Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-29
PROFITABLE PHILANTHROPY.

Making a First-Class Investment and at the
Same Time Benetiting Many Working.
men.
Attention has frequently been called to
! the fact that the surest way to benefit the
mass of the people is to construct healthful
dwellings that can be rented at reasonable
rates. Fully 1000 workmen, principally
machinists and moulders employed by the
Westinghouse Airbrake Company, are
obliged to go by special train every day to
and from Wilmerding for the want of suit
able houses that can be rented at that point
The majority of these men are anxious to
reside near their work and would gladly do
so if houses could be obtained at rentals
ranging from SO to $50 per month. AL
though there are now some 80 houses in the
village, mostly owned, however, by the oc-
cupants it will require fully three times
that number to supply the present demand.
The special need is for conveniently az
| ranged five-roOm houses, which, if desira-
| BILE, could be built in blocks of eight or ten
so cheaply that at a very moderate rental
they would yield at least 10 or II per cent
on the investment from good paying class
of tenants.
As to Wilmerding, as it stands to-day,
there is, without doubt, no new town in the
country so completely equipped. By the
been graded, severed and provided with
sidewalks without cost to the taxpayer. An
excellent water works system, natural gas
mains and an electric light plant leave little
to be desired in the way of city advantages.
The town is well lighted by the tower sys-
tenn, at a nominal cost, and both fire and
police protection are afforded
In this connection it may be said that, in
marked contrast with the usual plan pur-
sued by large corporations, the Westing-
house Airbrake Company favored the early
erection of Wilmerding into borough, the
boundaries of which should include its i'm
mensely valuable plant. This liberal ac-
tion assures to the borough large revenue
for borough and school purposes, and to the
citizens and other property owners many
improvements and benefits, coupled with
reasonable valuations and low tax rates. AS
matter of fact, thus far taxes in the
borough of Wilmerding have been less than
In the surrounding townships.
A noticeable feature of the town is the
very substantial character of buildings
alread y erected and now under way. The
general Office and Library building, with its
extensive and lovely grounds, would be an
ornament to any city. The new school
house is equally handsome in design and
model of completeness. A number of well
built business houses and a very attractive
brick block known as the Bank building i'm
press the visitor with the marked perma-
nency of all improvements while the neat
and artistic dwellings to be seen on all
sides strengthen the impression and CRAFTY
the taste.
The plant of the Westinghouse Airbrake
Company is the only manufacturing estab-
lishment within the borough, but it is
gigantic in size and in achievement en-
ploying 1000 men and paying out over
500, 900 per month for wages alone. Divi- |
dends aggregating II per cent on the capital |
stock of SIS, ,000, 900 have been declared out |
of the earnings of the first six months of |
1891, and with a constantly increasing bust |
ness there is scarcely any limit to the |
growth and prosperity'of this wonderfully |
successful concern.
In view of these facts, the security of
money invested in permanent buildings at
Wilmerding cannot be questioned. The
history Of McKeesport and Braddock will
be repeated there, and those who are first in
he field will reap the most bountiful har-
vest. The East Pittsburg Improvement
Company at Wilmerding or No. All Wood
street, Pittsburg, Pa, will make large dis
counts on prices and special terms of pay
nent for property on which purchasers will
gree to erect suitable houses for renting in
to the great demand therefor. The
opportunity cannot be e1celled.