Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-25
SWIFT ACTION
WAS ILLEGAL
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pressive of his views on the matter.
Mr.. Hall said;
Il feel that of course the interests
Of the manufacturers should be con-
sidered and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES done
to help and encourage them. How
ever the function of h Planning
Commission is to consider what is best
for the city as a whole. If Harris
may be developed. a section devoted
entirely to manufacturing purposes
and set aside for such with no thor
oughfares for general traffic, a bridge
such as is proposed with proper safe
guard as to it's character n limita-
lions, might not be Objectionable. But
with no such district it is certainly es-
tablishing a precedent which in itself
is dangerous and one which is liable to
come back to plague us in the future.
Laying aside entirely the question OF
the aesthetic point of view and treat
ing 1t upon its merits as an economic
proposition only. with this precedent
already established ! cannot see how
this privilege can be denied to any
who seeks it, and our streets be
bridged over anywhere and every"
where.
Another feature of the danger of
this precedent is the fact that every
two years our government changes.
1t is entirely possible that the succeed
ing council may view matters of this
kind in an entirely different way from
the present council and some then
might be denied the same privilege
that any and. all may obtain o for
the asking. The reasons given for the
impracticability of a tunnel were not
at all conclusive or adequate, only that
a bridge would be more convenient
and less costly.
One of the fundamental principles
which have guided the Planning Com
mission in its consideration of the
laying out of streets, plots and build
ing lines has been to so plan as to
secure the greatest amount Of light
and air possible. to better the living
conditions, and not to take away from
the light and air which we have, which
structures Of this kind do. I cannot
help but feel that this permission was
granted without sufficient study on the
part of Council as to its needs, alter
natives possible. and the future effects
and complications. And in granting
ii, il seems to me tina Council has
acted contrary to the best interests OF
the city and that a serious mistake has
been made"
Invasion of Public Rights
George w. Reilly, another member
VI TIE COIllIIllo5lOI "IllCS dS IOllOMS.
ITO my mind the most important
consideration is a general objection to
giving any private rights in the public
highways. The building of this bridge
under the authority of Council would
establish a precedent which If carried
to its logical conclusion would result
in the DETACHMENT of the streets. for a
similar right could not be consistently
denied to other applicants without
necessitating discrimination between
individuals. In this particular instance
the necessity was not apparent. II
would be a convenience, of course, but
in the future it might seriously retaro
traffic, and il would certainly result in
the DETACHMENT, of the street and de-
tract from the beauty OF the Capitol
Park extension, which is would over
look"
President Edwin S. Herman. of the
Planning Commission, has all alone
been strongly of the opinion that nc
district should be made to depend or
the whims Of one administration. an6
that the private right of one individual
Is as nothing compared with the bes'
interests of a thousand people. To the
statement hat the law relating to the
subject of overhead bridges and the
like was broad and that Just as mucf
right existed for the placing of such
bridge as for the existence of overhead
signs, Mr.. Herman replied tersely tina
Two blacks do not make a white"
B. r. Umberger and George A
Shreiner. the two remaining member
of the commission. were out of towI
to-day and could not be reached.