Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-18
THE TREND OF TRADE.
New Deal in Business to Result From
Projected Improvements.
THE OLD CENTERS OF TRAFFIC
To be Revolutionized and Ancient AsSocla'
tions Finally Broken Up.
WHAT EXPANSION WILL LEAD TO

Birds of feather fcck together, says
venerable adage. 1t is equally true that
men of the same profession, or calling, seek
solace in each others company by locating
as nearly as possible in the same neighbor-
hood and on the same street. Thus it is not
unusual to see entire streets given up to the
same business.
This disposition to herd together Is not
more true of Pttsburg than of other cities
1t is worldwide idiosyncracy of the busi-
ness fraternity, and is to be attributed, per-
haps, to their recognition of the fact that IN
union there is strength.
| In the early history of Pittsburg there were
no such distinctions because Of the impossl-
| bility of drawing and maintaining lines OF oe-
marcation. The first paved street was Fort. IL
| was crowded with tradesmen of all kinds
| There was distinction. Other streets were
soon afterward improved, and then the work of
separation. or division, began, each branch OF
business massing in particular locality. In
the course of time the Monongahela river front
| became famous as headquarters of the iron
| trade and of the steamboat traffic. At the same
time the produce commission business began to
| concentrate on Liberty street, where it has re-
| mained ever since. Along IN the forties Wood
| street, from Fifth avenue to the river, was
| taken possession of by the tailors, who found
| profitable customers in the boatmen of the Pc
| rod. and they monopolized the street until the
| river trade was destroyed by the railroads.
| Fourth avenue has for years been designated as
the Wall street of Pittsburg, the bulk of the
| banking and real estate business being trans
| acted on that thoroughfare.
| A change, however, is imminent. The rapid
growth of the city and the necessity of
IN atp
travel will so enlarge the business as to ma
terially affect the old centers of trade and Gre
| ate new ones. 1t is not improbable that the
| produce business will be transferred to Water
| streer. The talk is running that way. The i'm
| provement of Diamond street will draw large
share of the fancy retail trade from Fifth ave-
nue-at least such is the expectation of many
who have given that subject careful attention.
Recent investments on Smithfield street below
Diamond, have been made on the supposition
that the new postufice and other important
| structures to go up in that neighborhood will
draw business from other parts of the city.
AS business always accommodates itself to
its surroundings, it is not likely that any of the
changes mentioned above as among the prob
abilities of the next few years will injuriously
affect any of the interests involved; but that
rather they will be beneficial, as affording a
larger field in which to operate and giving more
room for displaying and handling goods. The
majority of Pittsburg business men need larger
buildings to accommodate their growing trade
The removal of the produce interest from Lib
erty street would afford an opportunity to
erect class of houses on that thoroughfare
which would be credit to the city.
The old order of things is passing away, and
all classes of citizens should recognize the
necessity of making preparation to meet the
change which this involves. Business must be