Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-23
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK,
Abundant Harvests Promised
in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and West Virginia.
GOOD TRADE PROSPECTS.
Money Apparently Plentiful in and
Around Pittsburg.
ROADS A FACTOR In BUSINESS.
Labor disputes the Only Clouds in the
Commercial Sky.
CROP REPORTS FROM THREE STATES
DADS A FACTOR In BUSINESS,
Labor disputes the Only Clouds in the
Commercial Sky.
CROP REPORTS FROM THREE STATES

camille agency, of this district, comprising
Is counties in Western Pennsylvania, Is in
Eastern Ohio and all those in West Vir.
ginis, showing the conditions of retail
trade in all branches at the trade centers Of
the district These reports are condensed
into the following statement by Arthur B.
Wigley, manager of the agency in this dis
trict:
''The retail trades in our city have had a
most profitable years business" said he
last evening, ''the continuation of which
depends largely upon the activity in our
manufactures and the regularity of the
wage distribution. A generally reliable
barometer of the retail trade is the retail
jewelry business 1t deals in luxuries and
consequently when it is brisk shows a
plentitude of cash among the people and is
q sign of prosperity. Well, the jewellers of
this city have never had better season,
generally speaking, than that of the past
six months. Nothing need be added.
Nearly every other branch of trade has had
the same experience.
Good Prices for Good Real Estate.
SIN real estate good state of business ex-
lists, and it is remarked that the houses and
properties in greatest demand are of bet
ter and higher priced class than heretofore,
showing an accumulation of wealth among
all classes. Where few years ago the de-
mand was for homes costing from 81, 900 to
$1,000, there has been lately general de-
mand for home properties at from $40, 900 to
SIS, 900. Another favorable feature brought
out in our investigation is that there are
frequent cases where mortgage payments
are anticipated where it is permitted,
which beyond question shows that prosper
ity is real and that purchases are within the
means of BUYERS.
''Of the manufactures it can be truth
fully stated that the owners have a better
financial standing than they had few
years ago, and there are evidences of suf-
fcient capital to maintain it. With the
growth of lasiness there appears corre-
spending growth of capital which is in it.
self an indication of prosperity.
''The pressed glass trade is good and the
glass houses engaged in that trade will
operate until the last day of the season,
ending June 80. During July and
August the men always quit week on ac-
count of the heat.
"The window and plate glass trade is
not so good as pressed but the pottery in
dustry is in healthy condition.
THE oil trade is perhaps the most un-
satisfactory of any owing to the continued
depression in prices.
''To sum up, there is at present plenty of
business for those who can offer low prices.
When there is a season of prosperity low
prices always prevail. In times of war or
famine prices on certain commodities de-
mand high price, but that does not mean
a prosperous season, it is when there is
plenty of everything and competition is
strong that prices come down and then pre-
walls real prosperity.
Steady Progress in Pittsburs.
"In this city the growth has resulted from
the prosperous conditions and it has been
natural, auguring well for the future.
There has been no boom, no forcing, no un-
healthy pushing, but steady, conservative
advance for which there has been excellent
reason. In all the small manufacturing
centers in this district the same can be to
large extent said, our reports showing good
growing business and healthy state of
affairs generally.
'The prospect for the ensuing season is
shaded by the chances of strike among the
iron workers and by the superstition that
there must be a depressed condition of trade
during the Presidential campaign. If these
two features were eliminated we would re-
gard the outlook as quite favorable.
Our crop reports are, like those of trade,
accurate and generally reliable. Thev show
that, in this district, wheat, oats and rye
are promising an average yield or better;
hay aud pasturage are excellent. Fruits in
most reports are regarded as satisfactory,
though there have been failures in some
back BY the heavy rains in May
and the early part of June, but with more
favorable weather may yet make a fair
yield. The manufacturing towns through
out our territory have experienced general
prosperity, but owing to the bad roads or
other causes, the strictly agricultural
counties and small towns relying on the
farmers trade complain of dull times In
Pitts5urg and the iron district generally
the mills have been kept running and the
industrial classes have been steadily en-
ployed AT the present time, however,
they are confronted with the possibility of
disagreement between the employers and
the Amalgamated Association, which may
result in a strike 1t is hoped that moderate
counsels will prevail and the loss incident
to struggle between labor and capital may
be averted. Labor troubles also exist in
the plastering trade, affecting building
operations and among the timers.
Roads an Important Factor in Business.
"Crop and trade reports from points COW
ering about one-half of the State of West
Virginia and portions Of Ohio indicate gen.
eral good crops in all localities and bust
ness conditions prosperous. Corn has been
retarded some by the wet weather, and at
some points the fruit crop has suffered from
early frosts, but the damage has not been
great anywhere. The general, steady, in
dustrial growth of West Virginia keeps up,
and new development of coal and lumber
industries is in progress all the time. The
development companies organized at a num-
Der of different points seem to have created
a healthful and permanent growth in the
sections where they operate, and the boom
is steady and continuous.
"At some points local influences have un-
favorably affected trade, as, for instance,
the smallpox scare at points down the river,
but this does not materially affect the gen.
eral volume. Failures are few and unim-
portant, and though small traders keep
changing and izzling out, the loss from that |
score is not large Jobbing houses report |
collections as slow for this time of the year,
but with the general good conditions which |
seem to prevail there should be a decided |
Improvement in that line after harvest. Bad |
roads are very important factor in causing |
dullness in trade through the interior por- |
tions of West Virginia"
The reports of the correspondents of the |
Dun Agency are given below: