Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
THATBIG PR R. DEAL,
Mysterious Mr.. Welsh Has
Bought Big Slices
INCHERRYANDOAKA ALLEYS
The Gossip on the New Road is
Very Lively.
A TOUR OF THE PROPOSED ROUTE

AloAs "a kn6 SOlL Impeachment budG the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad was indulging in q
pS6cnant for the requirement of Cherry
f6lley property for the use and roadway of a
line Of local tracks to tap the heart of the
city, comes a series of deductions drawn
from more or less inehoate deals" in the
Cherry alley region. All Of which are
taken by those who watch such things, to be
an indication that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road desires to save its loyal local patrons
the weary matutinal and nocturnal trudging
from and to the Union depot
Al present, since the avalanche of ru-
rnors without shred of fact has commenced
10 flow, an actual realty transaction that can
be presented with names. figures and proba-
BILE motives, must be welcomed as an oasis
q sort of iowers-that-b at-bloom-in-the-spring
or g chunk of mama from clear sky.
PREsTol A FACT COMES FORTH.
At least fact has dropped in. The Oak
alley church property, which fronts 144 feet
on Oak alley, 12O feet on Cherry alley, and
165 feet on the rear line of Reeds church,
has been purchased by J. Lawber Welsh, of
Philadelphia, for S79, Rumor had it
that the weIl-known firm Of Black s. Baird
acted as intermediates in the transaction.
A DISPATCH reporter sought out Mr..
Black, who, with his usual courtesy, said
that the sale had indeed been made by the
firm for the amount stated. Mr.. Black,
however, curtailed further chance of infor-
nation by saying that while he could be
much more explicit, his business obligations
rendered it expedient for him to discuss the
matter no further.
"Has the deed been filed, Mr.. Black ?''
'It had not up to 4 O'Clock to-day" was
the laconic answer.
THE RECORD-wHERE WAS IT?
At the County Recorders office an official
was asked if SIS, 900 deed in the Oak Al
ley Church matter had been filed by j.
Lawber Smith.
welsh, you mean. J. Lawber Welsh
No, the deed has not been filed, but we think
that the sale has been made. They know
something about it at the City Engineers
Office, but think the deed is being with
held from record.
To the City Engineers Office scurried the
reporter. Chief Bigelow, of the Depart
ment OF Public Works, was asked if he
knew Of any transfer having recently been
made of the Oak Alley Church property to
two directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
He said be had heard or read of the matter,
but declined to state whether he knew of
such having been the case. His smile and
mild denial were as full of meaning as the
celebrated headshake of Lord Burleigh,
which might mean anything or express any
emotion from excessive joy to intense de-
spair.
MYSTERIOUS J. LowBER WELSH.
The original information as to ]. Lowber
Welsh was that he was and is director in
the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad, and that when
he got his little property accretions all ar
ranged large transfer to the greatest rail-
road on earth would be the next STEP Mr..
Thomas Watt was seen and said that j.
Lowber Welsh and a gentleman named
Stackhouse had recently been in PittsbHrg
on an errand connected with Pennsylvania
Railroad matters.
The positive statement of a local realty
broker that Mr.. Welsh was a director in
the Pennsylvania Railroad and was en-
abling officials thereby to split hairs con-
corning local purchases, was shown Mr..
Robert Pitcairn last evening. He was
asked if he knew aught about the Oak
Alley Church deal or the purchase. Mr..
Pitcairn said be knew nothing of either
''deal' or dealer" Furthermore, he knew
of no one having the high-sounding patro-
nymic of 81. Lowber Welsh" and that
the gentleman who parted his name
sylYania Railroad director. A Mr..
Henry Welsh was a director fast enough.
As for Mr.. Stackhouse, his name recalled
Oblivion. Mr.. Pitcairn said that he was
the purchasing agent of the P. R. R., and
if anything was being bought around here
he would be apt to buy it He said with
great positiYeness that the current rumors
were absurd, and that the big deal reported
to be engaging the attention of sundry B.
& 0. officials and the road was also absurd
Mr.. Pitcain was very positive, indeed.
A railroad authority was quite emphatic
in his declaration that Mr.. j. Lowber
Welsh was a heavy stockholder in the P.
r. B. So with the assured fact that who
ever he may be, Mr.. Welsh laid down 79,
600 cool dollars, and definite statements that
Nh. Welsh was and was not adirector in
the ?. r. R., the reporter went on with the
inquiry.
Is MR. ELIAS HOWE A MYTH?
When asked what benign influence Mr..
j. LoEber Welsh had exerted upon his
finances, Mr.. E. W. Hagan replied with as
much asperity as if Mr.. McGinty had been
broached as a topic of conversation He
said it was true that he had sold his 4Ox120
feet fronting on Sixth street, for $50 600
very recently, but that Mr.. Elias Howe was
the purchaser. through Messrs. Black &
Baird. Mr.. Hagan said he had got his
price and had therefore ceased to be inter
ested In the property. This is the only in
formation about Mr.. Elias Howe known up
to date; viz: That. he had at one time
$50. 600, and that Mr.. E. W. Hagan has the
money now. while Mr.. Howe has the prop
erty.
There was nothing for it but to make
vigorous effort to find out, all along the
line, inst what was being done. An actual
canvass of every front foot of the side of
Cherry alley said to be desired was made
BY a corps of DISPATCH reporters last
night The tour panned out very nicely,
and previous deductions were corroborated
by what lawyer would denominate hear
say evidence.
MR.. JACKSON KNEW OF IT.
Commencing at the Liberty street end of
the route. Mr. 1. jackson, the elothier, was
the first person encountered who seemed to
know anything about the deal. Although
Saturday evening is a busy one at this
season of the year, especially with mer-
chants in Mr.. Jaekson's s line of business, be
readily consented to devote half an hour to
telling what he knew of the scheme and
what he believed it would amountto in the
end.
His story was about as follows: 1.-THE
property Of the First Reformed Presby-
terian, ior Oak Alley, Church has been
purchased BY the real estate agents, Messrs.
Black & Baird, for a Philadelphia party
named welsh. Lowber Welsh, believe
his name is-for a consideration of $50, 900
or 100000. This property fronts as follows:
One hundred and forty-four feet on Oak
alley, 12O feet on Cherry alley. 165 feet on
fba raar naxt m the First II p Church