Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-05
IMPROVEMENTS IN ALLEGHENY.

Streets Must Be Severed Before They win
he Repaved-Mr. Henricks Presents n
Plan for the Issuance of $1,000, 900
Worth of Bonds.
The Allegheny subcommittee on streets
and sewers had an interesting meeting last
evening. The question of the relationship
of sewering to paving occupied considerable
attention, and the committee put itself on
record as being opposed to the paving or re-
paving of any street until after it has been
severed and the sewer completed for at least
six months.
There were brought up about dozen
ordinances for the repaving of minor streets
with vitrifed brick, asphalt block or asphalt
sheet. The committee added in each case
the words "or other improved pavement"
and recommended to the Committee on
Public Works such ordinances as referred
to streets already severed. Chairman Paulin
said he thought the committee ought not to
recommend the paving of any street where
the property owners had not secured sewer
age facilities. Mr.. Henricks thought it
ought to be made clear to the people that
they must petition for sewers before asking
for paving.
The committee afirmatively recommended
an ordinance providing that no street shall
be repaved with improved pavement unless
already severed or where the sewering can
be done in the rear alleys, and that no re-
paving shall be done until at least six
months after the sewering has been COM
pleted.
Henricks on General Improvements.
In connection with the question of re-
paving and sewering Mr.. Henricks pre-
sented the following statement to the COM
mittee:
The present discussion Of the subject of
public improvements in Allegheny City is
one of great importance to the future well
the committee to fully set forth the needs
OF the entire city, not portion or particular
section. We need better streets, better
sewerage, new and wide avenues to the SUBJ
urbs, more light. and last but not least, we
will have to provide a better source Of
water supply before great while. The
pubic should be thoroughly informed as to
the probable cost and manner of paying for
the same. For large expenditures of money
for permanent improvements the issue of
bonds Is the proper method, as 1t removes
the burden and distributes it so that when
the time for payment comes, larger popu-
lation, larger property valuation, and con-
sequently larger tax receipts, and sinking
fund, created by yearly amouts set aside,
are ready to meet the bonds.
In connection with this question, desire
to call attention TO several facts. One mill
tax yearly will provide for an issue of ST.
in 30 years. One and one.half mill tax tax will viii
provide for $1,50O. 900 bonds, payable in 30
years. The property valuation of Allegheny
is about s7O.000000, and mill raises so 900
yearly; III mill would raise sos 000 With
81, ,OOO0 900 bonds we could set $500 900 aside for
street improvements, allow $500, 600 for the
Butchers Run, Woods Run and other needed
sewers allow about s50,O00 te pay for con-
demning toll roads within the city limits,
set aside $5O.0o0 for increased electric light,
and have $l00. 600 for general purposes, such
as assisting IN paying damages for opening
Of new and wide streets to develop the out
lying wards, etc.
Developing the Outside Districts.
The valuation of rural property is about
S25, OOOO COO, out of a total of $40, 600. COO The
acreage of the rural wards is $500 out OF
4,72O. By 1udfcious management and open
ing of good streets the valuation would be
so raised that In the course of a few years
the rural wards would pay most of the tax,
and long before the bonds would be due the
money expended on new avenues would be
returned many times over. As an illustra-
tion, property where California avenue is
laid out could have been bought two years
ago from 81, 500 TO 81 500. In other words, it
returns over five times the taxes to the
city treasury since the avenue has been
opened. The balance Of the rural wards
will, if properly opened up, add their quota
of increased tax returns TO the city. The
mechanic merchant and wealthy clasS'can
all find homes at reasona Bile figures and the
exodus to the East End of Pittsburg be
stopped. With million and halt bonds
the extra s50O,000 could be expended on the
water supply and better supply secured. I
would suggest that NEE tings be held in each
ward and the matter thoroughly discussed,
and citizens and Councilmen have full in
terchanae of views, so that whatever be
done In November next be for the best in
terests of the entire city.
Chairman Paulin said he considered the
matter suggested by Mr. Henricks to be of
great Importance, and thought the members
of the committee ought to have time to con-
slider it some length. At the request of Mr.
Henricks the communication was laid over
so that members could study the questions
involved He hoped the committee would
be able to formulate general plan to be
submitted to the Finance Committee
The committee opened bids for repaving
Cabinet street and Tor the construction of a
jetty to carry the Butchers Run sewer out
into the current in the Allegheny river.