Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
A COMMON MISTAKE.
Agents Not Responsible for Alti-
tudinous Land Values.
THEIR INTEREST THE OTHER WAY.
Prominent Citizens Having Plans Made
for Suburban Residences.
OFFICE AND STREET NEWS AND GOSSIP

1t was learned yesterday that Mr.. Murray
Werner is having plans prepared by Archl-
tect Steen for 16 dwellings on Conrad street,
East End. This property is Immediately in
the rear of that owned by Major A. NJ.
Brown. 1t was further learned that the
Yoder Land Company is making arrange
meuts to build IL fine dwellings on Murray
Hill avenue, Shadyside, in the Ardshiel
Terrace plan, the coming summer. These
houses will be of brick, contain II rooms,
have frontage of 40 feet, and will cost about
5000 each. Henry Laughlin. the iron man, is
having plans made for five dwellings at Hazel
wood, costing $1,000 each.
In making the rounds of the architects yes
terday it was found that nearly all of them
have their office boards covered with drawings
for new buildings, but owing to the uncertainty
of the threatened May strike nothing further
will be done on the majority of these improve
ments until that diff Guilty shall be settled.
Responsibility for High Prices.
Said a leading business man yesterday: "In-
terviews with real estate agents, which ap-
peared in THE DISPATCH this morning convey
the idea that the trend of land values is up
ward. 1t is to their interest to keep up pr1ces.
There are reasons for Decline although am
not prepared to show that there has been any"
The gentleman is laboring under serious
his own business that he does of real estate he
would soon go to the wall. 1t is not to the in
terest of real estate agents to keep up values
any more than it is to the interest of merchants
to keep up the prices of their commodities.
The lower the price the greater the business is
the rule OF trade. If property were cheaper
agents could sell more of it. hence it is to their
interest TO keep values down as much as posi-
BILE. a great many transactions are in sus-
pense because owners refuse to make conces-
sions Agents have worked buyers up to the
limit of their capacity, Dut the owners are OBJ
durate. Now, in these cases, is 1t not plain
enough that lower prices would be to the in
teIest of agents by enabling them to make
prompt salesf There is no money for them in
an uncompleted deal. Their commissions fol-
low the transfers The gentleman will have
to acknowledge his mistake in Justice to agents.
Several points touched upon in the inter-
views deserve careful consideration in order to
obtain correct understanding Of the condi-
tion OF the real estate market. Good reasons
are given for the luIl of the past few weeks.
Any business would be slow under such pres
sure Buyers are in the market, and the dlspo-
sition to invest is as good as ever. This affords
ground for believing that with the return OF
good weather and the subsistence OF the malady
that has prostrated half the population of the
city an active movement will set in and a great
deal of property change hands. The state
meut that business is almost as good as usual
at this season of the year." must be accepted
as proof that there are no serious dithculIles IN
the way, while the assurance that the outlook
is favorable to an active movement during the
summer" should strengthen public confidence
and stimulate exertion to maintain the splendid
business record of the city. Real estate is all
right and PiItsburg is all right, as will be DEM
onstrated before many moons wax and wane.
More Agents Talk.
In the interviews with real estate agents. ap-
pcaring in this column yesterday, several firms
we're unintenuonally omltted-among them
Reed b. Coyle d Co., w. C. Beringer & Co.. j.
B. Larkin & Co., W. c. Stewart and a few
others. These were seen yesterday. Reed b.
Coyle & Co. said; with continuous good
weather such as we have had for few days,
business will undoubtedly brighten up. Inquiry
is good. We don't expect any serious trouble
from the eight-hour agitation. We will soon
let contracts for a number of houses. The out
the rest of the year" w. c. Stewart SAID:
Prospects are Frightening all around, and
unless am greatly mistaken dullness Will soon
give way to activity, l think we will have
that business needs is a fair chance. Good
weather and restored health will bring things
around all right. Inquiry for property is good"
W. C. Beringer d Co.: 1.-THE carpenters agita-
ton for eight hours is about the only thing IN
the way of general revival. This is a bad
time to strike, and we think this fact will so in
fuence both sides as to lead TO an amicable
settlement"
Reports from the agricultural districts are
favorable to abundance of hog and hominy this
year.
Some of the wisest brokers think street rail-
way stocks will furnish large share of the
summers business.
The Columbus Club has not yet succeeded in
finding site for the building which it proposes
to erect. Prices are too steep.
Phillip Quillman is having plans prepared fer
a hotel in Norristown, Pa. to cost $50 900.
Bids are being received for Catholic church
at Benwood, W. Va, to cost $4,000.
The deal for the Singer property, at Wilkins
burg, is said to have fallen through. 1t is held
at about $780, 900. The house was built 20 years
ago, and cost SIS, 900.
The good weather of yesterday made every.
body feel and look happy The crowded streets
brought old times to mind.
Sproul q Lawrence sold 10 shares of Trades
mems Bank at $3.50 and Is Pleasant Valley at
s24.
The regular meeting of the stockholders of
the Excelsior Express and Standard Cab Com
pany will be held next Tuesday.
Morris Brown sold Electric yesterday. J.
T. Patterson and Sproul & Lawrence were
buyers.
Henry Swoger has sold house and lot in the
'Fifth-ward, Allegheny, to A. D. Wilson for
$1,000
A meeting of the Granite Roofing Company
will be held next Wednesday to vote on the
question of reducing the capital and par value
of the stock.
The Building Record.
Permits for the erection of the following
buildings were issued yesterday. The list looks
like one of old times:
A. & K. Wissman, frame two-story and man.
sard dwelling and store, 20x40 feet on Penn
avenue, Twentieth ward. Cost, 81. AGO.
A. & K. Wissman, frame two-story dwelling,
12xD0 fanr
Cost, 5000.
w. ]. Zahniser, frame addition. one-stery
carpenter shop, sx5o feet on Fcrty-fourth
street, Seventeenth ward. Cost. $780,
L. o. Frazier and William Velte, two frame
two-story dwellings lSx32 feet, on Liberty ave-
nue., Sixteenth ward Cost So, $50.
Miss Griffith, frame one-story kitchen, 7x12
feet, on Forty-sixth street, Seventeenth ward.
Cost S75.
Henry Gunderman. brick addition, two-story
store and dwelling, l9x4O feet, on Sheridan ave-
nue., Nineteenth ward. Cost, 1900.
Thomas Hanlon brick three-story dwelling
"A by Is feet, on rear Carson street. Twenty
ninth ward. Cost, $1,000.
DR.. P. D. Parchment frame twostory dwell
ing. 14x24 feet, on Sheridan avenue. Nine
teenth ward. Cost, 5000. |
DR.. T. ID. Parchment, frame two-story dwell
ling, l4x24 feet. on Dundee alley, Nineteenth
ward. Cost 5000
Mrs. Margaret Gavan. two brick two-story
and mansard dwellings, l6x3O feet, on Ligonier
street. sixteenth ward. Cost. s. 200.
Thomas p. McClurg, frame two-story and at |
tic dwelling, 37x4O feet, on Carson street. Twen-
ty-fourth ward. Cost, S. 00u
John 7. McCray, brick two-story dwelling, % |
x42 feet, on Rebecea street, Twentieth ward. !
Cost, S5, 200.
William J. Loaterman, two frame two-story |
dwellings, l51aX32 feet, near Rppey street, |
Nineteenth ward. Cost, $4,000.
Joseph Gross, frame addition one story dwell |
ling, 2ixSl feet, above Shirley street, Twenty |
seventh ward. Cost, $3.50.
Samuel Feleybereer frame two-storv dwell