Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-24
A PRESSING, WANT.
Pittsburg Real Estate Dealers Re-
port a Famine of Small Houses.
4 POINTER FOR CAPITALISTS.
Coming Improvements in the Beaver VAL
ley Give Realty Boost.
THE OAKLAND IDEA In ALLEGHENY 7

Although particulars cannot be given at
present, it can be stated on the best of au-
thority that prominent real estate firm on
Fourth avenue is about to purchase tract
OF land in the outskirts of Allegheny City,
where it is proposed to lay out boulevard
and build large number of brick houses
for sale on the Oakland Square plan. The
firm has gone so far as to offer leading
contractor large salary to superlntend the
erection of the buildings.
Another movement in realty of import
ance which came to the surface yesterday
was the sale of three acres in the Squirrel
Hill district fer $4,000. 1t was taken on specu-
lation by wellknown capitalist, who desires
his name withheld for the present.
|
A member of the real estate firm of Charles
Somers Co. remarked yesterday: I'VE are
having good inquiry for almost all kinds OF
| property. We have number of applications
for business stands on our books. The In
creased interest in this direction indicates an
| expansion of trade. The bulk of the demand,
however, is for medium-sized houses, costing
from $1,000 to $4,000 Notwithstanding the
large number of buildings of this class erected
during Cne year, Ihey are scarce II 10 HdIu W
| find one that is unoccupied.
"Our population would increase much faster
if we could provide cheap houses for incomers.
1 hope and believe that large number OF them
will be built next year. can see no better in
vestment for capitalists 1t pays better than
mortgages, and gives less trouble Cheap
houses is Pittsburg's greatest need. Capitalists
are beginning to realize it, and from all that
can learn they will do great deal next year to
| supply the want"
The good people of the Beaver Valley are
awaking to the fact that there are great pos
sibilites before them, and lively movement in
real estate is In progress. The principal reasons
| for this unwonted activity in one of the most
conservative sections of Western Pennsylvania
are she firm belief of majority of the citizens
that the proposed ship canal will be put through
and that two or three electric railroads will be
built next year, affording all the rapid transit
necessary Tor the opening up and development
| of the country.
In view of the probability that some, if not
ALL of these great improvements will be realized,
a syndicate composed. it is believed, of electric
railroad men, has been organized to buy up as
much land as possible on speculation. This
syndicate has already made extensive pur-
| chases in the vicinity of Beaver and Bridge
water the immediate result of which has been
to make real estate the lIveliest interest in the
valley, and to enhance prices 10 to 25 per cent.
The success OF the syndicate has induced other
buyers to enter the field, establishing a brisk
competition, which will inure to the benefit Of
owners.
The Beaver Valley enjoys widespread repu-
tation for beauty of location and wealth of soil,
but owing to the conservative habits and
J methods of the inhabitants, legacies bequeathed
to their descendants by the early settlers, it has
never enjoyed what is popularly called a
boom" and perhaps it is all the better of for
| it. But change has recently taken place.
| Many of the old settlers have died of, and a
new and more progressive generation is in con-
| troll Old ideas are being given up and new
ones adopted The importance Of improve
ment-of opening up new avenues to market
and of quicker transit as an inducement to
moro rapid Standardization men formerly
| looked upon with disfavor, is now regarded
| as indispensable to the full development Of the
territory, and the people are not only taking a
personal interest in these matters, but inviting
the cooperation of outside capitalists.
This is all right, but few words of caution
to the promoters of these enterprises seem ap-
plicable at this juncture. Don't go too fast.
Move cautiously so as to avoid mistakes Avoid
boom. Keep values of realty within healthy
limits Sell as much as possible to those want
ing to improve and as little possible to spec
ulators. Build houses. Don't undertake more
than you can accomplish. Keep out of debt.
BY working on these lines the-e will be little
danger of a disastrous reaction. The Beaver
Valley has great future before it if its affairs
| are judiciously managed.
Pittsburg is not doing all the building. 1t
has been fairly active everywhere during the
year. In only few places has it been dull
while in number it has been unusually brisk
Numerous dwellings have been put up, facto-
ries have been built, additions have been made
to both houses and business structures, and re-
pairs to all kinds of buildings have been thor
oughly sustained. A few very large buildings
have gone up in the more important towns and
cities but activity for the most part has been
In the way of unpretentious and moderate
priced structures.
Such year of building is in all respects the
best for the trade, and in the long run is the
most advantageous for the country. There is
no reaction from such activity whereas a
boom, so-called, is almost always succeeded by
practical cessation of operations The pros
poets for next year are excellent.
A "palace" chicken car is the latest develop
ment of luxury in railway transportation. The
idea of carrying live poultry hundreds or even
thousands of miles comfortably, and with am
pie arrangements for feeding. is by no means
absurd. Some Chicago men of railway expert
ence have had one or two cars constructed so
to as to contain a large number of separate
coops with wire partitions, giving room for the
fowls to move about and with arrangements
for supplying them with food and drink. Thou
sands of chickens can be carried in one of these
cars across the continent in good condition. In
fact one of the eproprietors of the idea says that
on the journey to California they will lay near
ly eggs enough to pay the freight.
With such an inducement, added to the econ
omy of space. the saving of the cost of the ordi-
uary clumsy wooden coops and the healthful
and happy condition In winch the fowls will ar
rive at market for consumption, the palace
chicken car idea certainly has many things to
commend it.