Source:Ordinance-1848-prr
"An ordinance granting certain privileges to the Pennsylvania railroad company." Pittsburgh city ordinance, 1848. Enacted June 15, 1848; recorded July 10, 1848. Ordinance Book A, p. 406. In A Digest of the Ordinances of the City of Pittsburgh: To which is prefixed a collection of the Acts of Assembly relating to the corporation, pp. 255–256, W. H. Whitney, Pittsburgh, 1849 (Historic Pittsburgh 31735056288487).
AN ORDINANCE
Granting certain privileges to the Pennsylvania railroad company.
Whereas, A convention of the citizens of Allegheny county, assembled on the 31st day of May, 1848, upon the call of the commissioners of said county, to advise with them on the propriety of subscribing to stock in the Pennsylvania railroad company: And whereas, The said convention did advise the said commissioners to subscribe for twenty thousand shares of said railroad stock: And whereas, The said county convention did advise the said county commissioners to impose a condition to said subscription, to wit: That the said company shall finally establish the terminus of their road within the limits of the city of Pittsburgh. Therefore, Fully acquiescing in the views of the convention as to the importance to the trade and prosperity of the city of Pittsburgh, that the terminus of said road should be located within its limits and at a point convenient for its shipping interests, and that every facility ought to be given to said company in the location and access to their depot, not only as it regards the convenient use of said road to the commercial and manufacturing interests, but in view of the fact that the city of Pittsburgh has become by the act of the county commissioners a partner and interested in the success and profit to be derived therefrom: Therefore,
Section I. That the right is hereby granted to the Pennsylvania railroad company, to enter and lay down rails through the streets of said city, to wit: Along Ferguson street to a convenient point, to curve into Liberty street, thence down Liberty street to the river, and that the said company shall have the privilege to traverse said streets with their cars and machinery: Provided, That after passing the curve aforesaid it shall not be competent for said company to exceed at any time a speed of four miles an hour, under such penalties as may hereafter be ordained and enacted by councils: Provided also, That the said company shall at all times hereafter be subject to such rules and regulations as may be found necessary for the further protection and security of the persons and property of the citizens of said city.
Sect. II. That for the construction of a depot to accommodate the trade of the city of Pittsburgh, upon and from said railroad, that there be granted and the said authorities do hereby grant to the Pennsylvania railroad company for so long as the said depot may be required by the said Pennsylvania railroad company, the use of sufficient ground on the levee or water front of the city, upon which the said company may construct the necessary buildings, beginning at the point opposite the corner of Liberty street, extending at right angles with Water street, thence to low water mark, and thence to the Allegheny river, at a rent of $3000 per annum, or in the same proportion for any less quantity that the company may occupy and use, the rent to begin to accrue at and from the occupation of the building: Provided, That the said company shall cause Water street to be laid out at least sixty feet in width from the north side of said depot, and that the river side and ends of said depot shall be founded on piers, so that free access to said levee shall at all times be unobstructed by foundation walls, and kept open for public use, and that the right to have a passage at least thirty feet in width opposite Penn street, through and by which carriages, wagons, drays and other vehicles may have free access between said Penn street and the river shall be reserved: Provided also, That the occupancy of said ground by said company shall not interfere with the right of the officers of said city to collect wharfage on said levee as though such depot had not been erected thereon: Provided also, That the said company shall not at any time hereafter, either by themselves or their agents engage in the business of forwarding merchants.
Sect. III. That so much of any ordinance as is hereby altered or supplied, be, and the same is hereby repealed.
Ordained and Enacted into a law in Councils, this 15th day of June, A. D. 1848.
Recorded—July 10th, A. D. 1848, in Book A., p. 406.