Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-24
THE HAYMARKETS SITE
If Presented, Would Insure Allegheny
Fine Public Building
AT THE GOVERNMENTS HANDS.
The Problem Cannot Be Solved With the
Bids at Present In.
SITES SWALLOW Up TOO MUCH MONEY
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT:

TFRoA A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, March 23-'1 sincerely
hope that the good people OF Allegheny
will themselves solve the problem OF site
for the new Postoffice," said an Official Of
the Treasury Department to-day who play:
an important part in the selection Of sites
and the construction of Government build.
iuCs. "All of the bids lately submitted are
in price much beyond the limits of the
amount appropriated for the purchase of q
site. The Treasury Department is power
less to move in the matter, without proceed
ing to select and condemn, as may be done
under the law, which would be a tedious
proceeding, and one which always arouses
antagonisms from some quarter.
l have visited the beautiful city of ALLIE
Chenv more than once on business, and am
perfectly familiar with its features, and I
say uuqualifedly that the place above all
others for the Government building is in the
public square, where now stands the City
Hall, the ma rket house and the magnificent
Carnegie Library.
A Fine Architectural Chance.
Few cities have such an opportunity
as here presents itself for massing i'm
pressive architectural piles. The Car
negie Library would grace any city. The mar
ket house is not bad and 4 the City Hall is
now unpretentious q new one will be necessary
in a few years. and one could then be erected in
keeping with the Library, and With beautiful
postOffice building, such as could be erected if
the now vacant square used as haymarket
were gwen to the Government
81 have heard that it is the conviction of
many leading citizens and city officials that
this should be done, and l am not giving away
any state secret when say that have knowl-
edge that the authorities of the department
fervently hope that this will be the solution of
the question of a site. which is now a very vex-
ing one Were this done, the considerable sum
that would have to be devoted to the purchase
of site could be used to swell the sum devoted
to construction OF building, and thus enable
Allegheny to secure an editice worthy of such
great and growing city,"
Too Much for Sites.
''One of the chief obstacles in the way of Civ
ing to the cities of the country fine public
buildings is the cost of the site. The moment
this Government asks to buy, prices are run up
for every available site, and there is often COL
luson between the holders of such properties
TO hold them at an eXorbitant figure. Congress
viii not GO beyond a sum which seems TO be
commensurate with the Importance of the city,
and when great slice is taken out of this for
the mere site, a building that is mean and
shabby compared with what is expected, is
often the result.
Then the citizens are prone to conclude that
money has been wasted, forgetting that the
cost Of the site is due to the graspinC dispo-
sitIon Of property owners, who care nothing for
the kind of building or for the ornamentation
Of their city if they can get their price. To
thar city which is liberal its offers of site,
Congress Is always disposed to be liberal.
What Allegheny Should Do.
u venture TO say that if the city of AL
legheny would come to the rescue in this case
and present to the Government the haymarket
site. Congress would be disposed to grant an
appropriation which would give to the city
Postofice much finer than is customary in cities
of its size. IN which the cost of the site eats up
a large part of the appropriations. 1t seems to
me that if the citizens who now favor this
view of the matter and If the press of Allegheny
county, would take up the question, the result
would be the presentation of the haymarket
square and Government building far more
imposing and ornamental than will be possible |
il a site must be purchased where so high /
price is set upon every place which is available |
for This purpose
THE DISPATCH correspondent is informed |
that leaaing citizens and officials have led the |
Treasury authorities to hope that the hay
market site may be secured. In case this fails, |
an agent OF the Supervising Architects office |
VIII be sent TO make a new inspection, and new |
bids will he asked, or other steps taken to Sc
cure a site. IGHTNER.