Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-24
A BOW OF PROMISE
Spans the Local Sky, Indicating That
Trade, Already Good, Will
SOON EXPERIENCE A REVIVAL.
Six Thousand Houses and $4,000 People
Added Within Three Years.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AGRAND SCALE

The spring season limbers the joints OF
the granger and makes him think about
doing something. Weary of the winter
torpor. he surveys his well-flled barns, ex-
amines his haymows, makes an estimate OF
the daily egg product OF his chickens, looks
over his apples, potatoes and cabbages, and
casts longing glances toward the city where
snch things are wanted at good prices in
hard cash. This means q revival of the
country trade SO soon as the roads get into
good condition, which, if the weather con-
tinue as it has begun, will not be long. Bad
roads cut him off from the market nearly all
winter, and he has plenty of stuff to sell,
Engineer Davis says the worst roads in the
State are in Allegheny county, and he is about
right A new deal in their management is one
of the necessities of the times.
That spring is opening is shown in the large
and rapid increase in the number of new
houses that are going up and in the large
number projected. Permits for 76 were issued
the past week, at an estimated cost of SS5S2S.
1t is safe to say that within the past three
years 5000 houses, mostly for residence pur-
poses, have been built in Pittsburg and imme-
diste vicinity. These are all occupied and the
demand is not satisfied. Allowing five persons
to each house, a moderate estimate, we fud an
increase of so 900 inhabitants within the period
mentioned. The growth of the city viii be
much greater this year. The syndicate, OF
which Messrs. Finn, Stewart and Magee are
members, will start in the Nineteenth ward
this year with so houses. They will probably
erect 800 before they are done. Another enter
prise is by an Allegheny gentleman, who pro-
poses to put up 100 houses on Penn avenue,
IL fha ThaSa
will be cheap and will rent at a low price. This
will materially reduce the pressure for small
houses.
Pittsburg women hold their own with the
sterner sex in business affairs. Scores of them
are engaged in mercantile pursuits, where, in
many cases, large interests are involved and
are doing well. An enterprising energetic
lady, who occupies an Office on Fourth avenue
is making money as a solicitor for an Eastern
stationery house. Several ladies support them
selves by speculating in oil and stocks. and are
often seen fitting around the Exchange build
ing. They are generally on the bear side.
There is a silly rumor afioat to the effect that
the Mutual Life Insurance Company is dicker-
ing>for the purchase of the posrofice corner.
This property cannot be sold until Congress
passes an enabling act, and then the sale must
be by public outcry. Its value as business
site will insure lively competition for its pos
session, in which the largest purse will obtain
the prize. The report that certain individuals
have an option on it, or that it has been offered
to them on any terms is, therefore, without
foundation in fact.
The Clearing House figures for the past
week show a large gain over those for the same
time last year, which broke all previous
records. Should the present ratio of gain be
maintained, to say nothing of a probable ill.,
crease, 1889 will put Pittsburg fifth or sixth
among the great commercial centers. 1t has
already outstripped Cincinnati, and is crowd
ing Baltimore very closely.
One of the best moderate-sized houses in
Williamsburg was sold a day or two ago for
s., zoo. Two weeks before it was offered at
5000 and refused. This sale proves two things:
That Williamsburg property is bracing up and
that delays are dangerous.
A good evidence of the business growth of
the city is shown in the large increase in the
number of offices. Many of the best buildings
in the city are having additional stories put on
them to supply this demand. In some of these
from rs to 100 firms will be represented, where.
as before they did business wherever they
could find desk room. This consolidation OF
interests cannot but be beneficial to the public
The Ross farm, near Sharpsburg, the sale OF
which was noted in this department yesterday,
will be laid out in 200 acre lots, and put on the
, market in a short time. One of the principal
movers in this enterprise is a well-known coun.
ty official, whose business qualifications were
well known before he went into politics