Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-11
TIE PROSPERITY OF THE CITY
Helping All the Railroads as Well as Hotels
to Declare Most Substantial
Dividends.
ALL THE STORES ARE CROWDED DAILY,
And Observing Men Are Positive it Not spssuodic, but
Steady Thing

stood gazing out of the Office windows, at
the great throng of people ceaselessly NOV
ing up and down Fifth avenue.
Il have been selling tickets in this city
for 20 years." he confined, "and never saw
anything like it Why, it is almost an i'm
possibility for us to handle our passenger
traffic. On Thursday we had an excursion
booked for the Cumberland district, and as
it was a long run we sent but six cars.
When the train arrived the people were
standing up from end to end of the coaches,
and many were unable to get aboard at all.
Our agent at Somerset telegraphed that
same day for us to send ten coaches next
week, which we will have to do. This is
not an exception, but the rule with us. The
volume of passenger business is about as
great as it was during the summer months
and there is no immediate prospect of its
falling of.
LONG STAYS ALWAYS DESIRABLE.
Another thing about it is that it is of a
more substantial character than ever before.
Last year all excursion tickets were limited
to three days. This year they are good tor
five, and patrons complain some at that.
They come here with money to spend, and
they spend it. You will see outgoing trains
full of people who are fairly smothered
with bundles and packages. What the
hotels do with all of them is more than L
can find out. In fact, 1 know positively
that they are all taxed to their utmost ca
pacity every minute of the time. All the
business houses are overrun with customers
from morning until night, and they have
trouble in getting their goods delivered here
foy sale.
But our business is not confined to ex-
curSions, by any means The city is full
of commercial men ali The time, and they
report business as splendid in all branches.
Only yesterday one Of our patrons stopped
in here, and he took time to show me his
samples. He is selling line of silk and
other draperies, which cost from S3 to S12
yard. He told me he was working up
tremendous trade in Pittsburg, which shows
that there is plenty of money for things
outside of the necessaries oflife."
How is the freight business of the
road?''
GREAT SHORTAGE OF CARS
"All we want now is cars with which to
handle the shipments A coke operator
along our line said to me only yesterday:
Mr.. Smith, 1 could use so cars day, if
could get them. 1 have orders months
ahead, and nv only trouble is in delivering
the goods Yes, sir, business was never
better in Pittsburg. Go into the office of
Carnegie, Phipps & Co., and they will tell
you that they have orders enough booked
ahead to keep them going for year or IS
months. Go TO the Office of the Cambria
Iron Company and they will tell you the
same, and so it goes all along the line.
when we moved into this building, ten
years ago, Pittsburg then was as
country village almost as compared
to the Pittsburg of to-day. Now Fifth
avenue is as busy a thoroughfare
as Broadway, New York. Even within
five years the city has undergone a complete
transformation, and 1 cannot see a dark
cloud in her future pathway Railroad
men, as rule, can size up the signs of the
times about as well as anv class of people
Let money become a little close, and we feel
1t as soon as anyone. Business men cease
rushing in calling tor tickets to New York,
Washington, Philadelphia. Chicago and
other points; the pleasure seekers abandon
their contemplated trips, and the people
stop running from place to place visiting
friends, while the freight business under
goes certain falling of. -
ALL THE ROADS SITUATED ALIKE.
Colonel Tom Watt, District Passenger
Agent OF the Pennsylvania Rrailroad, was
seen at his Office during the afternoon. He
said: 1.-THE greatest trouble we experience
is in getting cars in which to haul the peo-
pie. 1t beats everything, this tremend-
Gus rush of trade. And it is not
spasmodic, either, but steady
thing. Wednesday night L came over from
Altoona on the limited, and we had ITO
passengers aboard. The conductor, one of
the Oldest men on the road, told me this was
about the common run, these days.
"As for our excursion business, il is
simply tremendous, with Pittsburg as the
objective point. The volume OF passenger
business is about as great as it was during
the summer, while the freight business is
immense.
Chow do I account for it? 1 will tell you.
Pittsburg is booming more than any city Of
her size on the continent to-day. She has
assumed the position of distributing point
between the East and West, for points
North and South of us. Business was
never better, money is plenty, and people
like our methods of doing business.
ROADS ovERRUN WITH BUSINESS.
So far as l can learn every road entering
this city is completely overruu with busi-
ness, and the prospects for a continuance of
the same are splendid, for we have the ele- |
ments here that make trade. 1 believe more |
money has been spent in Pittsburg this wear
in legitimate trade, than during any similar |
period YOU can mention" |
An official In District Passenger Moodv's |
Office, OF the Fort Wayne road, reported the |
same general rush of business, and said their |
lines were taxed to the utmost for means of !
He cited as an instance, |
one night when a political meeting was |
held at Beaver Falls. The party ordered |
six coaches to haul them to Sewickley, where |
a second meeting was to be held, but the road |
could not have furnished them, had they
been paid $1,000 apiece. He said that |
while they were rarely ever knocked clear
out, as in this instance, still it kept them
hustling all the time to accommodate the
public.
At all of the hotels sleeping quarters are
at premium, while the downtown stores
are jsmmed with people during business
hours, and tie thoroughfares long after
Taking it all in all, it looks as if the gen.
tlemen quoted above have ample grounds
on which to base their glowing estimates
Of the city's present prosperity.