Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-21
SECURED FOR A SITE.
Allegheny Gone Through for Place
to Put Its New POstOfice.
PROPERTY HELD A BIT TOO HIGH.
Power of the City to Donate a Part of the
Haymarket Square.
INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT INCREASING

The matter of the selection of a site for
Allegheny's new postoffice has reached a
| deadlock which only the citizens, individu-
| ally, OF through their government. appear
! to have power to end. The Treasury De-
partment has appropriated $65,0OO for the
purchase of the ground, and this sum is $2O,-
600 lower than the cheapest site so far
offered Postmaster Gilleland thinks that
If there is any additional sum required for
the purchase of the site it is the adjoining
property holders who should subscribe to
make up the amount.
"These are the people," he said yesterday,
"who will be most benefited by the location
of the postoffice in their neighborhood. 1t
will be the center of most traffic, and it Is
presumed that none but the best people, the
most desirable people, will have business
with the postoffice."
'How about influential citizens starting
subscription for this purpose?"
No Movement for a Subscription.
"1 cannot call to mind any whom I can
think would take the initiative in such
cause The feeling is not in that direction,
and say it is the adjacent owners of prop
erty who should make up the sum-if it can
not be obtained in any other way. Of course,
/ have no interest, one way or another, in
the matter, beyond desiring to see the build
ent places have been looked at, but the cost
of the cheapest is above the amount appro-
priated. This was originally $50 900. but an
other $35 900 was believe, added to it, MAX
ing sum of $lG0, 900 available for the work.
1t is necessary that the postoffice should be
40 feet from any other building, and this
essential may have something to do with the
prices offered"
"Why could not Haymarket square be do
mated ior the purpose?"
"That site would, of course, be an excel
lent one, but am not sure whether it could
De given for the purpose. l don't know
whether Councils has power to donate it or
not. The plot on which Carnegie Hall
as the Haymarket plot, but that building is
a public one and under the control of the
city. 1t would be different with the post
office. The public sentiment is, believe,
against giving the square for the purpose"
Chief Clerk White, who is a great author
fty on municipal legislation says that the
question of the city's power to grant any of
the four squares for purposes outside of
those specified under the acts of incorpora-
tion has never yet been brought into court.
Reference to the city code shows that under
section l3 of the act of incorporation, ap-
proved 18th OF April, 1910, the right of the
Commonwealth to these reserved plots was
granted and vested in the city for such
public uses as were recited in the fourth sec
tion, as Select and Common Councils might
direct. The uses referred to were as site
for a market place, jail,-a place of public
worship, a city hall, and "a place of burial.
Under the first section of the act power is
vested in the Mayor and Councils to pur-
chase and dispose of sundry lots, including
those referred to-