Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-02-05
Pittsburg's Place

At the nth annual banquet OF the Pltts-
burg Press Club, last Thursday evening.
Hon. John Dalzell was assigned the duty
of telling Of "Pittsburg's Place in the
Nation" and spoke as follows
Pittsburg's place in the nation ia vastly
different in fact from what it appears to be
on paper. The Pittsburg of the census is
one thing, the real Pittsburg another and
different thing. The truth is, as we know,
that Allegheny county is a great hive of
living industry, known by many names,
but essentially one and indivisable-a
great city ofhalf million of souls Wheth-
er or not the highest interest of these scat
tered municipalities would best be sub
served by one central government that
should introduce order and system, reduce
cffice holders and enlist scattered energies
in common purpose is question, to say
the least, deserving of very careful consid-
GRAFTON. express no opinion on it at this
time.
Pittsburg is city rich in every way,
msgni6ciently lowered by natnre, rich in
the romance of Its origin, in the story Of
its growth, in its great names, its wealth,
material and moral, and, better than all,
In Its men and women. No prouder in.
scription adorns palace, temple or city
gate in any cline or of any time than that
which speaks to us from the walls of the
Old City hall. 1t tells in figures of human
suffering allevisted aud hEmsn wants
tenderly cared for in the great struggle for
the preservation Of the Constitution and
the union A whole eloquent history in a
single paragraph Of mans bravery and
woman's sustaining love in the cause Of
country and human liberty:
Mr.. Dalsell then took up the history of
Pittsburg from fine planting of Ft. Du-
quesne, detailing the colonial struggle tor
independence of the planting Of the British
flag by Gen. Washington over the desert
ed ruins of the fort at the point and the
naming of the city to the glory of William
Pitt. He spoke of the growth of Pittsburg
In population, area, in the character Of her
people, in the comforts, conveniences and
luxuries of life, in her architecture, in her
interest in art her primary relation to the
nation, and the volume Of her products.
He favored the Erie ship-canal project,
claiming that 1t would bring into access
new markets without number. In conclu
sion he said
Pittsburg's place in the nation is that OF
. city with interests of such national i'm
portance as to demand such national care as
shall mako real all the advantages that
nature intended her to have. We need im.
proved waterways and we need new water
ways. And in this respect government
owes us duty, for the reason that with
ont its aid we cannot have them. Private
capital may, aud does build railways with
lavish hand; it has grid-ironed the conti-
nent; but railways cannot take the place
of waterways, and private capital cannot
safely touch our rivers. Under the most
far-reaching and despotic power, for the
exercise Of which our federal Constitution
provides the power to regulate commerce,
the jurisdiction of the national government
80 SASsN"''S oHa oaPAOhO ONci Jul III
ways.
fOresee, and trust the vision may be
OF q. we'll grounded faith, and not Of incli-
nation merely, great city reigning like
q queen from her dominant seat at the
headwaters of the Ohio. Into her lap an
extended commerce shall pour with lavish
hand the wealth of many Chimes. Ready
Of reach from all the scources Of ssupply,
the products Of the field, forest and mine
shall be brought to test the magic of her
industry, and recreated shall go forth to
minister to the needs, and tastes and pleas
ures Of still advancing civilization. The
comfort shall be here let US hope, Of a
city where all that science can contribute
TO keep life and health shall find practical
illustration; where law shall reign over a
people living in the midst or influences
that shall educate and uplift, and where
the crowning shall be, that her men and
women shall be worthy Of their surround
ing and pledges Of still more glorious fu-
ture.