Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-09-20
Natural Beauty of Susque-
hanna Basin and River Wall
Rivals Balcony of Europe"
ON HARRISBURG SHORES
Why City Spent So Many
Thousands to Improve Its
Embankments

Strolling along the great promenade
of the Rruhl Terrace that has helped
make Dresden famous. the tourist
from a far country somehow didn't
seem nearly so properly impressed as
he should have beere So thought his
polite friend, the German, anyway.
Obviously. in his minds eye, the trav-
eler was making a comparison.
Pausing to admire the group Of
statuary at the four corners of the
great steps that typifies Schilling's
. conception of Morning, Noon, Evening
and Night, the stranger offered his
need of praise. Then his eyes strayed
TO the natural beauties of the Elbe be-
low. And again the Dresdcnite got
the impression that his guest was
making comparisons
On Europe's Balcony
Bruhl Terrace Nentured the host
enthusiastically, is called 'Europe's
balcony because it attracts so many
thousands of visitors. So IL is with
the Alster basin al Hamburg. with it's
handsome residences on the shores,
its fine lawns extending to the waters
edge. its beautiful driveway
'Yes?" said the traveller. Now.
then, let me tell you of another water
front and another river basin, the
river front of Harrisburg, the capital
city of Pennsylvania, in America, and
the basin OF the Susquehanna. And
this is how il come TO be"
Whereupon the tourist told a story:
Way back in 1901, when Harris
turg turned over in its slumber bed
OF the years, yawned. rubbed its eyes
saw its possibilities for civic beauti-
hcation and decided TO really wake up.
the problem of treating the river front
was one of several that il first planned
to solve. The Telegraph, incidentally
onered the initial suggestion. together
with tentative sketch for building
wall Of some description throughout
the three-mile length of the city
shores.
The Tourist Tells Story
IN 1910 the people of the city pro-
vided the funds. One item of the third
public Improvement loan called for an
expenditure of 1915, 900 for the con-
struction of an interceptor sewer and
appurtenances along the Susquehanna.
1he great concrete drain was con-
structed first and its purpose was to
connect with ali the sewer outlets
mat heretofore emptied into the river
along the shore
For years the shadows especially at
the mouths of the sever outlets, we're
just the best gathering and family
rearing places in the world for mos
quitoes. Pools formed, and, except in
high water, the stagnant, flth-filled
water did its share to keep the clerks
fairly busy in the sickness and NOR
tality record department of the Board
Of Health.
The Drainage Scheme
The interceptor as planned and COM
pleted empties into the river at Iron
alley. At this point. by the way. the
other big interceptor that was con-
structed with the ultimate idea of con-
centrating all of Harrisburg's sewage
in disposal plant down the river
the Paxton creek drain-also empties.
The possibilities Of foods and ice
crushes with reference to the big drain
along the river bank presented a prob
lem, however which the proposed
treatment OF the river front readily
solved
Some means for protecting the big
sewer was absolutely necessary. Rip
rappiug at exposed points was sug-
Eested, but was dismissed as imprac-
ucable. This would be costly, never
completed, and would always present
more or less ragged outline.
Dresden Gets a Rival
SO the plan for constructing a wall
OF concrete in the form of a three
p1ile-lonE fight of eight or ten stems
10 the waters edge was devised and
little less than three years ago the
contract was awarded to Sucker
BROTHERS Construction Company. The
bid was for 1851 ,0s5. although some
extras" had TO be paid which ran the
total up several thousands The gan
in the wall ct Market street, which is
row. being closed ar extra cost was
enc OF the more important items. One
ST the coal wharves was originally in
-ended for this point. One other coal
@as point on the wall is at Paxton
street and another may be built at
Serbeke or Division street. This gap.
however, with the exception of the
stretch at ''Hardscra bible" is the only
opening in the splendid stretch of
river front from Maclay street to Iron
alley.
Work was pushed vigorously under
the jurisdiction of the Board of Public
Works with Joel D. Justin as principal
engineer in charge.
During the last two years City Com
missioner W. H Lyrch has had de-
partmental supervision of the work.
The Lights Along the Wall
And the wall. even unto the pretty
standard electric lights. will be prac-
ncally complete for the celebration.
Fiftv-four lights will be placed this
week by the Harrisburg Light and
Tower COMPANY and the remaining
hfty-four will go in next year. This
is in accordance with a plan sug-
Fested by. the puhlicspirited utility
company in order To insure the light
ing of the wall for the celebration.
Not the least important factor of
me Improvement IS the splendid con-
crete balustraded plaza in the rear of
the pumping station and topping the
II affords a beautiful view up and
down the lske-like basin of the Sus-
ouehanna. While constructed by the
wall contractors at a cost of s2500, II
was maid for Independently of the wall
job bv CITY Commissioner Harry F.
Bowman. superintendent of the De-
nartment of Public Safety The in
terror of the plaza is now being planted
with flower beds and shrrhhery
Isn't This Some Job?
The whole wall and steps were built
Of steel reinforced concrete The sys-
tenn of construction is more or less
new to Harrisburg. The steps were
nut in in sections by building concrete
forms. or. stringers. which rest on
foundation rock Over these the steps
are nodded. Atop of the wall is a
broad 14-foot- walk. Access from
the park embankments to the wall Is
made easy by means of gently sloping
ramps. At several points on the higher
embankments frame steps have been
provided. This work was done by
City Commissioner NJ. Harvey Taylor