A MEETING
OF THE
DEMOCRATICK REPUBLICANS
OF THE
CITY OF PITTSBURGH,

will be held at the house of Captain Jacob Carmack, (sign of the Turk's Head, Wood-street,) this evening (Tuesday June 25,) at 7 o'clock for the purpose of forming a ticket for the select and common Councils of the City of Pittsburgh.

Commonwealth, June 25, 1816.

City Election

A number of respectable citizens, desirous of preserving that harmony which has for several years past, so happily prevailed in the borough councils, and which is so essential to the prosperity of our infant city, have formed the following Ticket. They recommend it to the cool, dispassionate considerations of their fellow citizens; and they flatter themselves, that it will, on the day of the election, meet with a firm and honorable support. It is formed, as tickets of the kind ought to be, without respect to party. There can exist no possible ground for the absurdity, that party feuds and animosity should be called up on occasions like the present. Every consideration of public interest, and of the peace and good order of the city, forbids it.—Our city is as yet in its infancy.—Its government is to be organized, its ordinances framed, its police established, and its general policy devised.

In accomplishing these important objects, great prudence, deliberation, forbearance, and the undivided support of all classes of the citizens, are essentially necessary. Hence arises the necessity of checking, in the bud, any and every attempt, coming from whatever quarter it may, which would have a tendency to sow disunion and distrust among the people. Actuated by these reasons, the following ticket is recommended to the free and independent voters. Their aid and co-operation is solicited in checking the evils which may arise out of party feuds. The gentlemen composing the ticket here recommended, have been chosen with due regard to their local situations; they are respectable in private life; they are well qualified for discharging the duties which will devolve upon them as members of the councils, and are all deeply interested in the growth, prosperity, and good order of the infant city.

Mercury, June 29, 1816.

"Voters supported or opposed a candidate entirely according to their personal preferences. There were few newspapers and no political oratory to sway public sentiment. The United States was then passing through the 'era of good feeling,' which was renowned mainly for the absence of all political asperities. Had any question arisen which was fraught with political significance to the voters of this section the expression in and around Pittsburg would undoubtedly have been Democratic or in opposition to the Federalist doctrine. It took Pittsburg people a long time to forget that the excise tax, which brought about the Whiskey Insurrection, was a Federalist measure. The first question which arose to divide the people in bitter dispute came with the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency in 1828." Boucher's Century and a half of Pittsburg.

City Election

The first Election under the Act Incorporating the City of Pittsburgh, was held on Tuesday last, when the following gentlemen were elected:

Commonwealth, July 9, 1816.

The New Mayor

We congratulate the editor of the Yankee upon the knowledge of men and places, exhibited in the foregoing article. It has been a custom at the Eastward to censure and burlesque the people of Western Pennsylvania on account of their ignorance. Let the editor of the Yankee now blush at his own. Could it be believed that any man of common geographical knowledge—or who could have referred to Dr. Morse for information, (for on this subject even Dr. Morse is correct) would have located Pittsburgh—a city containing ten thousand inhabitants—possessing a manufacturing capital of many millions—having three banking institutions, and a commerce extending to every part of the union—a place which has long been considered the emporium of the West, and which makes a more conspicuous figure in books of travels than even the Town of Notions itself;—could it, we ask, be believed, that such a place should be so little known or thought of in the town of Boston, as to be located in the state of Ohio? Mayor Denny possesses all the virtues that are attributed to him by the Yankee, and many more, that render him an ornament to the station to which he has been elected;—but he does not boast an ancestry in the land of steady habits, the seat of Hartford Convention politics. He is a native of Carlisle, in this state. Commonwealth, Aug. 6, 1816.

From the Ordinances of 1816

Traffic Rules

"From and after the publication of this ordinance, all and every driver or drivers of all coaches, chariots, caravans, waggons, phaetons, chaises, chairs, solos, sleighs, carts, drays, and other carriages of burthen and pleasure, driving and passing in and through the streets, lanes and alleys of the City of Pittsburgh, where there is room sufficient for two to pass, shall keep on that side of street, lane or alley, on his or their right hand respectively, in the passing direction."

"No person whatsoever shall sit or stand in or upon any such carriage or on any horse or beast harnessed thereto, in order to drive the same, unless he shall have strong lines or reins fastened to the bridles of his beasts, and held in his hands, sufficient to guide them in the manner aforesaid, and restrain them from running, galloping, or going at immoderate rates through the said streets, lanes or alleys; and … no person whatsoever, driving any such carriage or riding upon any horse, mare or gelding, in or through the said city, shall permit or suffer the beast or beasts he shall so drive or ride, to go in a gallop or other immoderate gait, so as to endanger persons standing or walking in the streets, lanes or alleys thereof; and … all porters … having the care of any such carriages … who shall not hold the reins in their hands … shall walk by the head of the shaft or wheel horse, holding or within reach of the bridle or halter of said horse."

Shade Trees

"It shall be lawful to plant on the bank of the Monongahela river, ornamental shade trees, provided the same do not incommode the passage; that they be set on the side of the street next to the water, and so as not to stop or obstruct the passage of water along the gutters; and so that the roots will not injure or raise the pavement:—when any of these injurious effects are produced, such trees then become a nusance, and the street commissioners shall forthwith remove the same."

Fire Protection

"A premium of ten dollars, to be paid on a warrant to be drawn by the Mayor on the city treasurer, shall be given to the fire company whose engine shall be first on the ground in fair operation, and in good order, in cases of fire; and the Mayor shall have power to determine all questions as to this premium."

New Streets

An ordinance respecting sundry new streets in the eastern addition to Pittsburgh.

"That Third-street extending from Grant-street to Try-street, and Fourth, extended in a direct line from Grant-street to Try-street; and Diamond-street extending from Ross-street to the lane leading eastwardly from the end of Fourth-street, and Ross-street extended from Third-street to Diamond-street, and Try-street extended from Third-street to the lane leading eastwardly from the end of Fourth-street, be and they are hereby accepted and declared to be public streets and highways of the city … and all those streets shall be kept, repaired and maintained for public use, at public expense forever hereafter."

For the Public Good

"If the chimney of any person or persons within the … city shall take fire and blaze out at the top, the same not having been swept within the space of one calendar month, next before the time of taking such fire, every such person or persons, shall forfeit and pay the sum of three dollars."

"No stove pipe within the … city shall project through the front door, front windows, front wall, or past the front corners of any house, shop or building, over or out upon any street, square or alley, or public ground of the … city; and if any stove pipe shall so project as aforesaid, the same is hereby declared to be a public nusance, and as such shall be removed, and a fine of five dollars also imposed on the person or persons who shall so offend."

"If any person or persons, shall wilfully suffer his, her or their horse or horses, mare, gelding, mule, ox, hog or hogs, to run at large in the … city, he, she or they so offending, shall for each offence, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay for each of the said animals so running at large, the sum of one dollar."

"If any person or persons shall, within the said city, beat a drum, or without lawful authority, ring any public bell, after sunset, or at any time except in lawful defence of person or property, discharge any gun or fire arms, or play at or throw any metal or stone bullet, or make a bon-fire, or raise or create any false alarm of fire, he, she, or they so offending, shall for every such offence, on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay the sum of four dollars."

"City appropriation for filling up a part of the pond on Sixth street, between Cherry alley and Grant street—thirty dollars." Commonwealth, Nov. 19, 1816.