Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-11
CLEARING THE DECKS
Chief BigelOW Getting Everything in
Readiness to Commence the
Summer Campaign.
WAITING UPON THE LEGISLATURE
To Give Him the Necessary Authority to
60 Ahead With Needed Street
Improvements.
WAITING UPON THE LEGISLATURE
EXTENDING TIE CITY WATER SYSTEM
Reaching an Agreement on Legislation for Second
Class Cities


summer campaign of the Department OF
Public Works. He is afraid that he cannot
make it as vigorous as last year, owing to the
chaotic condition OF street improvement legis-
lation.
The Chief returned from Harrisburg yes
terdav, where he had been watching the
progress of the raft of street bills through
the legislative rapids, prepared at any
moment TO jump out and loosen the key log
in case a jam resulted. The torrent OF
legislative eloquence having been cut of
by the usual weekly adjournment from Fri
day until Monday, the Chief and Senator
Finn came home.
Mr.. Bigelow is very anxious that these
or similar bills should be passed at the
earliest possible moment, so that he can ar
range for the work to be done this summer.
At this time of year it is usual to have a
great number of contracts awarded or ready
to be let, but in the present position of the
city in this matter, there is no law to au-
thorize any action on the,part OF the Depart
ment of Public Safety.
Anxious for Street improvements.
Chief Bigelow was kept busy all day yes
terday by propertv-holders who wanted to
know the prospect for grading, paving and
curbing the streets on which they reside.
The Chief could tell them nothing very
definite, but assured them that they.would
be afforded relief in a short time. Many
property-owners have determined to waste
no time in waiting upon the city 10 award
contracts, but are making their own arrange
ments with contractors for street improve
ments.
In this connection Mayor Gourley said
Yesterday: There are a great number of
streets, in the East End especially, that
urgently need paving. Many of them, 1
know myself are absolutely impassa-
bic in such weather as this. The
lower end of Aiken avenue is an
example of this. 1t has been paved from
Fifth avenue to Home street, but from that
point to Ellsworth avenue it is simply an
almost bOttomless mudhole. There are
other streets in the same condition-Hickroy
street, in the Sixth ward, for instance 1t
may not be generally known, but it was a
matter of sentiment that led NJ. A Wood
ward to oppose the grading of Aiken ave-
nue., and, incidentally, 10 question the con-
s:itutiouality of the street acts
Tried TO Save His Trees.
Some years ago Mr.. Woodward planted
several shade trees around his residence at
The corner OF Fifth and Aiken avenues. He
had watched these trees with Jealous care,
and when the grade of Aiken avenue was
changed he was afraid that his trees would
be ruined. He had come to feel an affection
for them, valuing them not for their in
trinsicSalue alone. and was strongly opposed
10 any action likely to injure them"
Chief Bigelow and Superintendent Wilcox,
Of the Water Bureau, will hold d conference
on Monday on the extension of the water
service this summer. This work has been
held by the delay in passing the annual ap-
preparation ordinance. This bureau is one
Of the best money makers the citv possesses,
No mains are laid on new streets unless
there are enough consumers to guarantee a
return Of 10 per cent on the cost of the water
extension. On many streets the CITY gets
return of so, 40 and 80 per cent, and there is
one case on record where a 1OO-yard main,
supplying 40 families, has returned 200 per
cent per year on the first cost of the ex-
tension.
Preventing a Waste of Water,
Chief Clerk Denison, of the Water
Bureau, in speaking of the ability of the
city to supply new consumers, said:
water, and there would never be
a scarcity if there was no waste.
Many people are very careless in this re-
spect. They know that water pipe is leak
ing, but so long as it does not iDiure their
property they let the water run. If it
Should food their cellars, however, they
waste no time in letting US know. Some
Two years ago We discovered a half-inch
water pipe that had been broken and run
ming at full force for four years. The grad
ual abolition of street hvdrants has resulted
in large saving of water. They used to be
very plentiful in this city at one period, and
nine-tenths of them were allowed to run
night and day.
A little reform that Chief Bgelow will
inauguraIe at once is the matter of street
sweeping. There has been much complaint
about the machines filling the streets with
an opaque cloud of dust Just as the theaters
are letting out at night, thereby spelling
many handsome bonnets aud injuring a
number of usually even tempers. The Chief
promises that hereafter unless it is freezing,
he will have the streets sprinkled before they
are swept.
Expects the Street Acts VIII Pass.
Chief Bigelow, in speaking of the street
legislation now before the State Legislature
saws that be has no doubt that all the street
bills and curative acts will be favorably
acted upon next week or the week following,
probably the latter.
AstO the eInuch-discussed clause. majority
in number or interest" and the amendment
adopted in the Senate, which reads, "maior-
ity in interest and number" and which re-
lates to the persons required TO petition for
a street improvement, Mr.. Bigelow saws:
"The amendment adopted in the Senate, and
which was not adopted at the citizens meet
ing here last Monday, substitutes the word
and for the word or in this clause. Much
has been said about this matter, but the
fact is that change had TO be made In the
first place the Supreme Court has said a
majority in interest must sign a petition
for a street. improvement, and there is no
getting over that. In the second place
Governor Pattison has declared himself on
the subject, and ne says majority in num-
Der must sign.
On the Horns of a Dilemma
Now, what are you going to do? If YOU
don't put in the and the Governor will not
sign the bill, and it will fail. If he |
should happen to sign it and you
would happen to get a majority in |
number, and not In interest, on |
street improvement, the majority in interest
could 20 into court and the Supreme Courts |
decision would put the expense on the citv. |
BY putting IN the word and we have the |
bill TO conform With the Governors views |
and the Supreme Court decision.
Il don't think, however that street i'm |
provements will be so hard to get under this |
arrangement as some people have asserted. |
When the old act under which Forbes street |
was paved WAS in operation, this same re-
r7ri ,rar faa of II hu IL ,ros