Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-23
3, ,UUU, IN the following order:

In giving this comparison its proper value,
it should be remembered that there are othel
things shown in it than the number of new
buildings built. The total of cost shows the
aggregate investment more clearly than the
number of buildings, while the average cost
of each building gives better idea of the
standard of architecture in each city than
either of the other two. New York, while
second in the number, is far ahead both in
the total investment and in the average cost
of buildings, which was S11, ,29S. Philadel-
phia, while first in number and second in
total cost, has an average for each building
of but s., ,172, which gives it the eighth place
on the list in that respect. Pittsburg has to
take the eleventh place for number of houses,
its average cost of s., 46s gives it the eighth
place. While Cleveland is credited with
4,007 houses against Pittsburg's 3,241, her
low average cost of 81. .o9S brings the total in
vestment down to s., ,401, s54, or little more
than half of Pittsburg's.
In comparing these figures the New York
Sun thinks that the showing is best for the
town where the investment is largest and
the cost and character of the structures are
the highest. This is true as regards the
activity of the building trade and the
volume of investments, but there is much
to be said for the city which builds many
and cheap houses. Such city certainly
provides homes for the working people more
comfortably than where they are housed in
tenements. Philadelphia's record as city
of cheap homes is one of which that city need
not be ashamed.
1t is well to notice that the exact accuracy
of these comparisons may be modified by
the different estimates of cost reported to
the building inspectors. Also by the differ
ent cest OF building in the different cities
Every Pittsburger will know that the total
of SS, ,0o0, 600 reported for this city indicates
an actual expenditure nearer SIC, ,O0O, 900.
How this ratio will apply elsewhere is a
matter of local practice impossible to include
IN the statistics. On the other hand Cleve-
lands very low average of s., ,09S for each
structure, while largely due to the mushroom
growth of little frame houses in the out
skirts of that city, is to be viewed in the
light that the house which costs 81 900 in
Cleveland will probably cost 81, 400 or
81, 500 in Pittsburg. This cheapness cuts
down the total of investment, but it more
than recompenses in the undoubted stimulus
it gives to building operations.
Pitts5urg's place in this comparison, as in
all comparisons of municipal growth, is
much lessened by the municipal statistics
representing but portion of the whole
community. If the statistics of Allegheny
were included it would put Pittsburg in the
list of cities that have built over 1000
structures. II all of the suburbs could be
included our community would likely be
found the fourth in the number of buildings
and the sixth in total investment, instead of
the eleventh and ninth respectively. Even
with the limitations of its political division,
Pittsburg will probably take higher rank in
the comparison for 1890 than in 1889.