Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-03
CASH PLANKED DOWN
A Fifty Thousand Dollar Transac-
tion in Squirrel Hill Realty.
AN EX-MAYOR AMONG BUILDERS.
The Fifth Avenue Hump, and an Incident
of Major Grants Defeat There.
INSURANCE FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.

The largest real estate transaction that
came to the surface yesterday was reported
by W. A. Heron & Sons. They closed the
sale of block of land in the Twenty. second
ward, adjoining the proposed park, being
81 acres, with large frame dwelling, barn,
etc., for $4,000 cash. The purchaser is a
well-known capitalist, making an invest
ment with view to the advance which all
expect will take place in the Twenty-second
ward, Squirrel Hill, property, as q result of
the electric road, now building which will open
up all that part of the East End.
##%
Very few people, not connected with it, are
aware of the great diversity of the insurance
business. as represented In Pittsburg. As a
matter OF information, the following, compiled
by Fourth avenue agent yesterday, is given:
Fire and life insurance; rent insurance pro-
tecting owners of buildings against bad ten
ants, steam boiler insurance against all damage
to property and loss of life resulting from ex-
plosions; employers liability assurance guar
anteeing them against claims made by employees
for injuries, etc.; marine insurance against loss
on ocean, lake and river; insurance on customs
duties, whisky in bond etc.; 1--we stock insur-
ance including valuable dogs; plate glass in
surance, Pittsburg idea; insurance against
bond insurance. and several others, all of
which are doing paying business, and by
timely assistance prevent many man from
being forced to the wall. The company last
named has been called upon during the last
few months to make good losses amounting to
about SIS 900. caused by the dereliction of en-
ployes for whom it was bondsman.
The Fifth avenue hump" the removal Of
ruhir
sion pro and con- is all that remains of the emf
nence made memorable by the defeat of a reg
ment of Scotch Highlanders under Major
Grant by body of French and Indians Sep
tember IA, 175S. One of the incidents of this
battle has been perpetuated by a survivor. "As
Major Lewis was advancing with his men he
met a Scotch Highlander in full flight, and on
inquiring Of him how the battle was going, the
panic-stricken soldier replied: We are beaten,
and have seen Donald Macdonald up to his
hunkers in mud and a. the skin off his head"
He had been scalped No one sticks in the
mud there now, but there may be some scalp
ing before the vexed question of hump or no
hump receives its quietus.
Ex-Mayor George Wilson is tearing down
his old house on Smithfield street, adjoining
the Marine Bank, and will erect a new one for
business purposes on the same site. In this
connection 1t may be mentioned that there is a
good inquiry for property in that vicinity, for
which the prospect of having the postofice
there some time is mainly responsible. Mr.
Wilson was Mayor in the early sixties
The following is from the Southern Lumber.
man: Pittsburg is making an effort to interest
New York City in a new feature of iron manu-.
facture. Mr.. s. s. Marvin, President of the
" estern Pennsylvania Exposition Society, has
written to Mayor Grant, of New York remind |
ing him that Pittsburg manufacturers are pre-
pared to construct class of portable iron |
buildings which would be particularly suitable
for the proposed centennial in the metropolis
in 1892 Machinery Hall on the Exposition
grounds is sample of the buildings referred |
to by Mr. Marvin, and is the first of the kind |
ever co instructed in this country, 1t is |
marvel in itselft. being constructed of cast iron
and glass. with a slate roof. 1t is a portable |
building, and could be removed to any desired |
locality. Some of the most noteworthy features
in the building are the panels in the sides of |
the structure. Some of these castings are |
4xl2 feet in dimensions, half an inch in thick |
ness. and are cast in artistic designs The
window sashes are cast with 10 to Is lights in
one piece. A great deal of the work about
the building is Of a character never attempted
before.