Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-02
AMONG THE BUSINESS MEN.
HOW DIFFERENT LINES HAVE GROWN IN
TEN YEARS.
Some Branches That Have Increased 100
Per Cent-Others Three Times as Great,
With Profits One Third as Big-Esti-
nafes nm PopulatiOu,

Some Branches That Have Increased 1OO
Per Cent-Others Three Times as Great
With Profits One Third as Big-Esti-
mates on Population.
7. C. jenkins, the large wholesale grocer,
when asked for an estimate n the increase
of the grocery business since 1880, said: 81
could give no reliable figures on the sd-
vancement of the grocery trade, as it would
take some time to figure it out, and have
never made comparisons to any extent. +"
When asked if the business had increased
20 per cent, Mr.. Jenkins said: "G think
not" He would not make guess on the
population.
A representative of Arbuckle & Co.
thought the grocery and coffee business had
increased in such manner from 1880 that
it was now three times larger in Allegheny
county than decade since.
E. H. Myers, the Liberty street pork
packer. in speaking Of the progress made in
his line since the census of 1880, said: "Of
course, our business has increased in pro-
portion to the population, but our profits
are not near as large as they were ten years
ago. Western competition has been largely
instrumental in depreciating our profits,
and many others have embarked on this
line with more or less success, thus dividing
up the business, whereas ten years ago the
trade was confined to very few houses.
NOT so HIGH AS SOME.
"It is hard to estimate the population of
Allegheny county," he said, when asked to
give an estimate, "but l think it will reach
in the neighborhood of 425, ,O0e"
j. ID. Bernd, the wholesale millinery
goods importer, in discussing the advance
ment of millinery business since 1880, said:
''The business has unquestionably increased
100 per cent since 1880, and is still increas-
ing every day. suppose" he continued,
that Allegheny county has population of
at least half a million. The country bor-
oughs have increased in an extraordinary
manner, as can be readily seen in the way
business has grown"
L. h. Smith, who imports woodenwa-e
extensively, in commenting upon his busi-
ness since the last census, remarked: "Our
line has made very fast progress, and have
no doubt that the wooden ware business in
the past ten years has increased to such an
extent that to-day it is at least three times
as large.
HOW PRICES HAVE DROPPED.
"The prices on wooden novelties have had
corresponding decrease, and to-day YOU
can purchase fine basket for 81 that could
not be had for So ten years ago. would
put the population of Allegheny county in
the neighborhood of 400, O00."
j. J. McCafrey, who has an extensive
retail business in the feed line, said: "Why,
/ suppose the grain business has increased
25 per cent since the last census was taken.
but could give you no reliable statistics.
I suppose the business has keut apace with
. oxrTfh If no mfr + Al. II
be about half a million people found in the
county after the enumerators complete their
work"
A large number Of other business men
were seen by DISPATCH reporters, but yerv
few wished to go on record as hazardiua any
predictions as to the growth of the city or
county.