Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-13
100000 DEAL MADE
The Philadelphia Gas Co. Sells Its
Magnificent Building.
THE IIRBRAKE THE PURCHASER.
What the Structure Will be Devoted to in
the Future.
TIE ALLEGHENY SITE WILL BE SOLD

The magnificent office building owned BY
the Philadelphia Company at the conner Of
Penn avenue and Ninth street has been sold
to the Westinghouse Air Brake Company.
The amount paid is a round $500, 900.
The sale was made at a meeting of the
Board of Directors of the company, held in
the Office of George Westinghouse Wednes-
day afternoon. The meeting continued in
session until after 6 O'Clock. A DISPATCH
reporter interviewed a number of the di-
rectors, but as the deal had not been com
pleted at that time they would not say any
thing about it. Since then it has been de-
veloPed that the only business transacted
was the authorization of the sale of the
building to the air brake company.
The property was purchased by the latter
company as an investment Some time ago
The DISPATCH published the fact that the
directors OF the Philadelphia Company were
dissatisfied with the great scale upon which
the building was being finished. At that
meeting George Westinghouse, President of
the company, said it was good investment,
and stated that he was ready at any time to
take the building OF their hands. He has
accordingly done SO by the late transfer.
A HANDSOME PILE.
The erection of the building was begun
about three years ago. 1t took about 2 a
years to complete it. The building cost
about $3.50, 900 and is without doubt the
finest Office building in the city, if not in
the STATE. It was erected by the Philsdel-
phia Company, but the directors thought it
cost too much money. 1t is nine stories in
height, with two Easements, fronts about
150 feet on Penn avenue and runs back on
Ninth street to Spring alley. There are
three electric elevators in the building, run
ming continually all day.
The floors are all tiled and the lower
parts of the walls are marble. The two en-
frances to the structure are composed en-
tirely of marble. In the large offices, glass
partitions, set in highly polished brass
posts, give privacy to the occupants. The
fixtures in the building are also very costly.
When the Westinghouse Air Brake Com
pany's new works are erected In Wilmerd-
ing, the company will move their offices
from Robinson street, Allegheny, to the
new building on Penn avenue. They will
then sell their old building or use it for
other purposes. The air brake company is
almost exclusively owned by Mr.. George
Westinghouse, and he purchased the new
building as an investment. Some time ago
L udO oDAO
trouble with one corner of the building,
which began to sink. Building Inspector
Martin Frank looked at it several times and
ordered the structure to be strengthened.
STRENGTHENED SUCCESSFULLY.
This was done by putting in new iron
beams and girders, and the building is now
as sound as any in the city. Mr.. PEBBLES
was the architect who designed the plans for
the structure.
In addition to the Philadelphia Company
the following corporations occupy offices in
the building: The Westinghouse Electric
Company, the Allegheny County Light
Company, the Keystone Construction Com
pany, the Fuel Gas and Engineering Com
pany. the Union Switch and Signal Com
pany, the Standard Underground Cable
Company, and the Standard Car Heating
and Ventilating Company. All of them
were Westinghouse interests. The Penn
Club will occupy the ninth floor of the
building when it is organized.
By the sale the Philadelphia Company
will be enabled to reduce its debt 5000, 900.