Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-15
That the A. w. Alexander and Caleb
Lee Farms Had Ever Been OF.
fered for $500 an Acre.
NEVER SAW THAT ORDER OF COURT
The Charities Chief Explains the Necessity
of o Poor Farm Of Very
Large Acreage.
MAYOR GoURLEY HOLDS HIS OLD VIEWS.
One Hundred Dollars Is the Average Frice Of Fsrm
Lands in This County.

fhe purchase of the Alexander and the
Caleb Lee farms at Hutton for Poor Farm
purposes is exciting general comment, and
in connection herewith it has been ipti-
mated that there is big money in it for
somebody if the transaction is carried
through. No direct charges have been
made against anyone but, as stated in these
columns Yesterday. a record has been found
in the Orphans Court, dated October IL,
1891, showing that order had beeen issued
allowing the sale of the Alexander farm at
5000 an scre. Chief Ell;ot's option on
the property is for $3.50 an acre. In view
Of the irsiaua.ions that have been made
the Chief was interviewed on the matter
YESTERDAY. and at the same time was asked
his views on the acreage required for
Poor Farm purposes
''Mr. Elliot. it is intimatei that You
have recommended the purchase of 5000
land at S250 rates. Is that true?"
Il told THE DISPATCH few days ago
that 1 had made NV recommendation on the
farm in perfect good faith. l say tie ,sane
thing to-day. 1 had intended not to say
ANYTHING whatever about this mat ar unless
direct charges were made. InueEd es s,3ch as
are being printed, don't amount to anything
only 10 show the aptness of certain pecu-
liarlv constituted people to find fault with
anybody and everything except themselves.
Didn't Know of the Court Order.
'T knew nothing whatever of any transfer
Of The Alexander property or of any court
order relating 10 its sale. The owner of the
Alexander aud the Lee farms submitted
proposals o me for the sale of their prop
ertv to ihe city at $3.50 an acre. I gave
them to understand, as I did all other par
ties who offered farms, that l would have
nothing 10 do with any property in the sale
OF which any bit the actual owners were to
receive any of the money paid for it. When
1 made nv recommendation / fully believed
The Alexander ard Lee farms to be worth
SS5Gan acre as compared with the other
farms had examined I believe so still.'t
''But why should TIE city pay $3.50 an
acre for the land when the Orphans Court
Authorized its sale at Sa00?'
Il don I know anything about that order
except what have seen in the newspapers;
but, admitting that it is correct, il seems
very easily exriainable. The fac. tina. the
cour; did 50 order would not compel the
owners Of the property to sell at that price
IT the land was worth more and they could
get it. Frequently in the settlement of es-
ta-es 20 which there are minor heirs it is
necessary TO get an order permitting sale
@. The property from the Orphans Court.
For the protection Of the beneficiaries the
coUr5 insists that fair price shall be f1sd
On the property or whatever is to be sold,
But the executor or whoever may have con-
trol Of the property may consider it worth
more, or that he can get more, than the
courts figure and may sell it for double the
amount I don't know that such is the
case in regard to the Alexander property,
hut that might be an explanation of the
court record referred to-"
THE court record includes an affidavit
b. Al lice, who owns an adjoining farm,
tnat ihe Alexander land is worth 5000 an
acre"
One Method of Explaining.
'Sav it does, replied the chief. ''he
doesn't say it is not worth more than that
does - 1t is always necessary to prove the
valua Of 2 property by the value of sur
rounding land to satisfy the Court that the
price is iair Now. mind you, don't know
such is the case, but it can be explained
that way
II is said, Mr. Elliot, that the George
Lee larm. living nearer to and having river
front is equally as desirable as the Alex
Rnder farm and has been and is on the mar
he, at present for $500 an acre.
THAT nav be true. But George Lee
made no offer 10 sell his farm to the city.
flr in, oil Cd
"a ne about farm, but never offered to
sell his, although he knew i was trying to
locate Poor Farm. If he chose not to offer
MS property l could not compel him to,
could TO-
''fs it truc thar Mr. Alexander is cousia
Of yoars. IS has been s:a5ed?"
NO. sir: 10, sir" exclaimed the Chief
c-ciIeGly. chats only another lie and you
can say that whoever saws SO is liar.
"And. nov." he continued, al will say a
few words in mv own behalf Do those
people who seem to think am in scheme
10 deiraud the city realize the condition of
Icy department, OF DO they know how it is
being ma-azcd? ? Why. sir, the Pitisburg
Department: Of Charities is highly esteemed
by the State Beard of Charities, by those
,7hcse knowledge of such affairs entities
;Eeir opinions to consideration. The public
here don't know it, because they don't
study our reports, but L have actually
reduced pauperIsm in this city, greatly
to the surprise Of the State Con-
vcnJion Of Poor Directors, which met
IN Reading last week. / actually demon
s;rated that mad reduced the number of
paIperS in this city, and at the same time
was RAINING NY department more economic
civ than any IL the State. And not at the
expense of the unfortunate poor, either.
Compare the department with years ago,
when the city We aooIt hsif the size it is
2cw. Thca the padrers numbered from 30
n &c, and the ccsI at their maintenance wa.
from Sl15,G20 20 Sl2G 0C0 -: y-,s. Now we
nave between 800 aud 400 pau ,r,7s on our
hands, end ths entire annual cost to the city
IL only SG5,0c0 to 290,00a
Reduced the Nrmbc- OF Paupcrs.
"Cadwaila.!er Riddle. of The State Board
c. Char;,les, inspected the Cit; Farm this
morning. He told the Superintendent
rhc., that the Poor Directors OF PennsyIva-
MA are wondering how / manage our farm
~ sEch Il; ..lt expense and vet cont-ive to
reduce lso Eumber of pGGpcrs. do not say
this in s.;.t:t o. eSotism, but it is fact
that or i-riG costs the city less our in
uat-s are Better fed, clotked ard cared for
ana our ;nst;1ation is kept cleaner than ary
ct..er ~ the Sta5e. Anvone who doubts INV
s.a.e1uerrs car satisfy themselves by asking
or writing 10 :he Stase Board os Charities.
They supervise all poor houses and know
eza@tly how tire 2ittsburg institution stands,
rs compared with others. They know also
% .ghoIn the credit belongs, and L have
Numerous rc2=31s Tor the belief
;iia5 they impose confidence in
&c. TIE railroads have confidence
;n r1z- ;udor3ert tno I have an a-rcare-