Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-23
Improvements in Schenley Park
Cause Many East End People to
Purchase Equipages.
ITS PRETTY ROADS HAVE ACHARM.
Chief Bigelow Will Have the Bridge
Finished in Time for the
Fourth of July.
SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGINNING TO COME.
Hill Residents to Have Pretty Park at the Bedford
Avenue Basin.

Dealers in harness, light vehicles and
horsefesh are doing lively business just
now. The opening of Schenley Park and
the prospect of several miles of smooth,
macadamized roads are largely responsible
| for this. During the past few months hun
! dreds of orders have been placed for drags,
dogcarts, light buggies and phetons. All
| through the eastern residence portion of the
city families who can afford it are being
supplied with equipages of various sorts
| The demand has not come all at once, but
has increased steadily ever since the plans
for Schenley Park were made known. Chief
| Bigelow has received numerous evidences
of this fact In speaking of it yesterday he
said:
''Our work in the park has had one result
at least. That is to increase the desire of
! people to go driving. 1 have talked with
numerous dealers in harness and trarpings,
and they all agree that since the park pro-
ject was begun business for them has been
going up steadily. One dealer know of
has doubled his trade. After the roads
through the park have been completed and
the people see what an opportunity they
/
greater demand for vehicles
One of the City's Needs.
'Pittsburg is sadly in need of such place
as Schenley Park will be, where people can
go and enjoy the cool air in the evening,
driving on shady roads away from the heat
and noise Of the city. The people are quick
to recognize and take advantage of such an
opportunity, as has already been demon
strated by the increase in carriage sales.
When the rapid transit movement came
over Pittsburg and broad East End avenues
were cob-webbed with railway tracks, many
people complained and decided to dispose of
their carriages. About that time the park
loomed up as resort for those who love to
skim along smooth roadbeds behind good
steeds, and the situation changed. Instead
Of decrease in the number of family teams
they began TO increase rapidly.
With whole summer before him, Chief
Bigelow expects to make some extensive
Improvements in the park. Every effort is
being put forth just now to have as much as
possible done before the Fourth of July.
One of the principal things to be looked
after is the bridge from Bellefeld avenue
to the park. To complete a structure OF
this kind, 600 feet long and 100 feet high IL
less than six weeks time might be consid-
cred an impossible piece of engineering,
but Chief Bigelow says it will be done.
The Bridge to Be Ready in Time.
'The bridge will be completed by July
unless something extraordinary turns up to
prevent it." said the chief yesterday The
bridge is to be built of wood and iron. No
work has been done on it yet, but the lum-
Der has been ordered from North Carolina,
and the structural iron will be on hand very
shortly. Schultz & Co., of New York, who
cot the contract, are pledged to have the
bridge finished on lime.
People who expect to attend the great
Fonrih of July celebration in the park
and everybody does-will be delighted to
hear of this. Bv means of the bridge the
way iGIo The park! will be made much
Shorter and almost mile of steep hill
climbing viii ba done away with. The
patriotic spirits Of hose who attended last
veir's demonstration were considerably
.iampened by the difficulties at the entrance
"a ;he park, and many failed to attend on
Ji'4t account. This year the park will be
e2sr Of access to pedestrians as well as those
ia carriages.
IN. Bigolow is making great strides in
0t her park improvements The new stone
crusher is grinding out broken stone at re-
marka@ly rapid rate, and it Is being trans
ferred 10 the park roaGs as fast as possible
Mr.. Bigelow says the main driveway, from
Forbes street on the west, to lis junction with
Forbes street on the east side Of the park,
Will be all, or nearly all, cnacadanlized bv
the Fourth of JRlv. The length of this
main road IS about mile and "A half, and
when completed will make a magnificent
driveway. This is oniv Unr Of the Numerous
improvements promised by Mr.. Bigelow to
make the park more attractive on the
Fourth.
Contributions for the Fourth Come In.
Contributions to the Fourth of July fund
began to come in yesterday more RAPIDLY
than before, and Mayor Gourley expects to
have a large amount on hand by next Mon
dav VeStprday's returnS uara aS foIlo,uS.