Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-30
In ONLY FIVE YEARS
Allegheny and McKeesport Will Be
Included in Pittsburg.
A PROPHECY OF CHIEF BIGELOW.
1t Is the Best Solution of the County's
lure Water Problem.
INTERESTING POINTS BY THE MAYOR

ago by private company to supply the
three cities and larger towns in this county
with water supply from the mountains the
sion among the prominent men of the two
cities. Almost invariably those who talk
about it see in the project the necessity fol
the extension of the city's boundaries to in
clude all those places to which the water
supply must be extended. Chief Bigelow,
i'm conference of prominent officials yes
lterday afternoon, said
'Inside of five years the cities of Nc
Keesport and Allegheny and many of the
larger boroughs in this county will be a
part of Pittsburg in fact. 1t is the only
solution of many of the difficulties now
confronting all these places"
Mr.. Bigelow's prophecy caused quite a
sensation among those present and there
were doubling glances cast in his direction,
but he maintained his position and repeated
the declaration positively. When asked
later on what he based his statement the
Chief said:
Pure Water Badly Needed.
'THE DISPATCH never did a better
thing than when it gave a synopsis of the
proposition made by this water company.
don't know whether anything will ever
be done with that particular scheme, but in
years to come supply of purer water for
this city and for Allegheny, McKeesport
and the big boroughs in the county will be
an imperative necessity. Every thinking
man realizes this, and that is why nearly
i ba Ac
natural as anything can be reflection on
this point brings up the question of con-
solidation. Whatever is done in the
way of general water supply
for domestic purposes must include
all the population centers in the county.
Pittsburg could not take all the available
water shed on Indian creek for her own
supply. All the other towns get their sup
ply from the rivers now, and when it is neces-
sary for her to change the same conditions
will apply to them.
The Cities Must Be Consolidated.
"But we could not 60 into q scheme with
them for a general supply while the vari-
Gus towns each have aseparate government.
If private corporation should build the
proposed Indian creek system, it would
never do for each city and town to pay an
annual rental to the company forts supply.
1t would DE too expensive and would leave
US at the mercy of the company, which
could increase rates at will If we would
collectively propose to buy the company's
plant, it would be next to impossible to
fairly divide up the responsibility for pay
ment among the various cities and towns.
The only way out of it would be to consoli-
date all under one government. Make it,
as James B. Scott said in to-day's DIS
PATCH, county and city, such as New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities
have done. Then taxes will be lighter,
property will become more valuable, there
will be good streets and roads, police and
fire protection and water supply. The ad-
ded Importance to Pittsburg will result in
her taking the place she is entitled to in
the front rank of the cities of the world
and every man in 1t will be benefited by
the improvement.
Allegheny Not Ready to Unite.
Gas I said before, such condition will
come soon. 1t could be encompassed with
in two years, but will certainly come inside
of five. If a popular vote in Allegheny
and McKeesport were taken tomorrow
they would both declare for such CONSOLE
dation. But Allegheny is not ready for it
yet. The move they are making now to i'm
prove their streets and sewers is a move in
the right direction. After they expend q
couple of million bringing the town up
nearer to our level in the way of improve
ments our people will feel more like a con-
solidation. At present Pittsburg taxpayers
would oppose consolidation, because there
would be demand for Improvements over
there which we would have to help pay
for Our expenses in that line are heavy
enough on this side of the river.
'In the matter of improvements Nc
Keesport is in good shape. Her streets
are fairly we'll paved, her water works are
in good shape to run until the big water
scheme is put into operation, and the city
at large would not suffer much by taking
her in. The same might be said of Brad
Knoxville and Millvale. There are other
places, such as Duquesne, Homestead,
Etna, CHARTERS and other boroughs which
have made comparatively little progress in
the way of improvements, but when the
consolidation is made these would have to
be taken in, too. There are many questions
to be considered in such a matter as this,
but the water scheme has started the ball
rolling, and you will see interest growing
from now until it is accomplished.
The Mayors Line of Argument.
Mayor Gourley soon got down to the same
line of argument when the water question
was broached to him. 81 can't say that 1
fully understand the proposition of this
Western water company he said, "but
from what know of it I am inclined to be-
lieve the city should build the system her.
self rather than to allow private company
to build it and then buy out the plant at an
enormous figure. There would be big
profit for the company or they would not
undertake the work. This might as well be
saved to the taxpayers. I am satisfied it
will only be few years until our rivers
will be turned into big sewers and the water
unfit for use. Then we must have a new
source OF supply. This company. 1 under
stand, only controls small section Of lands
on Indian creek. If the city goes into the
scheme she should buy 30, 900 to $4,000 acres
of the land which drains into Indian creek
to insure it for all time against pollution by
population. The land is cheap, but would
cost more than one city could afford to pay.
1t would be extremely difficult to arrange
such purchase by several separate cities
The best way to get over such a difficulty
would be to consolidate all the towns which
would use the water supply into one big