Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-12
ONE GREAT BIG CITY.
More Discussion About Taking the
County Into Pittsburg.
DIVERSITY OF VIEWS ON THE PLAN
Would Cheaper Government, but Has
Several Bad Phases.
AN EAST END ASSOCIATION TAKES IT UP

zation styled the "Junta Club" composed
of 30 prominent East Eud gentlemen, ha
made it one of their topics Of discussion
and seems to be in favor of the scheme.
There has also been more or less tall
about it among city officials, since the leas,
of the Central police station to other partie
has compelled the city to seriously con
slider the necessity of purchasing suitable
property and building a Centra
station. In this connection sug
| gestion has been made tina
if the consolidation were effected the Cour
House could be used as city hall and the
present municipal building converted into
the offices and general headquarters of the
Department of Public Safety, including &
central police station While there are a
number of earnest advocates of the plan
there are others opposed to it. The senti
ments of number of well-known officials
on the subject were gathered yesterday and
are given below.
Would Simplify Affairs.
Chief Bigelow-It would greatly simplify
the county government. There would be
smaller expenditures for salaries and taxes
would be lower. The city would get a
standing in the world now impossible. We
would have a population of 10000 and
would be placed ahead of Cincinnati CIeve-
land and other cities now ranked ahead OF
us, but compared to which we are greater,
because We do as much business as all OF
them together. Philadelphia covers a
county and finds it more economical and
simpler than the old way. Chicago, st.
Louis, Cincinnati, Baltimore and other
cities all cover whole counties. Chicago
has found the change agreeable to every
body and it saves the people money. That
is one of the most important features of the
proposition.
Mayor Gourley-I am opposed to any
consolidation that would bring such large
rural and agricultural districts within the
precincts of city. 1t would augment in a
large degree the taxes of the built-up por-
tions Of the city without bringing it any
compensating advantages. This is large
county, and includes a large farming terri
tory. Most of it will of necessity be used
for farming purposes for 80 years, and if
you tax the farms in proportion to the city
property you will simply tax them out Of
existence. Then the tax system of this city
is wrong somewhere Take the Twenty
second ward for instance. 1t includes
many acres of what is known as agri-
cultural land. Such land is assessed by
the city at half its value. If the
valuation were properly taken the plan
would be fair enough; but that is not done.
If you go out there to buy the owner will
ask from $4,000 to $4,000 an acre for his
land, but it is valued at much lower fig
ure and then assessed at only half of that.
If such system was carried out in consoli-
dation, such as proposed, there would be
far greater inequality in the taxation than
even now exists
Taxes Should Be Equalized.
Delinquent Tax Collector Ford-I can't
say that am in favor of the proposition. I
can see many difficulties that would arise if
it were attempted. But there undoubtedly
should be something done to equalize the
payment of taxes in this county. AS it is
now, Pittsburg and Allegheny pay more
than three-fourths of the entire county tax
This comes from unqualified assessments
The city of McKeesport, it is said. does not
pay as much county tax as the Third ward
OF Plttsburg In few of the townships or
boroughs are taxes assessed on anything
like the actual valuation of the
property, as is done in the two
cities. Again, the city must
build and maintain her own bridges, no
matter how important or how insignificant.
Outside the cities every bridge in the coun-
ty is paid for out of the county Treasury.
If the bridge over bull creek needs new
floor the county foots the bill. The ques-
tion of schools, on the other hand, is an ar
gument against consolidation. Every town
ship and borough, now satisfied with an or
dinary frame or cheap brick building, would
at once begin to clamor for graded schools
and expensive buildings if the scheme was
carried. The same trouble in other forms
would be experienced with relation to
police and fire protection. On the whole,
the feasibility of the suggestion is ques-
tionable, and if legislation is ever prepared
for it, it will need to be drawn with extraor-
binary care.
Controller Morrow-The only practical
way te go about it would be to change
portion of the county lines of Allegheny,
Butler, Armstrong, Westmoreland, WASH
ington and Beaver, form three new coun-
ties, and make county and city of Pitts
burg, Allegheny, Braddock, Homestead,
Sharpsburg, Etna, Millvale, Sewickley,
Bellevue and several other towns within
that radius That would practically cut the
best part of the center out of the present
county of Allegheny. By taking the re-
naming territory, with similar sections
sliced from adjoining counties two entirely
new counties could be formed, and vast
number of people would be convenienced.
Councilmen Out of Reach.
Continuing the Controller said: Allegheny
county has 1852 square miles of territory
Philadelphia has only 112. The Typography
of Allegheny county is entirely unsuited to
such consolidation, by reason of the hills
and large unimproved sections. 1t would
be necessary to divide the county up into
Is L
would the councilmen living up near the
line of Butler county, or the one from Just
inside the Beaver county line, ever get to
and from councils in single day? Who
would be willing to accept the position?
Then the questions of police. fire service
and electric lighting would be stumbling
block, and would, if carried out as they
should be, cost enormously. Of course the |
expenses of government would be ]essened.
At least three Governments would be wiped |
out entirely and much of the cost thereof |
saved. But there are more arguments |
against than for consolidation on the pres |
ent county lines
County Commissioner Weir-If such a |
plan was executed it would become neces-
'ary to organize city Councils like the
State Legislature Councilmen would have
20 be paid mileage and salary. How
would member of Council from the farm
ng districts, East or West Deer, or Fawn
,ownships, ever get to Council meetings?
they have no rapid transit and, being many
niles away, would either drive to the meet
ng or walk. Why, the idea is preposter-
,us As to taxation, it would increase the
armer's taxes. The books of the County
Office will show that the
armer is taxed more now, in prop ortion to
he value of his proparty. than any other
lass of land holders in the county.