Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-17
FIGHT FOR A STREET.
Downtown Merchants Make a Strong
Stand Against the
PROPOSED EXCHANGE RAILROAD.
The Courts Will Be Asked to Prevent Its
Construction.
ITS EFFECT UPON RETAIL BUSINESS

The property owners and storekeepers
along Market street are very much opposed
to the proposed exchange railroad. They
were taken by surprise and didn't have
time to file protest, but the end is not yet
The indications are that the courts will be
asked to enjoin the building of the road on
that narrow thoroughfare.
Paul Hacke arrived from the East Sunday
evening, and he was very indignant when
he heard of the project. Yesterday after
noon he visited the business men on Market
street between Fifth avenue and Liberty
street, and, as he expected, found that none
of the proprietors had heard of the scheme.
Werner, the shoe man, Fleishman, Rosen-
baum and Schildecker & Co were very much
surprised to hear of the scheme, and they
are all opposed to it.
The complaint is made generally by Fifth
avenue merchants that the cable road has
hurt their business The carriage trade is
big thing in any city, and since vehicles
are not allowed to stand along the avenue,
shoppers have gone to storekeepers on
quieter streets In the fine dress and silk
departments of the stores on Fifth avenue
there has been large falling off in the
trade due to this cause.
No Room for Teams to Pass.
But it is not because a road on Market
street will injure business that the kick is
made, but because the street is too narrow.
Mr.. Hacke measured the street in front of
his store. 1t is % feet between the curb
stones. A street car is eight feet wide, and
this would leave only seven feet on each
side of the track. The space is too narrow
for carriage or a wagon. and the business
men wonder how the traffic is to pass
Mr.. Hacke says he talked with people OF
directly interested, and they pronounced
the proposed railroad an outrage
"Why, 20 years ago." he said, Com
modore Koontz wanted to run the Man
chester line over this street. 1 went into
Councils myself, and told the members how
wide the street was had diagram made
by an engineer, and it convinced the Coun-
cilmen that the thoroughfare was too mar
row. This street is the great highway be-
tween the two cities, and anybody who has
passed here in an afternoon knows how
badly the street is crowded. 1t is lmpos-
sible to walk on the pavement, and people
are forced into the street, There is barely
will it be when cars run through here?
But Little Room for NIarketers.
'fGo over to the Market House on the |
three market mornings. The space around !
the building is so jammed with vehicles |
that it is difficult for pedestrians to get |
through the crowd Magee and Finn want |
this road believe, to run to the Baltimore
and Ohio depot They are very solicitous
on this point. That is, thousands of people
are to be crowded and Inconvenience for
few passengers. But when the ring wants
they must have it, no matter
whether it suits the public or not
know that we can get any mum Der of citi-
zens not interested in the street to sign a
protest against a railroad on this highway"
Mr.. Rosenbaum hadn't heard of the
project, but he was willing to Join hands
with his fellow merchants against it.
Haven't the people any rights?" he asked
"Where are they going to walk on this
street? Last year the street railways killed
as people and wounded 1000. With the
roads, the Pennsylvania on
Liberty street, and another line on Market
street, all centering near here, wonder
what will become of pedestrians They
might as well get off the earth and take to
the roofs of the houses. There is not half
enough room for people now, and during
dlltruOOH Iue slT0cI Is always uQcOm- |
fortably jammed.''
May Have to Close His Store.
Fleishman's have no back entrance to
their store, and all their goods must be un-
loaded from the front A big dray was
standing on Market street yesterday after
noon, and the articles were put in the eel
lar as fast as taken from the wagon. With
4 track in the middle of the street, the
hafu 10 nd ha efr |
,ar would not be wide enough for the veht-
lie. One or the other would have to give
way. Mr.. Fleishman was very much wor-
lied. and he was puzzled to know what to
10. He said he must have some room
or his business or he would have
o shut up shop He is willing to abide by
he judgment of MIR. Hacke, who is taking
he lead in working up the formal protest.
Mr.. Hacke thinks it would be good plan
o hire man to keep record of the wagons