Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29
ANOTHER BIG WEEK
In Business, Notwithstanding the
interruption Of a Holiday.
PLENTY OF CHEAP LAND LEFT.
The Big Insurance. Companies Not Ready
to Spread Out in Pittsburg.
4 OUIET GOBBLE on THR sOUTHsIDE

The holiday interruption had no percep-
tible effect upon the volume of trade last
week. What was lost by it was made up
later on. According to the Clearing House
report-a reliable authority-the weeks
business exceeded that of the corresponding
time last year by nearly million and
three-quarters. This prosperity bids fair to
last throughout the winter. There were no
changes in conditions or values Of radical
nature.
Real estate maintained its customary
activity, with large number Of small
transactions, and some large ones, to show
for it. Stocks and petroleum were quiet,
but quotations underwent no particular
change, except in the case Of Luster Mining
Company, which made remarkable jump.
Permits for 30 new buildings were issued,
which. it is estimated, will cost S59.57
1t lis reported that the Tyler Tube Works, OF
Boston, will be removed to Washington, fa'
and that beside erecting buildings for thelt
present business, the company is contemplating
the establishment there Of rolling MILL
Washington. in every way prosperous as well as
famous, may yet achieve additional dlsnncuon
as a manufacturing center. The people OF TINS
bustling suburb of Pittsburg are to be congrat-
ulated on their good luck.
A rumor has been rife for two or three days
to the effect that the Equitable Insurance Com
pany was negotiating for the purchase OF the
ST. Charles or Central Hotel properties. in or
der to acquire q site for magnificent granite
building for the use OF the'company, and also
for offices, Henry A. Weaver d Co. were
spoken to in relation to the matter yesterday.
and they stated explicitly that the report had
no foundation in fact
Mr.. Weaver added: "The Equitable. the
Manhattan and and the New York Life lnsur-
ance Companies have been urged by their Fits
burg agents to buy property and put up large
buildings in this city. but so far they have not
been able to see their way clear for such an ar
rangement. All stories connecting either OF
these companies with any real estate deals here
at present are pure fiction"
It was learned yesterday that 200 shares OF
the Butler Salt and Chemical Company have
been placed in this city at $40 per share and
over. The par value is $50. It viii probably
be listed and traded in on Change. Handsome
dividends are expected.
A promoter Of one Of the national bank
schemes which are being worked up in the
with which / am connected viii be success.
More than half of the necessary capital has
been pledged and the rest will be forthcoming
when wanted. Some Of the best citizens Of the
! East End are connected with the movement.
! They think there is sufficient business in that
| part of the city to support such a bank as we
| propose to establish.
ssTwo or three others are talked Of, but
| know nothing about them. but do not look for
any OF them to materialize except, perhaps,
| the one proposed for Lawrenceville, where
there appears to be good opening"
| =s1R
Those who think tina. all the cheap residence
sites around Pittsburg have been taken up are
| very much mistaken. Good lots within three
| or four miles of City Hall can be bought as low
al SI5Q Lots were sold last week near Beltz.
hoover for 500. There is land for all and at
prices to suit lean purses as well as fat ones.
The Southside Traction Railway Company,
! through its agents, is said to be acquiring con
| siderable property in the vicinity of South and
| Bingham streets to complete the approaches to
| the new river bridge which the company pro
poses to build. The movement has been kept
very quiet SO IS to avoid boom in prices II
is understood the company has secured about
all the ground IL needs for the purpose indi
Gated.
improvements in the hill wards-notably the
Eleventh and Thirteenth-keep pace with those
in other parts Of the city, and the prospect il
good for large accessions Of population mex
year. With rapid transit, which is now assured
these wards offer peculiar attractions to people
Of moderate means desiring to establish homes
80
It will scarcely be believed, but it is a fac
| nevertheless, that there are properties in thI
lower part of Pittsburg which yield less than
per cent 20 their owners. who are unable to i'm
prove them and will not sell to those who are
This prevents improvement where mos
needed and where business sites are particu
larly scarce and in demand. These pfopertie
should be improved by some means.
| To keep them in their present condition
detrimental to the city. and is not likely to ben
eft the owners. BY selling at fair valuation
they would be able to invest elsewhere and Sc
cure better return. This would benefit the en-
tire city, and give business q chance in dis
trict where it is now badly crippled.
Damp cellars is a standing complaint in Pitts
! burg. The best way to keep them dry that ha
yet been devised is to build an area wal
around the whole Of the site. so that the cart
does not rest directly against the walls Of tn
house. To form such an area four-inch wal
is built parallel to the main walls and abou
two inches from them. The bottom Of the er
i closed space is formed into gutter, SO that an
, water that finds its way through the outer cas-
ing may have an opportunity Of running ava
to the drains.
} The top Of the cavity is usually covered
) lust above the ground line with row of orn'
mental bricks, or sometimes with bricks LAID o
t edge. When these means are adopted, it is d.
sirable that openings in the main wall should
f provided for ventilation.
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