Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-11-24
A. A. Mason 4 Co.-The Pittsburgh

a. a. MASON q CO.-Tne FlcSOurgl
< Union contains the following article
/, concerning this firm and their establish.
ment:
! We intend devoting space, from time
to time, to articles descriptive of the
various manufacturing establishments
:. of Pittsburgh, together with notices oI
the larger and more prominent mercan-
tile houses purposing to render such
articles illustrative of the increasing
, prosperity of the city, as well as of the
! better style Of architecture prevailing in
our public buildings, warehouses for
business purposes, and manufactures.
We could not, we think, better begin
! our subject than by using the establish
ment of Messrs. A. A. Mason & Co.,
it being illustrative of both tendencies
: of our purpose, standing as it does on a
street which exhibits marked improve
ment from the date of the great FIRE Of
AS, and being, in its success, the
growth of about the same length OF
time.
1t is some six or seven years since
the firm whose establishment we intend
using as the text of this article COM
menced the dry goods business in the
neat. though small, sales room corner
of Third and Market streets; from
whence, after few months, they re-
moved into two Of the three-story build
ings in the centre of the block, where
they carried on, with increasing pros
perity, their retail business, and laid the
foundation of, and built up a large
wholesale trade.
Finding, after some four or five years
occupancy of those buildings incon-
venience to their increasing business,
from the size and style of the buildings,
they determined, with a most COM
mendable enterprise, to erect building
that would afford every convenience for
both branches of their business, and
be of itself an ornament to the city
The result of that determination is the
beautiful edifce they now occupy on
Fifth street.
Although the increase in the business
of this firm, and its present result, are
undoubtable evidence of individual
energy and enterprise; yet is it no less
illustrative of the fact that there has
been a corresponding increase on the
general prosperity Of the city; for we
cannot be brought to believe that the
same firm could have commenced on
the same scale in the town of Wilkins
burg or Brighton, or the borough of
Greensburg, and have arrived at the
same result, no matter how great their
exertions TO build up business.
Energy and individual enterprise are
powerful leavers in the rearing of a
business and its continuation; yet a
natural flow of trade toward the point
where that energy is exerted is alto
gether essential to its success. Thus it
is, that, while we are willing to concede
to the Messrs. Mason great credit for the
enterprise with which they have pushed
their business, we must still claim,
despite the protestations of number of
professed preachers of the decline Of
Pittsburgh, that there has been steadi-
ly increasing tide of prosperity setting
in our city-of which the success of the
firm we have mentioned is Illustrative.
While evidencing the prosperity of
Pittsburgh in a single branch of its
trade, by the success of a single firm,
we are amply supported by others we
might mention; and we should be un-
Just did we not say, that all the other
establishments of similar business in
this city are reaping, at the present
time, an equal share of the harvest:
and we are assured, by those in whom
we have every confidence, that the dry
goods trade of the city, both wholesale
and retail, has not been so remunera-
tive for years.
Nothing goes further to give stand
ard to a city than its architecture; and
in nothing does a citizen take such pride
as in the beauty of the Public Edifces,
and the spaciousness, and imposing ap-
pearance of the buildings for manufac-
turing and mercantile purposes, in the
city in which he resides. So that al
though the Messrs. Mason find their
reward, in the increased facilities for
their business, and the benefits attend
ing its transaction, yet they are certain
ly deserving of thanks from our citizens,
for not only adding an ornament TO the
city, but for the example they have set
in style of architecture for business
purposes, which, if followed up, will
not fail to give the business portion OF
Pittsburgh SO imposing an appearance.
as will, not only increase its standard
as city, but cannot fail to add ma
terially to its business.
No one, of business knowledge, but
knows that in great thoroughfare, the
trade naturally flows into the cleanest,
most spacious, brilliant, and most cheer
full looking establishments; while the
greatest exertions are necessary TO bring
purchasers into mean, dirty, contracted,
dark looking shops; and even then, but
an unrecompnseing moiety of the trade
is obtained for such establishments,
when surrounded by those of the op-
posite character. 1t needs no words to
enforce the fact that Pittsburgh is on
such great highway from the West TO (
the East; and that surrounded as we
are, on all sides, by more cleaniy, and