The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-29

tracts seems to be the scarcity Of stone
masons, which we are told Is the only
branch Of building labor in which there
Is a real deficit. Our master stone
masons are among the bestin the country,
but there Is not enough Of them.
REAL EsrATB,
Our real estate dealers say that but
little business is doing at present. in fact
| it is quieter than usual, but the few sales
that have been made show a slight ten
denCy to an adyphcein in prices, The fact Is
that tho advance in real estate in this
city has always been slow rs compared
with other cities Of equal population and
enterprise. II has never been inflated,
and consequently has suffered no corre-
spending depression. Tho history Of
real estate with US has been simply that
Of slow but steady increase in value.
In the matter Of rents there has been at
times q considerable range Of luctuatiOn
particularly during and for a short time
after the war, but they have now settled
down 10 stable basis and arc firm.
Dwelling houses and business rooms
have rented for the year to come at about
last years prices, and there arc not per-
haps half dozen business rooms in tho
city that are unoccupied,
THE dRRAT LACK IN THE CITY,
Both real estate dealers and builders
ConCurin one thing, and that Is that there
il in Wheeling a great lack Of class Of
houses suitable for small families; such
houses as Can bo rented al from twelve to
fifteen dollars per month and pay rea-
sonabls percentage on the investment, One
oi.tho causes assigned for the absence Of
such houses Is the high price Of building
lots,whiChalthough not exorbitant arestill
beyond the reach Of many who aided by
Building Association funds, would secure
homes for themselves II the lot and house
combined were not beyond The allowance
which such persons are able to spare from
theiroarnings. Owners Of lots who build
houses for rent arc therefore compelled TO
erect class Of houses which will in some
way bring enough income, either from sin.
gle renters or from several occupying the
same house, to justify the outlay. An.
other fact ELECTED from these gentlemen
Is tho proportion which exists between
the population ofthe city and tile employ.
ment for all classes, showing a compare.
lively small surplus Of unemployed labor.
Even in the winter season when common
labor Is in least demand the surplus as
compared with many other cities Of even
smaller population is not excessive. .
Avery reasonable deduction from this
state Of things Is, that unless now indus.
tries are introduced, thus widening the
sphere oil our manufacturing Interests,
there il little or no need for encouraging
any increase Of population by any con-
siderable increase Of living accommoda-
tions. II, however, the lands already with
in or closely bordering on the city limits
were brought within easy approach, It Is
not improbable TINT many Of our present
artizan and laboring population would
avail themselves Of such an opportunity
to secure Independent homes. While
the outlook at tho present writing Is not
what master builders ind real estate
dealers would call brilliant, II is not I'm
likely that the building Of Tie new State
House will awaken other enterprises
which will make the coming season an
average with the last several years.