Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-16
TALKS WITH PEOPLE.
Pittsburg Builders Not in Favor Of
AbOliShing the Lien Law.
A WESTERN MAN SURPRISED.
he Visits the City After an Absence of 25
Years and Notes Many Changes.
TRANSACTIONS IN STOCKS AND OIL

The proposition at the meeting of the Ma
tional Builders Association at Philadel-
phia, to amend the lien law so as to protect
only "actual personal labor performed upon
the property liable to attachment in amount
not to exceed the value of "a days work for
each individual entitled to protection.
does not seem to meet with much favor in
Pittsburg. Two or three builders inter-
viewed on the subject yesterday said the
lien law was beneficial to owners as we'll as
builders. 1t caused the former to be careful
and was guarantee to the latter. 1t was
well enough to protect labor, but there was
no reason why the same protection should
not be extended to the builder who en-
ployed the labor. One of the gentlemen re-
ferred to said he had known of several own
ers failing before their houses were finished.
In these cases nothing but the lien law
saved the builders from loss. 1t was impos-
sible, he added, for builders to know the
financial standing of owners. If the lien
laws were amended as proposed, the neH
thing would be to require payment in advance.
This would restrict building operations, where
as they should be encouraged.
George Chalmers was in the city yesterday
after an absence of Is years. From 1850 to 1854
he kept feed store on Water street and acted
as agent for several steamboat lines. In the
latter year he removed to Kansas, where he has
since resided. In talking about old times he
said: "Pittsburg has improved wonderfully
during my long absence. see palaces where
formerly stood shanties. One Of the greatest
changes have noticed is at the corner of Fifth
avenue and Smithfeld street. where the How
ard and Kaufman blocks stand. In my time
nearly all that ground was occupied by tumble
down frame buildings, occupied by BARRIERS,
fruit venders and dealers in cheap jewelry. An
other striking change is at the corner of Fifth
avenue and Wood street. The Western Union
Telegraph Company's building is a great i'm
provement on the dingy structure that formerly
stood there, and from which the Post was is.
sued for many years. Then there's the big
Court House. Well, it's great. We have some
fine county buildings out West, but nothing to
compare with this one. But one thing I miss.
There were busy times and stirring scenes along
the river when lived here. Boats arrived and
departed almost hourly, and the wharf was
crowded with goods. Now everything there
seems dead 1t looks as if it were the policy Of
Congress to sacrifice the river interestsfor the
benefit of the railroads"
sThe East End still has the call for unim
proved building lots" remarked real estate
agent yesterday. 'But they are getting very
scarce and dear out there and people will very
soon have to look elsewhere. The next favor
ite place is Allegheny, where there is consider
able unimproved ground, but it will soon be
snatched up. 1 have had several calls day
for lots over there. There is not much demand
for Southside property. 1t is cheap out on the
hill, but people don't appear to want it. The
reason, perhaps, is its difficulty of access.
understand the Fort Wayne Railroad Company
is talking of putting on more accommodation
trains. If this should be done it will give prop
erty below town big boost. There is great
deal of vacant land down there most of which
is admirably located for building purposes
Lack of easy access has SO far practically kept
it out of the market"
A. B., of Swissvale asks: what would it
cost to fill up lot?' The question is too in
definite to be answered. It would depend al
together upon the amount of filling. Some
lots could be put in good shape for few
dollars; others would cost hundreds or
thousands. Mr.. Westinghouse is filling up a
lot at Homewood that will cost him probably
$780, In many cases the filling costs more than
the original price of tho lot.