Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-03
VERY NEAR 100000
The Estimated Present POpu-
latiOn of Pittsburg
BY THE NEW DIRECTORY.
Allegheny Expected to Show Up With
at Least 115,000.
A GREAT GROWTH In TEN YEARS
BY THE NEW DIRECTORY.
A GREAT GROWTH In TEN YEARS

time. and it is now being delivered as fas
as 1t can be gotten from the bindery. Som'
people, however, will be forced to wait fo
some time after others are served, as tn,
city is supplied section by section, system
being necessary in order to work expedI
tiously.
There are sermons in stones, books il
running brooks" and there is considerable
statistical succulency in a directory, an6
Mr. Difenbacher emphasizes it in this cen
sw edition. The book this year is set in
nonpareil type, instead of BREWER, as here
tofore The size of the book is thus dimin-
ished, making it much more convenient
for handling, but the change cost the
maker considerably more money, reducing
the profit sharply. 1t is also bound with a
tight back, so that it will lie fiat when
opened. The back is also of Russia leather
instead of skiver or Sheep as heretofore.
This makes the book stronger, and it will
stand more handling, as the cover will not
come loose.
The growth of the city rendered the book
from year to year more and more bulky, and
condensation in some shape had become
an unavoidable necessity.
SOME NEW WRINKLES.
There are some new features introduced
that will recommend themselves on sight to
the most obtuse. For instance, the surname
is given and then "dittoed" thus: ""
and all one has to do is to follow down the
initial or Christian names, which run al
phabetically as of yore, but, striking the
eve at first glance, are much more readily
found. Another marked improvement is
the publication of a persons business
and residence together. For instance,
take John Smith. Heretofore, if he be-
longed to the firm of Johnston, Smith &
Co., you found the firm name in one place
and John Smiths name and residence in
another. In the present edition it would
run thus: "Smith, John, of Smith, John
ston & Co., 1125 Carson street; b. "a Du-
ouesne way" So you get to know all you
want of Mr.. Smith without looking first for
his name and then for his firm, or vice versa.
As a rule the same is true OF the disposition
of bookkeepers and other prominent EN-
ployes in firms, place of residence and bust
ness both given in the same connection.
The paper of this years book is of better
quality than that formerly used.
THE POPULATION OF PITTsBURG.
The general directory, exclusive of the
classified business list, contains 109, ,908
names, an increase of 3, 900 for the year. Mr..
Diffenbacher's estimate of the population of
thetwo cities is 375, 900, 26O, 900 in Pittsburg
and lis, 0e0 in Allegheny. This he obtains
by multiplying the number OF names Sc
cured for directory purposes by 4, instead of
AZ or 8, as is generally done. Thus his
estimate can be taken as very conservative
one.
Then, there are 10, 900 more in Sharpsburg
and Etna, and were McKeesport, Braddock
Sewickley, and for that matter, the county,
as it is so often remarked if should be- added
to the city, Pittsburg would take the rank
she should have instead of figuring in the
census among a number of cities of much
less importance. This will be more ap-
parent after the census returns are pub
1ished, as the boroughs have increased in
population at rate appreciated by but few
beside those who live in them.
GROWTH OF TEN YEARS.
The directory of 1880, covering the same
territory, contained 81, 400 names. This is
an increase of so per cent in population in
ten years, notwithstanding the removal of
large manufacturing firms to Jeanette,
Wilmerding, Beaver Falls and to a score of
Western towns, which have not only carried
away thousands of men, but their families
as well, which secessions, if pooled, would
make of themselves a city of respectable
size.
1t is a testimony to substantial growth
that not only is the population departed not
missed, but the increase of 1900 for the
year is at a rate never dreamed of in past
decades.
This years directory contains !, ,076 pages,
while last years had ,339 pages, but the
present is more than equal to !, 800 of last
years pages. The present book is accom-
panied by a map of the two cities, which
shows Schenley Park and 165 new street
locations and extensions. The printing was
done by Stevenson & Foster, and the bind
ing by William G. Johnston & Co. The di-
rectory is equal in appearance, style, ar
rangement, etc., to any other in the country.
There are some lights as well as shadows
in directory making, and some amusing
things are culled from reports of some name
takers. 1t would seem that some who applied
to Census Superintendent Oliver had an ex-
ceedingly brief apprenticeship under Mr.
Diffenbacher. One had found a man whose
surname was Benjamin. The canvasser,
however, became twisted in some
wav in syllabifcation, and brought in the
name of Ben Jimmon." Such canvassers
were invited to call at the paymaster's desk
forthwith.
SOME SINGULAR SPELLING.
One spelled Pittsburg, Pitts Burg"
Another found "black smith, The
rather plentiful name Mcknight, was given
in as "McNight." A man named Kohne
gave his name and the style Of his firm.
The canvasser got his orthography in the
first place from the owner of the name and
got it correctly, but concluded to give it
variety, and in the designation of the firm
it flashed up "Chone & Co." There was
much of this kind of work, but these speci-
mems will suffice.
Peon1e whose surnanes heoin NTH w in
creased more than those whose names begin
with any other letter in the alphabet, the
additions being 426 NJ follows closely, the
additions being 420. The great Smith
family and its cognates, Schmid, Schmidt,
Schmit, Schmith, Schmitt, Smidt, Smit and
Smyth, seem to have been either derelict in
the matter of building up population or to
have Joined the hegira to those points which
have lately set up in manufacturing.
swARMs FROM TIE HIVES.
There are really swarms from the
parent hive, for, though some of the
companies have imported mechanics
on taking their old workmen with
them, and resident of the Southside who
keeps an eye on its changes and knows
nearly all its old population states that
acres of houses have been emptied BY the
removal of one large factory, but reflled so
quickly by newcomers that only
one well acquainted with the sec
tion would observe the change.
In some localities, a year or two ago. he
knew almost every face in some blocks
where now he recognizes but few, and he Is
no longer greeted by friendly dogs, as of
wore, SO that the departed population seems
not only to have taken its household deities
with it, but everything that once attached
it to the spot. The ceaseless surge of popu-
lation rolls over these districts, and in
short time the departed will only be remem-
bered BY immediate relatives and close
friends.