Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-17
WHY PEOPLE SMILE.
Encourng ging Facts and Gossip About the
Business Situation.

Manager Chaplin, of the Pittsburg Clear
ing House, is an optimist from head to heel
He can see rainbows where less hopeful eyes
discern only clouds. He has no love for
GROWERS, and occasionally takes pains to let
them know it. When 1 interrogated him
yesterday as to the condition of business, he
smiled blandly and said:
cts all right. Some people say it's dead,
but if so, the corpse is remarkably we'll
preserved. The clearings this week are al
most 81 600. 600 greater than for the correspond
ing time last year. This tells the whole story.
But this was not the only evidence gathered
showing that business is on the road to recoV-
cry. The week was neither one of the best nor
one of the worst; it was about betwixt and be-
tween, which was as much as could be expected
under the circumstances, In nearly every de-
partment of trade the improvement over the
previous week was patent to even the most
careless observer Stocks were generally firm,
with sales OF 6773 shares. Petroleum was steady
and dull. A large business was done in mort
cages the number recorded being 161, for S373,-
25l. Real estate was rather quiet, but the bus1-
ness transacted was quite respectable in vol
ume. Some of the deals were for large amounts.
Jobbers reported liberal movement of season.
able goods The week closed with good feel
ing all round
From the unfavorable condition of the
weather and other causes not necessary to
mention, it was feared that the number of
building permits would make sorry showing.
This was not the case, however, as 43 were
issued for an aggregate amount of 81, $50. The
number issued for the month of May was 36l,
and the estimated cost was S7T1. .474. So far this
year the gain over 1883 is 20 permits and $50 OOO
l asked contractor if he thought the estimate
made early in the season. of 1000 houses for
the year, would be made good. He said: 81
begin to think we will have to come down peg
or two. The food has had bad effect Lum-
ber is higher. This will discourage many who
had thought of building. The weather is also
against u.s. l think If the end of the year sees
1900 we should be satisfied"
No large business concern can be success
fully carried on without strict discipline among
the employees. This has contributed IN no
small degree to the success and popularity of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Just before the
heavy rain set in Friday night saw a passen-
ger train roll up to the Union depot but it did
not stop under the shed. The rear brakeman
took his station and stood there until the storm
was over. He had neither overcoat nor um-
brella. When his duty had been discharged,
he walked into the station looking as if he had
just been fished from the rlver
why didn't you seek shelterT' he was
asked.
Because my place was at the train, storm or
no storm" was his reply.
Devotion to duty such as this, is conspicu-
Gus trait of the American character, and heroes
are nos so scarce as they seem.
La Noria monopoliZed nearly all the business
at the stock call Saturday, contributing 300 of
the 3l5 shares sold. 1t was tritie stronger. A
broker remarked that he believed this stock
was being held up to enable certain gentlemen
to unload. Another broker said 1t had not yet
reached the top, and if the mill panned out as
expected there would be a boom in it before
long. These antagonistic views were not calcu-
lated to throw much light on the situation.
The following able SHOWS the prices of active
stocks on the Neg York Stock Exchange.
Corrected daily for THE DISPATCH by Whit
ney & Stephenson, members of New York
Stock Exchange, 81 Fourth avenue: