Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-13
BUSINESS SHUT OUT.
Pittsburg Handicapped by the Scar
city of Warehouses.
OUTSIDERS HAVE NO CHANCE.
Nothing to Meet Emergencies Such as
Caused by the Wood Street Fire.
THE NEWS AND GOSSIP OF THE CITY

While Pittsburg has made wonderful
progress in ali lines of business in the last
few years, and has become a recognized
financial as we'll as manufacturing center,
there is one thing in which she is sadly de-
fcient. There is no city in the country that
shows more vitality. Her push and pluck
are subjects of remark all over the country
She is rapidly accumulating population and
wealth. But she ought to grow faster and
would were il not that the very thing
needed to secure this result is lacking.
What is it that stands in the way of more
rapid development? 1t has been stated time
after time that great many outside business
men are desIrOus of locating here. Nearly
every real estate broker in the city has apDlica-
tions of this kind. But as they cannot be ac-
commodated with the sort of stands they want
they are compelled 10 stay away. These people
would be valuable accessIons. They would
supply new blood. energy and capital, which
would give business forward impulse and be
of great benefit to the entire community.
Every other city in the country is soliciting
business by holding out inducements Of one
sort and another, but Pittsburg, by short
sighted policy on the part of property owners,
is repellIng it. This is plain but correct state
ment of the case.
The remedy is easy if property owners could
be brought to see it. Outsiders wanting to
locate here should be afforded such facilities
for business as they require. 1t may be true.
as claimed in some quarters, that the city has
enough Office buildings to satisfy the present
demand; but the most casual observer must
admit scarcity of business houses. 1t is this
that is keeping outsiders away. What is needed
above all things else just now to facilitate
material expansion is a large number of CON-
modious, wel-arranged warehouses TO supply
the demands of trade. There are good OPEN
ings for buildings of this description IN all parts
of the city from Grant street to the Point 1t
matters little whether they be on main or side
streets The tendency of business is toward
segregation. and by putting the right kind of
buildings on them, side streets would be brought
into prominence and property values en-
HANGED.
This is matter of special interest to owners
of downtown lots encountered with antiquated
structures that are bringing in a rental amount
ing in some cases to not more than per cent
on the valuation, and will never yield more.
since as they are fit for nothing but small shops
and stores, the occupants cannot stand an ad-
vance. These buildings are at the top of their
by good warehouses would be a dis
tinct gain to the owners and to the
city. There is no danger that they would
not be promptly taken. They would be snapped
up as fast as they could be finished. But few
unoccupied buildings of this sort would not be
amiss. They would be hanay in case of
emergencies such as that caused by the Wood
street fire. Where will the people burned out
there find quarters7