Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-14
BIG DEAL IN REALTY.
Valuable Property of the Late Gen.
Sweitzer, on Fourth Avenue,
PURCHASED By CAPT.VANDEGRIFT
Who Will Ornament 1t With Magnificent
Ten-StOry Office Building.
THE OLD HAMILTON HOTEL NOT SOLD

A report which obtained currency yester-
day, to the effect that Henry A. Weaver 8
Co. had negotiated the sale of large prop
erty on Fourth avenue, between Wood and
Smith6eld Streets to Captain j. J. Vande-
grift for S12O, 900, was ascertained bycalling
upon Mr.. Weaver, who had the property in
charge, to be correct, but he stated at the
same time that the publication of the fact
just now would be premature, as the title to
the property had not passed. Nevertheless,
as the transaction had become street rumor. he
reluctantly consented to give the facts.
The property in question was owned by Mrs.
General Sweitzer and her sister, Mrs. O'Hara
Denny, and comprises 10l, l0S and los Fourth
avenue. 1t has a frontage of so feet on Fourth
avenue by l20 in depth. The buildings are oc-
cupied by insurance and real estate agents.
From another source it was learned that
Captain Vandegrift will, next spring, put up a
magnificent ten-story building on the property,
to be used as offices for the pipe line and other
large interests with which he is connected. He
had contemplated erecting a 100000 building
| on his lot adj dining the Oil Exchange, but 1t
being only 25foot front, too narrow for such
q costly structure, he found it advantageous to
| make the change.
In regard to the statement that the Hamil-
ton Hotel property had been purchased by the
Americus Club, Mr.. Weaver said that such a
deal is talked of, but is far from consumma-
ton, there being difficulties in the way which
make the sale quite uncertain.
There are divergent views in England in re-
| gard to the experimental tin plate plant in this
city. The following is taken from Wolver-
hampton letter published in the current num-
Der of the american Manufacturer:
"Your experimental tin plate plant is still
| evoKing considerable interest among our Welsh
and other tin plate makers. AS specimen of
how widening opinions differ on the matter, I
may give two extracts. The first of these is a
recent letter to a Welsh contemporary by a
| Pittsburg iron and steel maker. He says the
tin plate makers Of the PrincIpality are report
| ed to the States to be very excited in conse-
| Quence of the alleged successful working OF
! the experimental thinning plant at the recent
! PittsbuFg Exposition. 1t may interest that
section of your community the writer contin-
ues, to know through your journal that the
whole thing was a dismal failure. have not
the time nor the inclination to go into details
and explain the reason why it was a failure, but
will simply ask those who doubt that which I
say to come out and investigate the truth of
my statements. Nor your people need not be
alarmed at any American competition in that
commodity for many years to come, whether the
tariff be increased to cents per pound or not
sit is somewhat singular that while Pitts
burg man decries the project, an English au-
thority should praise it. A London cotempo-
rary publishes to-day an article upon the sub
jecr in which 1t says: This is an enterprise upon
which the American mind has long been bent,
and it is not easy to see what serious difficulty
stands in the way of its taking root in the
country. II the undertaking were delayed
through the lack Of skilled labor, that is an OBJ
stacle which few months could easily remove,
for there must be many hundreds OF good
workmen in South Wales who would be found
ready to cross the Atlantic for the higher
wages which their services would command in
the United States Then there is the certainty
that as soon as ever the industry is fairly
started, the Government VIII be willing enough
to give it all needful protection by placing
prohibitive duty on imported tin plates There
is a very agreeable prospect for the American
tin plate manufacturer, but it is a very doleful
one for the British maker, continues the writer,
who is at last confronted by the impending loss
of a market of which he has for many years en-
joyed the exclusive monopoly. This is an
event which has been long predicted but its
realization, though often threatened, has teen
delayed until now.
"The article in question concludes as follows:
temporary, this new departure was success
fully entered upon a few weeks since at the ex-
hibition, which is being held in that city, and
an article has been turned out which it is said
completely eclipses the material produced in
South Wales. This latter allegation is proba-
bly, harmless exaggeration on the part of the
Secretary OF the newly-fozmed American
Timed Plate Association, but as regards the
successful Inauguration of the industry itself,
81. T,.rGA
narrative is accurate enough. The plant is in
charge of two experienced tin plaJe workers
who have been brought from South Wales
and. as tin plate manufacturers possess no Sc
crets with respect to their processes, being GER
tain that the association has fully gauged the
probability of success, and that tin plate manu-
facture is at last fairly started by our Ameri-
can friends"
One of the most interesting features of the
building trade during the year that Is drawing
to a close has been the large number of small
houses erected, ranging in cost from $500 to
s., 200. of those costing S.. 5.00U and upward
comparatively few were built. for the reason
that SO many high-priced buildings were
erected last year and the year before as to
somewhat glut the market. The large major
ity of the small houses were built by persons
who own and are living IN them. Very few Of
tu6m were put up investment OF rent. I16y
are the homes of working people, fact that
speaks volumes for the prosperity of the COM
munity.
1t should not be taken for granted however
that this acquisition to the number of small
houses in the city and its environs supplies the
demand, Far from it. 1t is only beginning
A Fourth avenue real estate dealer said yester-
day that he could f1ll at once, several hundred
such houses if he had them. The work of
building them, therefore, should not be allowed
to flag. The prosperity and growth of the city
are involved. People will not come here un-
less assured of comfortable houses to live in at
moderate rents. There is material here for
capitalists and builders to think over.
ERE
Recent changes in hardware have been cumu-
lative in effect and are fast bringing new
order of things into existence. In builders
hardware many of the new designs are re-
markable for their beauty OF finish and arJistic
conception. The trimming of house with
the proper hardware-a subject so long neg
lected-has now assumed its true Importance
and is as much the subject Of personal choice
on the part of the owneras anything else con-
nected with the building. In bronze goods es-
pecially there is an increasing demand for the
best and handsomest that can be made-the
question of price being no consideration what
ever. The new steel lock has made favor
able impression, and seems destined to hold
permanent place. The substitution of mild
steel fer wrought iron has gone on at a very
rnh and 10