Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-24
CITY TO ESTIMATE
COST OF PROPOSED
IMPROVEMENTS
Three Years Given to De-
velop Big Upper End
Tract

uoiioiS VI IHe Slte, anu IL HeCSSSe'iS
an additional two years will be al
lowed to complete the work pro-
vided satisfactory progress has been
made.
Within two years the city also is
to place on the official map and
open Green street to width of 12O
feet from Schuylkill street north
to the city limits; Third street to 60
feet extending along the bluff above
Italian Park and joining Third
street in Riverside, and Sixth street
to 60 feet from Division street
north, eliminating the curve just
above Hoffman's Woods by chang
ing the lines of the street from
Division street north.
These agreements were reached
with the executors of the Mckee
Graham estate at a conference yes
terday afternoon with the City
Planning Commission. Mayor Keis-
ter, Commissioner E. u. Gross and
, Engineer NJ. B. Cowden.
Before any further action is
taken, Mr.. Cowden with the engi-
neer for the Planning Commission,
E. Clark Cowden, will determine
the probable cost of developing the
park as the representatives of the
estate said they preferred to have
it done.
Plan Swimming Pool
The executors, r. Mckee Gra-
ham, Malcom McGiffin, and II. +.
Leety, said they would not make
such stipulations for development of
the park as would make it impos-
sble for the city to meet but told
the committee of officials that they
desired to have the tract developed
in NKpn11
most satisfactory to Harrisburg, and
at the same time tend to increase
the value of other property in that
vicinity owned by the estate.
Whether a pool or lake is to be
provided will not be determined
until engineers have made care
full investigation of the water sup
ply. The executors said they would
not insist upon the city providing
a pool $50 by $50, feet as proposed
at first, but if possible desired to
have one as large in size as pos
sible.
Mayor Keister and Commissioner
Gross said they preferred to have
a lake or pool, preferably one which
could be used for swimming during
the summer months, in which case
the city possibly would furnish fil-
tered water supply during the four
summer months in case the natural
supply of water would not be suffi-
cient for it during that period. Part
of the pool at least would be con-
creted according to the tentative
plans which were discussed.
The development of the park
proper and the planting of the area
will be left to the landscape de-
signers for detailed advice TO the
city. Mr.. McGiftin said that he pre-
ferred to have the tract used as
park with some few Fairgrounds in
it, but not entirely for playground
purposes, and the members of the
Planning Commission and the
.counCilmanic committee agreed with
him that such a development was
proper.
To submit Report
After reaching the tentative
agreement with the representative
who came here from Pittsburgh. it
was decided by tho joint committee
of the Planning Commission mem
hers and the councilmen that the
engineers should submit a report
on the estimated cost which would
be submitted to Council by the
Planning Commission together with
the agreement with the Mckee
Graham estate fixing the time limit
for the work and for opening the
streets.
Whether it will be necessary to
have a bond issue to pay for the
work, or whether Council can pro-
vide the money in the annual bud
gets as the improvements progress
will be determined after some esti-
mate of the cost is received Mayor
Kester said. He explained that
the ONLY purpose of the other COM
missioners in naming a committee
to study the situation was to receive
a report on the time which will be
given the city to complete the work,
and the probable cost of the de-
Velopment of the park. The ques-
tion OF widening the streets when
discussed by Councilmen few
weeks ago met with general APP
proval and it was understood at that
time that they would favor laying
out the highways as recommended
by the Planning Commission.
Members OF the commission told
Mr.. McGitIin and Mr.. Graham that
the total amount OF damages which
the city probably would be COM
PEELED to pay would be about $l5,-
900 because of two houses in River
side which lie within the lines for
the proposed widening of Green
street to 12O feet. Other properties
are involved it was said but it is
believed that a definite understand
ing can be had with the owners.
To compensate the Harrisburg
Academy for the ground which
would he taken from its tract to
widen Green street a request for a
street 60 feet in width extending to
the river was made. The executors
said they believed such a roadway
was necessary and would consider
the plan.
Plan 120-Foot Street
L. S. Herman, president of the
Planning Commission, then said
that the question of compensating
the Academy in some manner for
the damages caused by opening the
street through its ground could be
settled later and probably without
any difficulty.
Plans which have been approx
cd by the Planning Commission for
widening the streets when officially
accepted by Council will make
Green street a highway 120 feet in