Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-21
THE FUTURE OF PITTsBURG.

The enterprising newspapers of Phila-
delphia are engaged in preaching the move
ment in favor OF "the New Philadelphia. %
The new creation and improvement of that
old and staid city is expected to be made on
the basis of smooth pavements. rapid transit,
improved access for transportation to and
from the wharves and an improved harbor.
The energy with which our contemporaries
there are urging the foundation of New
Philadelphia on these lines is commendable;
but its most instructive aspect to PIttsburg
is in the suggestion for the greater and more
ambitious work that can be done by con-
certed movements among the citizens of
our city for building up the Future Pitts
burg.
During the first part of the last decade
Pittsburg depended for its expansion on the
creation of new railroad facilities and the
improvement of transportation. During the
latter part of the same decade it relied on its
good fortune in obtaining from nature the
cheapness and convenience of natural gas.
The expansion of our business and increase
of our population, the enhancement of real
estate values, and the notable improvement
of business and domestic architecture, and
finally the almost uninterrupted prosperity
of both capital and labor, in all branches
of business, have shown what vast ad-
vantages can be reaped from summoning to
our aid the influences of increased transpor-
tation facilities, economic fuel and local
improvements.
But having reached the point where we
can estimate tine immense increase of
wealth and population from these influences,
we are also compelled to recognize that the
era of rapid growth from these causes is very
nearly at an end. The policy of railroad
combination has reduced the effect of COM
petition in favor OF Pittsburg to minimum.
The profusion of the natural gas supply has
been curtailed, and that fuel, from hay
ing been staple, is rapidly changing to an
article Of luxury. If Pittsburg rests with
out effort to remedy matters, she must not
only expect to enjoy no more than slow
growth tor the future, but must also be sub
jected to the old drawback of smoke, dark
ness, grimy buildings and universal dirt.
This is what we must look to if public
action is not united to prevent that compare
tive stagnation. But it should be no less
clearly recognized that there is another
more enlightened and more enterprising
choice. United action cannot only main-
tain but increase the manufactur-
ing advantages Of Western PENNSYLVANIA by
an Improvement of transportation far sur
passing anything gained in past times; and
to this end Pittsburg should act, not only as
a single community, but as the center and
leader OF all Western Pennsylvania. Vigor-
Gus local action can also prevent the return
of the smoke, and preserve the attractive
ness of the city. 1t is plain that those two
factors are needed to keep up and stimulate
the rate Of growth enjoyed in the past dec
ade; and for the sake of securing cheaper
transportation of our heavy freights and
the attractiveness Of our city, organized
public effort should be directed to the realI-
zation of the following aims:
First-The Pittsburg' and Lake Erie ship
canal, widening the possible market for our
coal, and adding 30 to 30 cents per ton to the
value of every ton of coal in Western Penn
syIvania; cheapening the freight on ma
terials for iron manufacture and practically
economizing from 50 80 to 81 90 per ton on
finished iron and steel.
Second-The Improvement of river trans
portatIon completing our connection by
water routes with all sections of the North
west, West and Southwest.
Third-The prevention of coal smoke and
the economizing OF coal fuel wherever its
use is necessary, preserving the city from |