Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
HOME TRADE STRAWS.
Tenants Paying Promptly, Showing
They Are Flush of Funds.
THE OUTLOOK FOR TIE FILTERS.
Some Recent Sales Show That Real Estate
Values Are Stiff as Ever.
PITTSBURG VERSUS PHILADELPHIA

heal esSdse agents ana owners are well
along in the work of sending the usual
yearly notices to tenants. There will be
considerable moving next April, but less
than usual on account of the scarcity of
houses. Business has been so good during
the year that many families have bettered
their circumstances and will eudeavor to
secure better quarters. Nearly all the
agents say rent will be higher, but it is too
early to say how much. Applications for
houses from outsiders are more numerous
than ever before, indicating quite an addition
to the population if they can be accommodated.
The People Have Money.
w. A. Heron & Sons report less trouble in
collecting from tenants for this onth than in
any previous year, notwithstanding that De-
cember is the hardest month of the II in which
| to get money from the people. AS they deal
with about A. 600 persons-tenants and owners
this statement is significant as showing that
money is easy with the general public. There
are three reasons why collections are slow in
December. First, nearly everybody holds back
until the time for annual settlements In Janu-
ary; second, as rule manufacturing establish
ments close down for the holidays; third. the
majority of people use all their spare cash in
the purchase of holiday goods.
Prices Held Up.
The sale during the week of piece Of land in
the Fourteenth ward, little over an acre, for
So 500. shows very clearly that real estate values
have undergone no shrinkage. Even side
street property is holding its own, as shown by
the sale of lot on Ferry street a few days ago
at the rate of $500 foot 'front.' There is no
lack of confidence in realty, and those who are
holding back for lower prices are making
mistake.
A Striking Difference.
A APhiladelphia builder, who was in this city
on business yesterday. remarked to a real es-
tate broker on Fourth avenue: ~ think at the
present rate of house building we will soon be
overstocked. Indeed. this is the case now to a
considerable extent. There are many vacant
houses in Philadelphia" This sounds rather
odd to Pittsburg ears, which are accustomed to
hearing constant complaints of scarcity. The
fact is, there are not dwellings enough here by
many hundreds to house the citizens, and out
siders have no chance at all. If everything
works right great deal more than usual will
be done next year toward supplying this press
ing want. The only way to enable the city to
expand is by building houses to accommodate
people who want 10 locate here. This is SO plain
that even capitalists are beginning to see it,
A Great Disappointment
The sharp advance in oil which surprised and
encouraged brokers and producers on FRIDAY
was short-liyed. Yesterday the price shriveled
to the old proportions. This was great dIsap-
polntmenT. Conditions were SO favorable for
rise that scarcely anyone doubted 1t had
come to stay. 1t turned out, however, to have
been extorted from the shorts iInd when the
pressure was removed there was nothing for
the market to do but collapse. Did the Stand
ard have anything to do with it? 1t is safe to
say that but for the Standard oil would be SELL
ing at a fair price and producers earning a
living Whether the Standard bo as bad as it
is painted OF not it Is a standing menace to the
market. Producers, therefore, should perse-
we're in their efforts to establish pipe lines and
rehneries of their own. This done, they will
have sure and profitable market for al the
oil they can produce.
Bigger Plants Needed. -
The inquiry for large sites for industrial pur-
poses is good. Outside manufacturers fully
appreciate the many advantages-of Pittsburg
for their business,leven without natural gas,
and would like TO locate here. Some of them
may come. But the demand for this kind of
property comes mainly from home firms. whose
business has been SO prosperous during the
year that they feel justified in increasing theil
plants or building new onea There have been
no sales of manufacturing properties for some
time. SO far as known, but several deals are IN
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