Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-07
Railroad Fails to Meet
BorOugh's Demands in
Canal Ordinance Matter

Because the Pennsylvania Railroad
did not meet the borough's demands
for ample compensation for the
valuable permossion to construct
three additional grade crossings in the
West Side, the ordinance granting the
company to go ahead with its pro-
posed freight spur along the old
Pennsylvania canal, was referred back
to the Highway committee to confer
with the Railroad and Steel Com
pany, with a view to bringing about
an agreement.
The ordinance is before council on
third and final reading. 1t was dis
cussed informally by the councilmen
before the meeting was called to
order AS the ordinance now stands
the railroad offers nothing in return
for the right to construct three grade
crossings. Following several confer
ences with the highway committee,
railroad officials offered to build about
/ 900 feet of sewer in the bed of the
old Pennsylvania canal. This pro-
posed sewer would not eliminate the
canal nuisance but would merely
carry the water through the streets
which it is proposed to fill across the
canal under the grade crossings.
Railroads Best Offer
On the suggestion of Mr.. Hender-
son the ordinance was held up until
his committee can ask the railroad
if it will build an intercepting sewer
in Conestoga street and a lateral
sewer parallel to the canal in Fred
erick street to take care of the drain
age of the West Side and that to be
destroyed by the proposed tracks.
1t was intimated by President
Reynders that the railroad could offer
no more than it did and it was sug-
gestel that if the parallel sewer is
built along the canal that the borough
should pay part of the cost and the
remainder be paid Jointly by the steel
| Company and by the railroad.
The ordinance was not amended
| as it had been rather strongly init
mated in municipal circles 1t would
and 1t still stands in it's original form
That Hospital Loan
! After a long discussion council de-
cided to permit the voters of the
maries whether or not the $4,000
raised by a bond issue for erection oi
a municipal hospital be used to pur-
chase motor fire apparatus. This
money is now in bank at three pei
cent. and the borough is paying four
and-a-half.
President Reynders, in discussing
| the municipal hospital project, de.
clared that it was his belief that the
State should assist municipalities il
| fighting epidemics and said that he
| intended to take up with the neXt
| legislature plans Cor bringing about
such action.
1t was decided to have drawn ar
ordinance calling for a vote in MAY
on a loan of $4,000 for street paw
ing and $4,000 for motor fire appara-
\ tins and garbage trucks.
| o. E. b. .Malehorn, the new chief o1
the fire department, made his first re-
port in person and asked council tC
purchase 1900 feet of new hose, some
new coats, new smoke protectors anc
to erect hose driers in three hose
houses. Council authorized the pur-
chase of 600 feet of hose, erection Of
the hose driers and purchase of the
smoke protectors.
Because council believed the pro
visions of the proposed new license
! ordinance needs revision, action OF
the measure was deferred.
A motion of Councilman Henderson
that two additional policemen be
hired for special duty In daytime was
referred to the Police Committee. II
| his annual report last month Burgess
Fred Wigheld asked for three officers
A deed from Wright & Brightbil
giving the borough a tract of ground
| for the entrance to Luther r. KelkeT
park was accepted and ordered re-
corded and the agreement for the
grading of Park street was filed.