Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-25
THE POOR FARM DEAL
Meets With Opposition From Mayor
Gourley, Who Says the
CITY Is NOT A LAND SPECULAT0R.
Advice to Alexander to Sell His Property
and Make Money.
WHAT CITY COUNCILS MAY DO TO-DAY

An interesting meeting is expected in
Pittsburg Councils this afternoon and there
will probably be some edifying discussions
in both branches.
. In Common Council the report of the
Finance Committee will include negative
recommendation of Mr.. O'Donnell's audit
resolution and favorable report on Mr..
Holidays ordinance relating to the same
subject. The two measures were entirely
different in character when referred to the
committee, but an amendment to Holidays
ordinance providing that no limit shall be
placed on the number of years the auditors
shall run back on the city's accounts will
probably satisfy Mr.. O'Donnell, and receive
his support. 1t may not suit Mr.. Holiday,
however, and either way there is expected
to be some sharp talk.
In the Select branch the garbage ordin-
ance will come up for action with favora-
BILE report from the Public Works Commit
tee. Chiefs Brown and Bigelow are dissat-
isfed with the ordinance as it stands, and if
it is passed at all it will be radically
amended.
Bonanza in City Garbage.
The impression prevails that the ordin-
ance would be big bonanza for the gentle
men who are asking its passage in its pres
ent shape, and that the bene6ciaries give
less than nothing in return for the favors
they would receive. Mayor Gourley has
also announced opposition to the ordinance
unless several important changes are made
in it, though he, like the other officials,
thinks that the proposed way of disposing
of the garbage is the best ever suggested in
this city.
In some shape the Poor Farm question is
also expected to come up. The growing
fear Of a squeeze in available real estate tor
Poor Farm purposes by speculators has
mittee, after the City Attorneys opinion,
have no business before them and can do
nothing unless Councils refer to them an or
dinance or resolution bearing on the mat
ter, and it is expected that some such docu-
ment will be presented to-day. Whether
the City Attorneys suggestion to formally
reject the option on the Alexander farm
and readvertise for proposals is adopted or
not could not yesterday be learned.
The Mayor on the Alexander Option.
Mayor GourIey agrees with Major More
land that it would be dangerous to attempt
to hold Alexander to his option after wait
ing so long and doing nothing with it. The
Mayor is opposed to the Alexander farm
anyhow, on account of its cost. In speaking
of the matter yesterday he said:
81 am satisfied that Councils have for
feited any right to hold Alexander to his
option, and I believe he could legally sell
the property tomorrow to any other person
big offers for the property that have been
fal ho Ic 1ieh fn
them and close it out. don't say the prop
erty is not worth all the city has been
asked for it-as an investment. fully agree
with Chief Elliot that in Is or 20 years the
place will be worth many thousands more
than it is to-day, and that the city could
then sell it tor profit. 1 have seen the
farm, and don't believe the statements
made that it is poor, swampy land and unfit
on that account for Poor Farm purposes.
In fact, 1 believe it to be an excellent
tract of land and worth all the money asked
for it. But don't think the city would be
justified in paving $500 an acre for Poor
Farm, even if it were worth twice the money.
1 don't believe the city needs more than 100
or $50 acres for her pauper and insane wards,
and I do believe that tract of that size
suitable in every respect could be bought
tor S100 an acre or less.
No Necessity for a River Front.
IT see no necessity for river front prop
erty for Poor Farm, and don't think the
city should buy one. There is plenty of
property within Is or 20 miles of the city,
in Allegheny county, well situated as to
railroad and drainage facilities, which can
be bought for less than S1O0 an acre. Ad-
joining my farm in Pine township, Is miles
from the city and near the Pittsburg and
Western Railroad, is a tract of good land
which has been offered to me at price
$50 an acre, and there is
more of it out there that could be bought
for less. This 1 know to be fact. Now.
if we can get good land within Is miles for
$50. we should be able to get much better at
S1Oo, and I believe we can if we wish.
Gas to the Alexander farm, it might be
good investment for me or any other indi-
vidual to buy, cat up into lots and sell
again. 1 have no doubt lot of money
could be made out of it that wav or even by
holding it few years and selling it in
bulk, but the city is not in the real estate
business. We don't want to buy farm,
spend thousands of dollars in the erection
Of buildings and improving the ground, and
then turn around, buy another farm and 60
through the same process again in 15 years,
even if we could make money out of it. We
should buy farm and build ON it for so