The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-25
Il Pittsburgh railing Into Decay

1hbetle
correspondent Of the Engineering and
Mining Journal writing from this city
makes some rather pointed remarks con-
corning the adttu OF business enterprise
here. Though pointed they are well
worthy OF attention. He says: "There
have been some foundations for the ru.
mors Of the decay Of this once renowned
city. She has had disadvantages to on
tend against, although they were artif.
cial rather than natural. The chief Of
these 10 perhaps railroad discrimination.
Other cities with far less natural I'D.
yantages have been favored 10 the direct
injury Of Pittsburgh, because they hap.
pened 10 have competing railroads. The
whole Of the West at one time, II seemed,
preferred to buy goods from east Of the
Allegheny mountains, and especially
from New York, rather than from Pitts.
burgh, simply because freights from New
York were cheaper than freights from
Pittsburgh. We have heard Of iron be-
ing shipped from the Hudson river 10 ST.
Louis at a lower rate Of freight than II
could have been shipped here. Another
disadvantage Of the city is lack Of
water transportation, excepting for q
few months 10 the year. Her ship
ping lies idle for about half Of the
time, to the harm both Of the shipping
interest and Of general business. The
conservatism Of her citizens has also
worked against her. Years ago, Pitts.
bnrgh leaped into the foremost rank as
a center Of the iron, steel and glass in
dustry. Her immense natural adyan-
tages helped her retain her foothold.
Her citizens became wealthy and con.
tented, but conservative-almost "old
iogy." She grew in population Of course,
but St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago and
Cleveland far outstripped her. Cleveland,
with no natural advantage over Pitts.
burgh, took her petroleum trade. Gin
%cinnati, hampered like Pittsburgh by
want OF sufficient railroad facilities, built
q railroad at a cost OF SIC, 0 1000, while
Pittsburgh merely growled at "discrimi-
nation" and spent the money she should
have built a railroad with. in paving
streets, a Ia NeO York, and building fancy
water works at fancy prices. St. Louis
and New Orleans have secured an outlet
to Europe through the Eads' %je.ties,
while the improvement iof the Ohio
river navigation is merely talked Of, and
even opposed by many Of her wealthiest
cilizens-the coal men.
pittsburgh does not advertise herself
extensively. She seems TO expect busi-
ness to come TO her without going out TO
seek it. She exhibited at the Centennial,
OF course, because she is patriotic, but
only a few OF her manufacturers will ex-
hlbit at Paris, which would be Of more
benefit to her. There was an industrial
exhibition held th~ereduring the fall, and
il was a success, it was only on account
OF the energy OF its managers, who drew
a big attendance from the surrounding
country by offering cheap excursions on
the railroads, and not on account Of the
excellence OF the exhibition, for it was
only grudgingly patronized by home
exhibitors, whose displays were few in
number and tame in appearance. Phila.
delphia Is doing wonders in e%ndeayoring
10 establish q South America trade.
Pittsburgh's efforts in the same direction
C0nhlhtb III seven uOubes heuuiuB VHo niAl
to Brazil Printers ink is used but spar
ingly, and II a Western buyer IN his visit
to the East knows, as the train passes
through a dense cloud Of smoke, which
the conductor tells him is Pittsburgh,
that there Is the place to buy good iron
at the lowest price in the country, Il is
because he has learned it by some other
means than by reading abouti it.
"But, ~ above stated, the disadyant-
ages under which Pittsburgh labors are
ali artificial and not natural. They will
be cured before long, and her natural adj.
yantages will keep here an indefinite
time TO come the centre OF the iron in
dnstry OF America. Three new railroads
are now being built, two, the Pittsburgh
and Lake Erie, and the Pittsburgh, New
Castle and Lake Erie towards the north.
west, and the third, an extension Of the
Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon, south
ward into Virginia. The improvement
Of the Ohio river is only a question Of
time, as is also the dying out OF the "old