Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-20
GROWLERS SET BACK.
Interest in and Demand for Realty
Steadily Increasing.
A GOOD POINTER FOR INVESTORS.
Difficulties in the Way of Securing Homes
More Imaginary Than Real.
PLENTY OF CHEAP PROPERTY LEFT.

In passing to and fro on Fourth avenue
yesterday noticed that many of the prin-
cipal real estate offices were we'll filled with
customers, This was especially the case
at Beringer & Sons S. w. Black & Co. IS,
Heron & Sons, Black & Baird's and some
others. One of the firm of Black & Baird
said:
"There is buoyant feeling in the real
estate market. The majority of our Gus
toners are buyers and they want everything
from business block to cheap lot Busi-
ness is fully 70 per cent better than at the
same time last year, and 1 think it will
keep up all summer. This shows that the value
of land as an investment is becoming pretty
widely known"
The item which appeared in this department
of THE DISPATCH yesterday, stating that the
Pittsburg Plate Glass Company had just paid
monthly dividend of per cent, making II per
cent distributed to stockholders thus far this
year, was correct so far as the figures were
concerned, but erroneous iT appears, in this
respect that the amount so paid was not en-
tirely out of the earnings of the present year,
but included portion of those of 1888, which
were not paid until January last.
This statement is made by gentleman con-
nected with the company in the interest of
portion of the stockholders who do not desire
any deception in the matter that would lead to
a fictitious boom and cause unsuspecting
parties to invest in the stock under misappre-
hension.
The true condition of the plant the gentle
man stated is about this: The stockholders at
their meeting on the 18th inst. voted to increase
the indebtedness $3.50, 900, for which mortgage
on the property of the company will be issued
in few days This mortgage is in addition to
an older one of $780, 200, both making $3.50, 900.
From this statement it is apparent that
future dividends, if any at all, will be small
and far between until the above Indebtedness
is cancelled.
1t is mistake to think that all the cheap
property has been bought up. There is plenty
of it left at very low figures. A Williamsburg
agent is offering lots as low as $50. At Maple
wood Park they are selling as low as S40O. On
the Southside, at West End Place and on Mt
Washington values are about the same as at
Maplewood
All of these districts are well adapted to resi-
dence purposes and are rapidly filling up. They
offer an opportunity for people of moderate
means to acquire homes that should not be
neglected, Whether built on or not lots at the
figures above given are good investment.
<E
This leads me to remark that the difficulties
in the way of getting homes are now more in,-
aginary than real. People want too much. A
young married couple must have big house,
with all the modern conveniences-elevator,
electric bells. hot and cold water, and many
other expensive luxuries. 1t requires large
income to maintain a family in this style, aud
the result in many cases is a mountain of debt
and eventually bankruptcy
A man who allows his love for display to
carry him beyond his means and to embarrass
his whole subsequent life, is to be sincerely
pitied. Many a promising life has been
wrecked on this dangerous rock, although it
is prominently portrayed in all charts of do
mestic economy.
Young married people who affect brown
stone fronts and expansive lawns, and turn up
their noses at less pretentious environments,
forget that their fathers or their grandfathers
were content with log cabin of two rooms and
ladder by which they assembled to the 'Ioft"
not attic, as it is now called-where the dried
apples, pumpkins, walnuts, herbs, and other
articles were stored for winter use. Many of
the rich men of Pittsburg commenced life in
this way. The clods have scarcely settled on
the grave of one of the foremost men in this
communlty-a man whose success IN business |
will be pointed to in coming years for the en-
couragement ofothers.
Travelling o'er life's weary main,
He commenced his married life at the bot |
tom-lved in a house OF two rooms kept no |
servants, and was diligent in business. He |
was not mercenary, for his charities were large,
but he saved wherever he could. He labored |
for something more substantial than mere dis |
play, and succeeded. He often told me of his |
early struggles, and OF his difficulties in over
coming them. The foundation of the millions |
left to his family was laid amid humble sur |
roundings, where the useful and necessary |
were given precedence over the ornamental |
and fictitious. So long as true manhood is |
admired the name of William Semple will be |
held in honorable remembrance.
1t is better to begin at the bottom and 90 up |
than to begin at The top and come down. The |
ascent of a rocket is beautiful display but |
its descent is of the most prosaic kind 1t is a |
false notion of young people that they must
begin where the old folks left off. Few men |
are too poor'to buy cheap lot and have two |
or three roomed house put up on it on the easy |
plan. BY SO doing they would save |
rent and be ehabled to lay up something for a
rainy day.
REAR nav