Source:New-streets
"New streets: Important action of the Survey Committee of City Councils." Pittsburgh Gazette, May 10, 1869, p. 8. Newspapers.com 86349341.
Agreeably to announcement, the Survey Committee of City Councils met on Saturday morning, at nine o'clock sharp, at the Oakland waiting rooms of the East Liberty and Oakland Passenger Railway, for the purpose of going over the grounds of the new districts to select and lay out new streets and avenues, asked for by petitions addressed to the body they represent, and by which referred to them. There were present Messrs. R. G. Herron, Dr. A. H. Gross, F. Torrence, T. J. Craig, John McMasters, Frank P. Case, Thomas P. Houston and the Chairman, John Chislett, Jr. The Committee were accompanied by the Civil Engineer, W. H. Kennedy, who has charge of the City Survey Corps, and Messrs. Hailman and Murdock, of Select Council, and a number of property holders of the new wards. The whole day was expended in visiting the woods and wilds, plains and hills, streets, alleys, lanes and roads of the new districts, and the occasion, although full of downright labor and hard work, was as pleasant and enjoyable as a May picnic or pleasure excursion. The day was beautiful, being balmy and cool, with a bright sun and clear sky overhead.
The first important question to be decided upon was a proposed changing of the original plan of the great sixty foot rival of Fifth avenue, which according to the map was to strike and unite with it at a point near Dithridge street. The Committee went over the ground, struck bee-lines in the air with their optics, and after mature deliberation and full exchange of thoughts concluded to change the location so as to have Forbes street run independently of Fifth avenue, and nearly parallel with it, from what was formerly known as East Pittsburgh, by a nearly straight line through the estate of the late Thomas Little, Esq., and from thence on eastwardly towards Wilkinsburg, in the rear of the estates of Faber, Howe, Berry, and others. At Little's place there is a ravine of considerable depth which will have to be bridged, but the grades on both sides are favorable to the easy erection of such a structure. After crossing the bridge a slightly inclined plane is reached, but the grade will be hardly as heavy as that on Sixth avenue, between Smithfield and Grant streets. This grade is only about one thousand feet in length, when an open table land is reached, which continues to the end of the road, as broad, smooth and level as the face of a flat-iron. This change, any one who has knowledge of the topography of the place will admit, was a wise and judicious one. It opens a broad and valuable strip of territory which has no outlet save private alleys and lanes. The action of the Committee at least doubled the value of miles of territory thus afforded outlet by a broad and proud avenue. The Committee were unanimous in their decision, and we presume no objection can or will be made to the proposed change by Councils.
After deciding on this important business the Committee were invited to the elegant residence of Mr. Lloyd, to inspect a patent pump, a St. Louis manufacture, which had won much credit to our country while on exhibition in Paris at the Great Exposition. The pump is small in height, has a broad base and tapers to a genteel point. The cap for excluding air is highly ornamented in silver, and is held firmly to its place by delicate wire cords. When wanted to be used the wires are drawn aside and the air forcing its way downwards creates a pressure upon the outside of the pump, which is already charged, and the fluid flows freely. The Committee took pleasuie [sic] in drinking the water, several times, from so elegant a pump, and were so enraptured with the pretty piece of American manufacture that we heard conniseurs [sic] in other matters, pass judgment even on the water, using such epicurean adjectives as "its crémant," "highly effervescent," "diuretic and strengthening," "agreeable sweetness," "full flavor," "delightful aroma," and "endearing boquet [sic]." These pumps cost rather heavy but all well ordered families should have them in—the wine cellar. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Lloyd for the generous use of his model pumps, and the Committee, refreshened, proceeded to inspect the ground for
They decided to run a street parallel with Craig street from Forbes to Allaquippa [sic] street. It will run quite close to the Bellefield church but take in none of its property. When opened it will be sixty feet in width and will prove one of the finest avenues of that portion of the city. It will cross at nearly right angles with Fifth and Centre avenues.
Shady Lane was next visited. The committee decided to make it from a forty-foot street, which it now is, a sixty-foot street, running between Fifth Avenue and the Greensburg pike. Several objectionable angles and serpentine turns were taken out of the line, and with the improvements decided upon, the avenue will merge into a delightful road, one which must largely enhance the value of the property through which it passes. The change in the width will entail little or no hardship on private interests.
After they were through with their labors in this direction, the Committee were cordially invited to the picturesque residence of our public spirited fellow-citizen, Frank Sellers, Esq., for dinner—an invitation which was readily accepted, and the clever host can rest assured that his guests felt duly grateful for the hospitable reception at his hands, all the more appreciated since the action of widening the lane into an avenue took more than an acre of very valuable property for public purposes, off the real-estate of Mr. Sellers, who willingly acquiesced to the hardship entailed.
The Committee next visited a private lane at the toll gate or top of the hill, and decided to open it into a fifty foot street, through from the Pike to the Frankstown road. This will not interfere with property to any extent and will secure a much needed new avenue, affording outlet to a large number of real estate owners.
The Puckety road was next visited. It was decided to take out several ugly angles and to make it from thirty-three feet to a fifty foot avenue. Its extension was also decided upon through to the Allegheny river, but that will hardly take place for many years.
After accomplishing this much, the Committee adjourned and reaceed [sic] their homes about six o'clock. The Surveyor will at once go to work with his well organized corps to lay out the lines decided upon.
