Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-09
WILMINGTON'S PROSPERITY
JOSHUA n. HE4LD,s VIEW OF TINE
SUBJECT.
EivoBiisSd Harding RevGval-Am
addition 81 Ose Thousand Men 90
Her NOrksUg EOsce Recently-Fave
Huadted Houses 40 be Buiis.

Addition 81 Ose Thousand Men 90
Her working F0sce Recently-Fave
Huadted Houses 80 be Buiit.
Wilmington isTeceivinga generous share
Of tho general revival of business, and,
although her manufacturing establish
ments were the first to teel the impetus Of
increased bnsiness, the mercantile trade
is rapidly following. Few business men
complain Of absolutely dull trade, while
almost all mechanics or laborers who de-
sire work, can obtain itat present. During
The past year Wilmington has taken big
stride forward, OF which she can grace
fully be proud, aud indications promise
still more satisfactory evidences of ad-
vancement in the near future. An inter
view on the condition of the real estate
market and Wilmington's status present
and future, with J. T. Heaid, who
makes this subject particular
stndy, will be interesting reading
II can see very clearly that Wilmington
is marching on the road to q new
destiny" said Mr.. Heald yesterday ssAlI
cities have their periods of depression
and revivals, and ! am sure that 7-sg
ton has now entered on the ias,
Not in the form CT what is calleu .
BOOM but by steady and naturtl
growth. The Pullman car works and tho
Baltimore d Ohio railroad have given
great prestige to the city, and made
us more widely known. In addition, the
other new enterprises and additions to
manufacturing establishments and the
new park have given great impetus to
Wilmington in her march forward.
We should not overlook the con-
stant enlargement and additions to
our old establishments, which OCCUR
almost imperceptibly, and it ia not
until we look back years afterward that
we realize the small sources from which
these great results sprang. My impress
sion is that we are goingto enter on new
life. Last spring there were from 800 to
400 vacant houses in this city of which
we had $50, and now there are practically
none, and we could have rented at least
so more. The demand is mostly for
houses for the use of mechanics, and at
present mostly in the eastern section OF
the city, where the demand is caused by
the large influx of mechanics who work
at the Pullman shops. The supply of
houses, believe, will be 100 short next
spring. There are 3S in course
of erection or contemplated now in
the eastern part of the city,
The Ohristiana River improvement Com
pany is building eight houses now, and
l. more will be contracted for In a few
days and work will begin on them al
once. We have sold lots for Hix more.
on which buildings viii be erected BY
Lewis L. Grubb. In the same section Of
the city, there are nov four buildings
completed and four inore are nearing
completion. These house have mostly
six rooms and rent 1T about S13 per
month. In the western part of town J.
Il. ID. Seeds d Son are building
four fine dwellings at Thirteenth
street and Delaware and Pennsylvania
avenues. These are only illustrations of
the drift of matters in this city, and I
believe there will be 500 new buildings
erected next year, which is relatively
more than is built in Philadelphia, probably
the most active building centre in the
country. In 1882 SO, we built too many
houses, in 1884 we Just built about
enough, and in n1885.S6 we did not build
enough, SO the shortage Of the last two
years has equalized the surplus of former
years, and we have now caught up again.
Allowing rdeduction OF 16 per cent
which were only alterations or improve
ments to existing structures, we built in
1881, $40 new buildings, $50 in 1880. 500
in 1885, 800 in 1854, 600 IN 1885, and We
will Guild about275 thisyear. Last year the
supply of houses exceeded the demand
and rents consequently fell, but this year
sRe reverse is the case, and rents nave
gone up. have great faith and conf
denoe in Wilmington's future" A brief
statistical resume of the various manufac-
tories established in this city will show
that the number of working mechanics
and laborers has been increased about
1000 men during the past year, as follows:
The Pullman repair shops now employ
between 500 and 600 men, and will prob
ably he enlarged in time.
The new morocco factories of the Ford
d Ryan Manufacturing Company at
Silverbrook, and the ones of Kent q
Weeks at Front and Justison streets, and
Michael Newell on Adams street below
Third, just about to be started, will
together employ about 100 additional
men.
The ChIistiana rolling mill, which will
start up within few days will also
employ number of additional hands.
The new Delaware Concrete Works and
the extensions to Remington & Company's
shops have also given employment to
number of hands.
The new b. Il o. railroad In both
freight and passenger departments, have
employed large number of men in this
city.
The new buildings of the Wilmington
Electric Light and Power Company and
the O. & J. Pyle company's building, on
the New Castle road, have not materially
added to their working forces, but they
are noticeable improvements.
Among the additional industries which
will probably be established within q few
months are wooden mill, to employ 200
hands, in the Ninth ward, and another
III the south eastern section of the city,
the corporation for conducting which 10
being organized now.