Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-07

step this afternoon to eliminate Hard,
scrabble" in order that the improve
ment of the river front and construc-
ton of the river wall may be properly
continued When an ordinance provid-
ing the method whereby the properties
can be acquired was read for the first
time in City Council.
The ordinance is the measure sug-
gested by the Chamber of Commerce
II was submitted to Council along
with a resolution voicing the Cham
ber's endorsement of the move.
The measure provides in it's first Sec
ton for the taking over of the prop
critics in "Hardscrabble"-the western
side of Front street between Calder
and Herr streets-upon agreement be-
tween the and the City So
llcitor. In the second section the
alternative provision is made that if no
agreement can be reached the usual
steps leading to condemnation pro-
ceedings be taken by requesting the
court to appoint a board of viewers
who shall assess benefits and damages.
The last section embodies the authority
in the superintendent of streets to re-
move the buildings after the matter
has been settled.
Measure Needs Vote of -Four
The ordinance must lie over for
thirty days and will require -four votes
to pass it finally. The councilmen,
while reluctant so early in the pro-
ceeding to discuss the proposition, gen.
orally appear to favor it provided the
entire cost of the damages need not be
by the residents living On the
eastern side of the street and that
some way can be determined upon
whereby the city can provide the nee
essary funds for carrying out the plan.
The general impression is that the
plan to be followed will near the
assessing of benefits and damages and
are assumed by the eastern side prop
erty owners as benefits should be paid
for by the city.
Taylor Introduces Ordinance
The ordinance was introduced by
Commissioner NJ. Harvey Taylor, SUI
p"erintendent of parks and public
property, "by request" Without COM
ment Council adopted the suggestion
of Council as a committee of the
whole" to buy the city's first motor
fire apparatus of both the American
La France n Morton Truck COM
panies. Two chemicals will be bought,
an American La France for S4,25O
and a Morton apparatus for $4,000.
Commissioner Taylor who had rec
commended two American La France
chemicals for $4,000, alone voted
no"
Another echo If the Briggs street
opening problem developed when a
communication from the Civic Club
endorsing the ordinance to open the
highway from Front to Second to the
full 60-foot width was read. Coun-
ell cannot act again on the measure
until July 81 as it is now lying over
the necessary thirty days after intro
duction.
Scores of ~railroaders and other citi-
zens who must use the Maclay street
bridge at all hours of the night signed
a petition to Council requesting more
lights on the viaduct. The bridge, the
petition stated, is dark enough to be-
come a rendezvous for thieves and
people fear to travel the highway after
dark. The matter was referred to
the Department of Public Safety.
In a resolution offered by Commits
sioner Bowman, the superintendent of
parks is requested to obtain from the
Front street property owners who
have not yet given over to the city
their land on the west side of the
street for park purposes-their best
purchase figures. This applies to only
a few residents.
Fol New Porch Line
Several important new ordinances
were introduced, including one by
Commissioner Bowman whereby new
restrictions are laid down relative to
the building lines of porches. BY Mr..
Bowman's measure porches may be
constructed in streets of more thar
sixty feet in width to six feet three
inches beyond the building line; in
streets under sixty feet the four feet
six inch regulation prescribed by the
1904 regulation will hold. The ordi-
nance it is believed will settle the
controversy which arose u of the
action threatened sometime ago by
James c.. Costello, a Crescent street
resident, who contended the porches
adjoining his property were beyond
the building line limit.
Commissioner Taylor submitted the
ordinance appropriating $~1,S42.6O from
the estimated balance of the trolley
license fund for the equipment, office
rent and engineering services of the
City Planning Commission. Commits
sioner Gorgas introduced his measure
appropriating 100000 for additional
improvement work as follows: Fifteen
| thousand dollars for extras on the