Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-28
MIR, BIGELOW'S SURPRISE.
he Wants q Number of Properties
Near Highland Park Bought
PooR FARM ORDINANCE PASSED
Despite the Strong Opposition Of Dr.. Evans
and Mr.. O'Donnell.
NEW STREET RAILWAY ORDINANCES

vacation, Pittsburg Councils yesterday af-
ternoon broke the record for the passage of
ordinances and resolutions During the
session rs of these documents were passed
and the desks of members entirely cleared
of business This exceeds any previous
days work in the number of papers passed
by 26 Among them were several provid-
ing for the purchase of land aggregating
nearly S275, ,000 and, including all the con-
tracts approved for the chiefs of depart
ments the total Of city money voted away
would approximate nearly $500, 900.
OF this amount about $5s, 900 represents
the Neeld farm, for the purchase of which
both branches passed an ordinance almost
unanimously. Additional land for High
land Park represents S2O9, 900 or more of
the amount Nj Bigelow surprised Coun-
ellis by three joint resolutions authorizing
him to contract for the purchase of the
John Fite property lying on the east side
of the main entrance to Highland Park,
the William Finn property on the oppo-
site side of Highland avenue, and about %
acres from Charles Lockhart lying at the
northeast corner of the park, contiguous to
the Allegheny Valley Railroad.
The Properties and Their Cost.
The Fite property has five acres, was
bought by him about a year ago for S19, 900,
and the Chiefs option is for $65. 900, which
is considered a low figure, so great has been
the increase in values around the park. The
Finn property is that long strip on the
west side of Highland avenue, for 80 acres
of which Senator Finn recently paid
William Howley $50, 900, Howley having
slipped in a few months ago and bought it
just as Chief Bigelow was arranging to buy
it for the city at a much lower figure. As
stated by Mr. Bigelow yesterday, the city
gets IA acres of it at the same price Finn
paid-s6, 600 an acre, or Ss4, ,00d for all.
The Poor Farm question first came up in
Select Council in the shape of Chief Elliot's
report According to programme the re-
port was referred TO the Charities Commit
tee, which withdrew to the City Clerks
Office and, inside of ten minutes, returned
with its report in the shape of the ordinance
providing for the purchase. When it was
placed before Councils the discussion
began.
DIR. Evans-I don't suppose anything 1
may say will affect the vote on this ordi-
nance. but have an opinion and mean to
express it. 1 accompanied the Charities
Committee to inspect the Neeld farm last
week, and when 1 saw it 1 was astonished
that the committee should think twice
about buying it for a poor farm. If the city
buys it there will come a day when she will
be sorry. The land itself is a low lying
plateau surrounded by hills. 1t is not a
farm 1 would spend much money on for any
purpose. There is some good and some
bad land, but as whole 1t is a
very Indifferent farm. 1t is not .
success as a farm and never was
don't think a decent crop has been raised on
it in 20 years, except wheat The lack of
water supply is serious objection. The
farm is only five miles from Morganza and
is supplied by the same stream, CHARTERS
creek. Mr.. Heating has frequently declared
on this floor that a river front is essential to
a poor farm, and that Morganza had spent
thousands upon thousands of dollars for
water supply, because ir had only CHARTERS
creek to draw from. Whether conditions
have changed since Mr.. Heating argued for
river front can't say, but can't support
this ordinance.
Mr.. Perry Thinks II q Good Farm.
Mr.. PerrY-I don't know anything about a |
farm or farm land, but with the Charities |
Committee have visited all the farms Of |
fered. when we visited the Neeld farm it |
was so much superior to any other we had |
seen decided in its favor at once as did |
every other member of the committee. 1 |
don't think there is a more suitable |
farm in Western Pennsylvania. As to
the water in CHARTERS creek 1 don't
claim it is fit to drink, but it will
answer for cleaning purposes and good
drinking water in bountiful supply can be |
had anywhere on the farm by digging down |
rs feet. Mayor Gourley said, looking over
the Neeld farm, that it was an excellent |
farm, but had been sadly neglected. There
are gas, oil and coal under it. and the coal |
alone on adjoining farms, has been sold for |
$50 an acre within six years. am not in |
love with the Neeld farm. We should have
river front. But you can't get a good arm |
on a river front for our limit-$S0o an acre
Mr.. Perry was catechised by several MEM |
bers of Council, and vote was taken, the
ordinance passing by vote of 29 to 2,
Messrs. Evans and Epping voting no. |
When the measure reached Common Coun- |
Gil Mr. O'Donnell opposed it He raised |
the same objections that DR.. Evans did,
claiming that the water in CHARTERS creek |
was sulphurious and inadequate; that the /
farm was a waste of weeds, and that adioin-
ing property could be bought for less than
500 an acre. Mr.. Finn replied to the
charges, defending the farm. When the
vote was taken the ordinance passed by 40 |
to 2, Messrs. O'Donne1 and MacGonigle
voting no.