Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-11-30
MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 8,
MARKET STREET WHARF


/ 4 and the City Planning Commission
have emphasized what the Tele-
/, graph has frequently called attention
: to in the matter of the abortion on
+ the river wall and steps at Market
street. Several efforts have been
made to overcome this lamentablt
condition, but up to the present time
without success.
With an ample coal wharf at Pax
ton street, a block or two south OF
Market, there is absolutely no excuse
! for the deplorable break in the river
wall and steps in the very heart OF the
city, where thousands crossing the
river bridges are struck with the in
congruity of treatment resulting from
the alleged necessity of wharf faclh-
ties at that point. Outside the river
coal and sand interests there is no de-
mand for this break in the harmony
of the River Front improvement and,
in fact. the most important coal OPP
orator on the river-the Light and
Power Company-is understood to be
perfectly satisfied with the Paxton
street wharf.
1t appears that the plan to make
a continuous line of steps at that
point was abandoned by reason OF
certain objections of citizens of South
Front street who feared the wharf at
Paxton street would involve the haul
ing of all coal and sand up Front
street. This apprehension seems to
have been without real foundation in
asmuch as the larger operators on
the river are willing to provide at
their own expense modern devices
for delivering the coal so that there
shall he no nuisance along the street.
In fact it would not be necessary to
haul the coal up town at all inasmuch
as it is proposed to use the Paxton
street bridge and thence up Cameron
street to the Ninth street plant for
delivery of coal to the Light and
Power Company
To continue the wharf arrange
ment at Market street means a SER
ious blunder in an otherwise fine
River Front Improvement. But it is
not too late yet to have an earnest
conference with all concerned and the
city officials with view to correcting
the mistake. Especially is this inn
portant in view of the fact that an
other wharf will probably be de-
manded at Broad street. Certainly
there is no excuse for more than two
delivery points-one in the southern
oil in
part of the city
All of Harrisburg has contributed
to the making of a beautiful River
Front and it is neither fair nor reason
able to consider the interests of a
few at the expense of the entire COM
munity. 1t is conceded that reason
able facilities should be furnished the
coal and sand operators, but it is ut
terly inconceivable that their interests
should be paramount to those of the
people at large.
1t is within the jurisdiction OF the
city planning commission, co-operat-
ing with the other official bodies, to
take steps at once to prevent this
serious blot on the program of the
city improvements. Strangers who
come to Harrisburg in large numbers
across the river bridges and thousands
of others who find the walk along the
river their chief joy never tire of sing
ing the praises of Harrisburg, but
they are certain to wonder why the
monstrosity at Market street has been
permitted in the face of the many
fine things already achieved by the
city.