Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20
Secured by Boggs & Buhl, the Well
Known Firm of Allegheny
DrygOods Merchants.
TIE PURCHASE ON PENN AVENUE,
With Frontage of 60 Feet at the Corner
of Evans Alley, and Depth Of
About 200 Feet.
MR.. BOGGS ADMITS THE ACQUISITION,
And Talks Of the Advantages of the Location for Big
Retail Store

The move of business toward the point
has been anticipated by Boggs & Buhl, the
Allegheny drygoods princes, who have pur-
chased 90 feet frontage and about 200 feet
depth at the corner of Penn avenue and
Evans alley from Mrs. Elizabeth Herst, the
dealer in Diamond Market. 1t is not stated
authoritively what the property will be
used for, but from indirect sources it was
learned last night that Boggs & Buhl ex-
pect to buy adjacent property and erect a
large store building.
Evans allev is midway between Fourth
and Fifth streets. The property which has
been purchased has on it two dwelling
houses a stable and some smaller buildings.
1t is nicely situated, and is close to the
Pittsburg clubhouse.
A Feature That Is Relied Upon.
The Manchester street car line runs up
Fifth street nearby, and it is thought that
it will.attract business IN that direction,
There are no large retail stores in that
vicinity, but on account of the fact that
Fifth avenue and Smithfield are becoming
greatly crowded, it is conceded by all bust
ness men that Penn and Liberty avenues,
p6lO" SlAtl street., VIII DE J0e Oul-
let for the retail business overflow.
When asked what would be done with the
property purchased, Mr. Boggs. of the firm
of Boggs & Bull, refused to answer, claim
ing that they were not ready TO make an an
nouncement In the next breath he was
talking of the desirable situation for re-
tail house, and in every action confirming
the beliefthat one will be established on
The site.
Penn, avenue, it seems is me, is the natu-
raj business street of Pittsburg," said Mr..
Boggs. SIT is level, wide, close to the
means of transportation, accessible by all
the street car lines and nearer the center of
population for both cities than any other
street. Smithfield, Fifth avenue and Lib
erty are crowded now, and business must
spread out some way.
The Direction of Growth.
1t will never go ove- the hill, so of
course, it must extend toward the Point.
Our property is not far down, and in few
years it Will be right in the heart of bust
ness. We bought it because we thought
we were getting il cheap and because, if we
desire, We can get adjacent property. Such
q large site is hard TO get in Pittsburg
They are,all picked up and will get more
valuable every year. eff we don't build on
1t, " and he dwelt on the if, 'it will still be
q good investment.
cit is claimed" continued Mr. Boegs,
= nat thes0riCes of Pittshurg real estate are
inflated. That NAV be. I know values are
high, and:I think that suburban real estate
will take a tumble some Of these davs.
Business lots like the one we secured will
not be affected, however and 1 feel con-
fident viii steadily increase. The place is
particularly desirable for a retail business
'The Manchester cars go near it for Allie
gheny people. The Fifth avenue cars are
not far away, and the wide avenue will
make ii easy of access. I will
not say that we will build on it or that we
Will not. We are doing a pretty big busi-
ness here, he added, as he looked at the
surging Christmas present buying crowd
tibet was packed in the immense store like
sardines in box, "but-"and then Mr.
Boggs stopped TO give some directions to
an employe.
The Consideration Still Secret.
He was not willing to state the amount of
the purchase money, and said he was sur
prised that the sale had become known.
The transaction was carried out by A. ID.
wilson, the AlleSnenv real estate dealer.
Attention was called TO the fact last
night that if Bcggs & Bukl build Pitts
burg store, they will be placed in direct op-
position with the firm of Joseph Horne s.
Co, which deals in the same class of goods.
Gusky's Kaufmanns' and Solomon and
Reuben's proposed store will be within a
pistol hot of Boggs & Buhl, so that the
giants will be placed side by side, and will
be given an opportunity to prove the truth
of the statement that competition is the life
of trade