Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-09
SMILES AND FR0WNS.

lit. Washington Property Holders, Who
Are Ahead on the Decisions, Happy,
While Others Are Mad-History of the
Test Cases, and Other Talk.
1t was perfectly easy yesterday to ascer-
tain who of the Mt. Washington real estate
owners were ahead on the Supreme Court
decision. merely by their facial express
sion. Those who were ''in it, wore smiles in
proportion to the amount saved, while those
who did not get their streets paved or had paid
the assessment on the test case streets. wore
sour looks and were either detected or had their
war-paint on.
Frank Stanley, who owns BIZ feet on Boggs
avenue, and was one of those who made the
test case, wore a smile which be said was worth
81 100. Among the others instrumental in
bringing the case before the Supreme Court
are Hugh Latferty, Lewis Beiuhauer and Mr..
Buggs. Mr.. Stanley said that when the 1887
law went into effect, it was generally under
stood that two streets should be paved-one in
The East End and one on Mt. Washington-3nd
then a test case be made. The other property
holders caught and street improving has
been brisk in the past three years. Mr.. Shan
ley said that il only the two streets had been
paved the city would only have been I'm a few
thousand dollars, where now it will amount to
millions.
Leaving Matters i'm Bad Shape.
Speaking further, Mr.. Stanley said: II don't
think it's square deal for those who already
have paid for the paving of their streets, but I
went on the plan that equity demanded that
one-third of the property holders should not be
enabled by law to dictate the other two-thirds.
Tie law should be changed. Let the Supreme
Court Judges frame 4 law that will stand,
though don't know how much greater pains
could be taken than with the present law. l. is
but reversal of the Penn avenue case years
ago. Ii leaves all the suburbs in bad shape as
hp holders In har nm
provements made, and the property Is worth
The cost of paving. The whole thing would not
have come about if the grade on Boggs avenue
had not been changed. The property holders
then got mad, with the result now public"
Phillip Hoffman wore $1,000 smile and said:
''Ah, ha, / viii now build me two houses with
that money!
Jonathan Nicely A. {. Wagner and Dr. Smith
residents of W Nyomlng street, paid their assess
Denrs and are now hunting up their friends to
talk over the reason tney weren't in it."
Mr.. Halpin owns 20 feet on Stanwick street.
which is completed, but not taken of the City
Engineers hands, SO that be smiled very
blandly. but shade OF disappointment fitted
across his countenance as he remembered that
Virginia avenue might have been paved il
'some had not kicked at the wrong time"
Mr.. Halpin said further: at is all right for
those who have their streets paved, but it
leaves things in bad shape for the Others ard
the law should be changed Immediately. Even
then the city will not recover from the blow
ana it will be harder to get improvements
through. Ii will be very difficult TO get Coun-
ellis or the people interested in helping to pay
wholly for street Improvements that will not
benefit them in any way.
All the Improvements Were Necessary.
"The Improvements made have all been neces-
sary, and the property holders would have felt
justified in paying for the work according to
the act of 1887. The hitch came In the fact
that after few had made the break, the others
did not feel inclined to pay for a thing if they
did not have 10. Yes. sir; it is a bad thing for
the city any way you can fix it, and will retaru
all future improvements"
Mr.. Kennedy was downcast He owns prop-
ertv on Bertha street, which is graded but not
paved. He is now getting in supply of bber
boots and proposes TO make the best of fate
The agreement with Attorney Charles
O'Brien, who brought the test case was that
he was TO be pald cents per front foot for
testing the case, and % cents if won. He is ac-
cOrdingly about So 900 ahead on the result of the
decision. a meeting Will be held on Mt Wash.
ingtOu next Monday to settle up affairs with
the attorneys and discuss the situation. Ex.
Judge Fetterman who brought the test case
tor Wyoming street, also gets a Slice while the
StanwIcE street property holders, as well as
others in the city, come out scot free
DR.. Wilson, property holder on Shiloh
street. said that it was perfectly proper to get
out of paying for the paving. if the law per-
mitted such action. The law should be based
on more equitable plan and so framed that it
would stand.