Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-03
PARK WORK STOPPED.
The Appropriation Has Been Almost
Entirely Used Up in
IMPROVEMENTS AND PURCHASES.
BigelOw Has His Doubts, but the Controller
Says It's True.
SNAP SHOTS AT NEWS ABOUT THE CITIES

Public park improvements will close
until next year. Controller Morrow vester-
day discovered that the money set apart for
parks had been almost exhausted, and there
is scarcely enough left to feed the animals
at the Zoo. He at once sent word to the
Department of Public Works. Chief
Bigelow will to-day doubtless order all
work in that line stopped.
This years appropriation ordinance set
aside 1881, ,763 05 for parks. In September
$4,000 was transferred from the public
lighting appropriation to that of parks,
making the entire amount for the latter
S346, 1853 05. On figuring up the matter
yesterday the Controller foun that S344
J91 SO of this appropriation had already
been spent, leaving a balance of only So
165 46. This is all that remains to carry on
work at the parks during the remaining
four months of this fiscal year.
The Controllers message was consider
able of a surprise to the Public Works peo-
pie, who had figured on something over
$4,000 yet remaining for parks.
TAKEN FROM THE WRONG ACCOUNT
The difference in calculations was caused
by the charge for a steam road crusher and
several other items amounting altogether
to 81, 900, being taken from the appropria-
ton for highways instead of that Of parks.
The Controller says they must go on the
latter
The heavy expenditures for parks this
year was caused by the payment of large
sums of money for additional land and the
hri1 Of ba
largest amounts was $4,000, paid Mrs
Schenley for the park entrance. In addi-
tion to this Chief BigeIow has made great
number of improvements in Schenley and
Highland Parks. This was particularly the
case in the former. The construction of
macadamized driveways, miles in extent,
about the hills of+SchenIey Park, with other
forms of grading and putting in sewers have
required great deal of money. Chief
Bigelow has economical in this work by
having it done under his own supervision,
saving contractors profits, and much more
has been accomplished in this way than
would have been otherwise. But in
spite of this the money has nearly all been
used and two of the best months in the
year for such operations will be passed
with little additional work.
ALL WORK MUST CEASE.
'T would advise" said Controller Nor
row, 'that Superintendent of Parks Nc
Knight discharge all his men at once.
There will be little more than enough
money left to pay the salary of himself and
one or two others. am sorry the situa-
tion is such, but there is no help for it.
Park improvements will have to be aban-
doned until after the passage of next years
appropriation ordinance
While this leaves the park improvement
matter in poor shape at present, next years
outlook is CHEEKY. All the park property
in possession of the city has been paid for,
and next years appropriation will not have
such slice taken out of it for the purchase
of land. 1t can all be devoted to the great
work necessary to put Schenley Park in
something like proper shape.
Chief Bigelow was interviewed in regard
to the matter at his home last night and was
positive thai the Controller was mistaken in
his calculations. He said:
THINKS THE CONTROLLER MISTAKEN.
"When the Councils ordered S15, 900
transferred from the contingent fund to the
Parks appropriation there was balance of
$4,000, making S24, 900 in that appropriation
at that time. The payroll for September is
only in the neighborhood of S11 ,O0O and 1
feel reasonably certain there is still from
$4,000 to $4,000 left. OF course, have
not my books at hand and cannot figure ac-
curately, but my impression is that the Con-
trOller has simply made mistake, because
feel sure l have it. think will be able
to continue work with it until the end of
the year. If l am not mistaken there will
be sufficient for our work as planned to that
time.