patriotic speeches the
] celebration could not be termed old-fash-
Toned, and extensive preparations will be
made for that feature of the programme,
Below Bigelow Hill the ground slopes gently
around on three Sides and the big flagstaff
| throws its shadow down over a natural
ampnltheater. Nature seems to have fash
Toned the hills for some great gathering of
people, and Chief Bigelow will probably take
advantage OF the opportunity. He has spent
good deal of time in the parks lately, and
has been impressed with the peculiar ad-
vantages of this spot for the oratoricai part
OF the celebration.
From platform erected at the open end
of this amphitheater its three sides will be
within easy speaking distance Around the
sides rows of plain board seats can be placed,
one tier above another to the top. There is
just enough fall along the hillsides to give a
perfect view of the speakers stand from any
point. Fourteen thousand people can be
comfortably seated there, and thousands
mo e can find standing room behind them.
Provided the weather is favorable, the place
will be an admirable one for the addresses.
1t is large enough to accommodate all the
people who attend, and when filled would
resemble the interior of some monster Cir
Gus tent. While this featurehas not been
definitely decided upon, Chief Bigelow looks
on 1T with great deal of favor, and in all
probability it will be adopted. Aside from
this, he has many other attractions to add to
the park.
The animals come in for share of consid-
Grafton. Their quarters just now are very
r-all
but before the Fourth of July the pets will
be located in new homes where they will
appear to better advantage.
The Mayor Will Introduce Baseball.
One of the most important features of the
big celebration will be the ball game. Mayor
Gourley is anxious to have two well-matched
local clubs play game in connection
with the other sports. A man well Yersed in
sporting matters will be put in charge
of the athletic contests, in which various
prizes will be awarded to the successful con-
testants by the management and by such
merchants as desire to give them. No selec-
ton has yet been made for q master of
sports, but it will be soon.
81 am confident" said Mayor Gourley YES |
terday, "that the people of Pittsburg will re-
spond freely to the call for subscriptions. |
once the start is made all our better class of |
business men will, am confident come up |
handsomely, and we will get enough money |
to do Justice to the great OCCASION
N coInect1on with other improvements at |
Sehenley Park, Chief Bigelow is getting a |
start on the bridge from Bellefield avenue, |
below Forbes street, to the park proper. 1t |
Will cross over Boundary and Joncaire !
streets, the Pittsburg Junction and Squirrel |
Hill! Railways, and is to be 600 feet long. The |
bridge will be almost entirely of iron. At |
the central point it will be over 100 feet from |
the ground. The money to build it will be |
taken out of the park appropriation, and it
viii cost about $250O0. Plans for this bridge |
and one over the Homewood branch of Neg
ley's run, on Larimer avenue, are on exhibit
tion at the City Engineers office, and bids
will be received in a short time.
The Larimrr avenue bridge is to be $50 feet
long and where it crosses the deepest part of
the ravine will be LIS feet high. 1t will rest
on eight piers of structural iron, four of
which will be at least 100 feet high. An ap-
preparation of $50, 900 has been made for this
bridge Its completion will open up q large
tract of valuable building property hereto
fore without means of convenient access.