been warmly contested, and the vote at Harrisburg was close. The rancor of the brief days of local warfare was transferred to the State capital. George T. Oliver led the Arthur forces, and Colonel Bayne, the Blaine delegates. Ebenezer M. Byers was adjutant general for Colonel Bayne, and specially looked after the interests of his brother, Alexander M. Byers, who was the real leader for Blaine. Suffice it to say that the air was hot-vitriolic at times. The Blaine leaders were violent, and Mr. Oliver and his lieutenants so cool and confident that threatened collisions were avoided, and the Arthur forces secured the delegates. The Blaine people gave notice of a contest at Chicago, which did not materialize. Many of the Blaine followers attended the convention at Chicago as guests, and they will readily recall, among other incidents of that notable gathering, the ovations to Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay and Senator William Mahone, of Virginia, almost every time they entered the convention hall. Twelve years passed away and in 1896 all or nearly all of the warring factions for Blaine and Arthur were joined in a spirited contest under the William McKinley banner as against Bryan and his 16 to 1 policy. ΟΝ LOWRY'S WATER WORKS ENGINES. N JULY 19, 1876, according to the Dispatch files, Highland reservoir "was completed and ready to be turned over to the city." Which reminds me of an interesting story in connection with its infilling. Joseph L. Lowry was an expert mechanical and hydraulic engineer, whose patented fire hydrants, or "fire plugs," were at the time exclusively used in Pittsburgh and other cities. "Joe" was old-fashioned—in that he would not permit contractors or grafters of any species to use him in the sale of or privilege to use his patents; and when it was proposed to adopt his patented low pressure engines for the new water system, there was formidable. opposition. Thousands of dollars were involved and it would not do to have an honest engine and an honest engineer, whose fidelity, integrity and ability were unquestioned. And the Water Commission resolutely stood by Lowry. The lowest bidders for the engines were Lowry's enemies from the beginning, because of his refusal to "certify to work as complete," upon which not a hammer had fallen. But Lowry won out and proved that his "pumping twins" not only met all the requirements and specifications, but exceeded his most sanguine hopes. The plans for the new water system, in brief, provided for two reservoirs; one on Brilliant Hill, 237 feet above the river level, and the second and greater basin on Highland Hill, 369 feet above the river; the first to supply the lower plane of the city, and the second, the higher or East End districts. There was to be an intermediate engine on Brilliant Hill to pump to the higher basin on Highland Hill. Lowry was compelled to waive all royalties on his engines, and received States and the only candidate whose lengthy biography was not already in type. Judge Carnahan and the other scribe averaged 57 to 63 words a minute from dictation, and while the penmanship was not Spencerian, it was legible for the typesetter. COL BLAINE-ARTHUR CAMPAIGN. OL. THOMAS M. BAYNE, for several years Congressman from Western Pennsylvania, at one time District Attorney of Allegheny County, one of the owners of the Pittsburgh Press when first organized, shortly prior to the assembling of the national convention in 1884, when James G. Blaine was a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, declared for Blaine. Mr. Henry W. Oliver, Jr., prominent for many years in local and State politics; Hon. George T. Oliver, United States Senator; William Flinn, C. L. Magee, Mayor William McCallin, Assistant City Controller R. M. Snodgrass and their following were for the Hon. Chester Arthur. Blaine's friends did not realize how formidable was this combination until about two weeks before the close of the campaign for Senatorial and Legislative delegates to the State convention, to choose the delegates for the national convention. Then it was that a mass convention was called to meet in old Lafayette Hall, on Wood street. Col. Thomas M. Bayne, Alexander M. Byers, Calvin Wells, John S. Slagle, Col. James M. Schoonmaker, Joseph D. Weeks, of the American Manufacturer; Walter P. Hansel, George and Harry Letsche, of the Standard Oil Company, and the people of the old Seventh and Eighth wards, especially were enthusiastic for Blaine. They were warm under the collar over this unexpected opposition, as it had been supposed that the Oliver-Magee-Flinn people would be in the final line-up for Blaine. Lafayette Hall, where 28 years before the Republican party had been organized by 38 citizens of Pittsburgh, was filled to its utmost capacity, on the Saturday evening designated for the mass meeting by the Blaine promoters, The addresses were fiery, and on the Monday following began the hottest kind of a contest. The newspapers were the only available channels through which to reach the people, and the Blaine men, new in the business, directed the advertising committee, consisting of Joseph D. Weeks and the writer, to work double turn, and they certainly did so. Their first budget of bills for advertising in the daily newspapers, covering a period of three or four days, was over $7,000. This brass band style of campaign frightened the Arthur people, and it was heralded everywhere that Blaine's adherents had a fund of $200,000 for the campaign in Western Pennylvania alone. It did not do any harm to let the opposition think so, but the truth is, that not more than a fifth of that sum crystallized, and numerous bills would have been unpaid had it not been for the generosity of one or two of the prominent Blaine leaders, who got us young fellows into the fight. The State convention was held at Harrisburg, where the delegates to the national convention were chosen. The campaign in Allegheny county had been warmly contested, and the vote at Harrisburg was close. The rancor of the brief days of local warfare was transferred to the State capital. George T. Oliver led the Arthur forces, and Colonel Bayne, the Blaine delegates. Ebenezer M. Byers was adjutant general for Colonel Bayne, and specially looked after the interests of his brother, Alexander M. Byers, who was the real leader for Blaine. Suffice it to say that the air was hot-vitriolic at times. The Blaine leaders were violent, and Mr. Oliver and his lieutenants so cool and confident that threatened collisions were avoided, and the Arthur forces secured the delegates. The Blaine people gave notice of a contest at Chicago, which did not materialize. Many of the Blaine followers attended the convention at Chicago as guests, and they will readily recall, among other incidents of that notable gathering, the ovations to Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay and Senator William Mahone, of Virginia, almost every time they entered the convention hall. Twelve years passed away and in 1896 all or nearly all of the warring factions for Blaine and Arthur were joined in a spirited contest under the William McKinley banner as against Bryan and his 16 to 1 policy. ΟΝ LOWRY'S WATER WORKS ENGINES. N JULY 19, 1876, according to the Dispatch files, Highland reservoir "was completed and ready to be turned over to the city." Which reminds me of an interesting story in connection with its infilling. Joseph L. Lowry was an expert mechanical and hydraulic engineer, whose patented fire hydrants, or "fire plugs," were at the time exclusively used in Pittsburgh and other cities. "Joe" was old-fashioned-in that he would not permit contractors or grafters of any species to use him in the sale of or privilege to use his patents; and when it was proposed to adopt his patented low pressure engines for the new water system, there was formidable opposition. Thousands of dollars were involved and it would not do to have an honest engine and an honest engineer, whose fidelity, integrity and ability were unquestioned. And the Water Commission resolutely stood by Lowry. The lowest bidders for the engines were Lowry's enemies from the beginning, because of his refusal to "certify to work as complete," upon which not a hammer had fallen. But Lowry won out and proved that his "pumping twins" not only met all the requirements and specifications, but exceeded his most sanguine hopes. The plans for the new water system, in brief, provided for two reservoirs; one on Brilliant Hill, 237 feet above the river level, and the second and greater basin on Highland Hill, 369 feet above the river; the first to supply the lower plane of the city, and the second, the higher or East End districts. There was to be an intermediate engine on Brilliant Hill to pump to the higher basin on Highland Hill. Lowry was compelled to waive all royalties on his engines, and received the paltry salary of $4,000 per year. But he accepted every challenge thrown him. But by the slipping of a "cog" his enemies received new hope that they could put both himself and engines out of business. The contractors for the Brilliant Hill basin failed financially, and that part of the scheme was abandoned. It was supposed that this break would require an entirely new deal and that Lowry would be bowled out. But "Joe" satisfied the commission in charge of the work that he would deliver the goods, and the work went on as if nothing had happened, the foxy old engineer banking on the success of his invention. Remember, Lowry was building his engines, according to agreement, to lift the water 237 feet, but by the elimination of Brilliant Hill basin he had to face the then highest direct lift of water in the world-369 feet to Highland. Political hucksters, unable to use him, were aided and abetted by people working in the interest of the contractors, who not only pronounced the engines to be a "failure," but by every artifice in their power, sought to evade the plain specifications in construction, to bring about the predicted failure. But Lowry triumphed, completed the engines, and they more than did the required work. The opposition was continued unabated, however, until finally the engines were thrown aside and a battery of new engines installed at an enormous cost. But it is not the purpose of this story to reflect upon the waste, in view of the magnificent water system of this day, the outgrowth of the work of 40 years ago. But my purpose is to recall an incident, known to some now living, which vindicated "Joe" Lowry, and enables his friends to this day to stand up for his remarkable work for Pittsburgh. Mayor "Bill" McCarthy-"Bill" we familiarly called him, because he commenced life as pressman for the Dispatch-"Bill" was Lowry's devoted friend, and emphatically and wildly enthusiastically stood pat with him. Incensed at the constant bombardment of Lowry's enemies, McCarthy organized a secret committee-not of night riders, but of night vigilantes, and "accidentally by agreement" met after darkness had settled over the city, at the Highland reservoir. They had with them lunches, for they were to be in the trenches all night. The report of that committee not only surprised but dazed Lowry's enemies and astounded the inventor and engineer until he was moved to tears. McCarthy's aids reported that without the slightest interruption, all the night through, a perfect deluge of water poured into the influent chamber and thence into the basin. The engines failed not for a moment during the entire night. To use the language of the mayor, the water tumbled into the influent chamber like a section of Niagara. This completely vindicated Lowry, and should have silenced the guns of his enemies. But their inability to move him in his obstinate resistance of everything having the semblance of crookedness, and which might have resulted in thousands of dollars of graft, continued, mostly along submarine lines, until the engines were finally condemned and sent to the junk pile. It was claimed that the engines were "erratic," unreliable, out of service half the time, etc., yet the fact was incontestable that the reservoirs were overflowing with water and McCarthy's committee attested the reason therefor. Lowry did not live long after the completion of his work, and those nearest him, and to whom he often unbosomed himself, claim that the strain was so great that he finally broke down, but with the full consciousness that while he died poor, yet was he rich in the thought that the city had not been wronged of a cent by reason of want of fidelity or integrity on his part. A INFLUENTIAL DOWNTOWN CHURCHES. N advertisement of a concert by the Allegheny Quartet, composed of William and Walter Slack, Harry Horner and Joel L. Darling, popular in its day, for Thursday evening, March 16, 1868, for the benefit of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Sixth avenue, reminds me of the great day of the downtown churches of Pittsburgh and their wealth and influence. Especially did the Cumberland Presbyterians have a great record about that time. The First Church stood on Sixth avenue, on part of the property now occupied by the Duquesne Club, and was of two stories and of the regular straight lines "barn style." It was commodious and would accommodate immense audiences. On Wood street, next to Sixth avenue, was the First Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Paxton; on the opposite side of Sixth avenue from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was Trinity Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Scarborough. Just above, at the corner of Smithfield street, was the German Evangelical Church. On Smithfield street, near the corner of Sixth, the Central Presbyterian Church, Rev. M. W. Jacobus, also of the Western Theological Seminary. On Sixth avenue, above Smithfield street, was the Second United Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. James Prestley, and at the corner of Cherry alley and Sixth avenue, the Third Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Noble. On Seventh avenue, near Cherry alley, was the English Lutheran Church. At Webster avenue and Grant street, Grace Lutheran Church, known for so long a time as Dr. Prugh's church, and at Seventh avenue and Cherry alley, the First United Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. W. J. Reid. Just back of this church came the Oak Alley Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rev. John Douglas. At Smithfield street and Seventh avenue was the well-known Smithfield Street M. E. Church, commonly known as "Brimstone corner." Going from Sixth avenue and Wood street to Penn avenue, was the Second Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. William D. Howard, on Penn avenue at Seventh street; Christ M. E. Church, Penn avenue and Eighth street, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, on Eighth street, just below Penn; also the Jewish Synagogue. Liberty Street M. E. Church was at the corner of Fourth street and Liberty avenue. The most popular minister of the First Cumberland congregation was Rev. Alfred M. Bryan, father of A. M. Bryan, of the County Recorder's office. He was an able and eloquent pastor, and under his ministry the church became wonderfully influential. He was a gentleman of commanding presence, |