Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-09
A FORWARD IMPULSE.
Business Men Making Haste Slowly
to Avoid Entanglements.
ALI SIGNS POINT TO A GOOD YEAR.
A Better Feeling Among the Spectators,
Denoting q THrn in the Tide.
THE NEWS AND GOSSIP OF THE CITY

That business is not rushing along at the
high pressure speed of last year should not
throw anyone into a fit of the dumps. There
are reasons for moving slowly. The year
ended under circumstances of grave con-
Germ and danger to the business interests Of
the country. The monetary stringency was
intense. The banks fortified themselves ior
emergencies, and refused to lend except to
their regular customers, and to these very
sparingly. This was good policy. 1t COM
PEELED caution and prevented many man
from going to the wall. Although the
clouds are breaking away and confidence re-
turning. the banks are still pursuing con-
servative policy. They are not free lenders.
Hence trade, deprived of sufficient stimulus
for the time being. shows less vim and aggres-
sive force than at the corresponding time last
year, when the "sinews of war" were abundant
and easily obtained.
But. as previously pointed out. there is no
reason to apprehend that the comparative de-
preston will be of long duration. Conditions
are healthy and favorable to expansion. The
banks and other financial institutions are well
supplied with money. and with the full return
of confidence it will be released. The legacy
of caution from last year is serving as break
water against undue speculation on the one
hand and premature expansion on the other
1t is giving people time to take reckonings to
ascertain the drift OF the tide and to prepare
for new moves. They are making haste slowly.
A good General never goes into battle until he
is ready. Prudent business men act on the
same principle. That the year will be good
one there can be no doubt. All things are
shaping themselves to this end. The country
is full of energy and recuperative power that
cannot be held i'll abcyance.
Dsf4 Of H1nA oNr racf fnAn naio
points IN the couhtry. This is shown in the
recent bank statements. There is no money
famine here, but it is carefully guarded as a
protection to established industries. This
should inspire confidence. Indeed. it has al
ready had this effect. Money is easier than at
the first OF the year and business men feel
safer, as il they once moro stood on solid
ground. The forward impulse will continue to
gain strength, until in short time, unless the
unexpected happen, the volume of trade will
reach if it does not surpass that of 1890. There
is no ground for any other conclusion.
Business News and Gossip.
All classes of business men are hopeful.
This is half the hattie.
W. c. Stewart expects to have his contracts
closed and work begun his Liberty street
house inside of ten days. 1t is understood that
the King estate will commence building about
the same time.
Baxter. Thompson & Co. are rearranging
their office to accommodate increasing busi-
ness.
The largest of 20 mortgages on file for record
yesterday was for S32 666-purchase money.
The real estate brokers will decide for or
against regular auction sales at the meeting
this afternoon. Opinion is divided on the
question. and discussion promises to be lively.
Speaking of the option reported TO have been
secured on Sixth and Liberty streets, busi-
ness man said yesterday: There is no better
location in the city for q hotel, and from what
know about it think the deal will be CO."
Railroad earnings: Ohio River, fourth week
Ohio, Southwestern, fourth week of December,
net decrease. Sc, l79; month of December, net
decrease, IS 754.
The garden farm at Bennett, sold for s125 an
acre, is on the hillside. Farms near the station
are worth more money.