Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
PREFER THE POINT.
Commission Merchants Think Twenty
Sixth Street Too Far Away.
MUST LEAVE LIBERTY STREET.
Duquesne Way Recommended as q First
Class Situation.
CHEAPER RENTS DEMANDED BY MANY

The commission merchants do not receive
with very much favor the proposition of
the Pennsylvania Railroad to move out to
Twenty-sixth street. They do not think
that it is in their power to move the business
center of the city, and they are not willing
to sacrifice certain class of trade they have
downtown for the accommodation of the
railroad company. 1t is argued that the
Southside and Allegheny must be accom-
modated, and that they would protest
against hauling such a long distance. The
proposal to bunch the commission
stores is heartily favored by all. They
think the railroad companies should make
the first move. and offer as a suggestion that
the Liberty street station or adjoining prop
erty at the Point be secured The situation
would be as central as could be found, and
would, it is argued, tend to draw business
toward the old part of the city. On ac-
count of increasing rents, it is only mat
ter of a few years until the commission
stores will have to leave Liberty street.
At least part Of the space between Sixth
and Seventh streets will soon be used to
erect fine building. Negotiations have
been made to get certain part of 1T for
hotel site
Mr.. Johnston, of Aiken, Johnston & Co,
when spoken to yesterday. said: ''The
commission men realize they must leave the
place they are in soon, but they object to
going to Twenty-sixth street. The Rail-
road company has been trying for several
years to get us to go out there, but they
have never had even an indication of sue
cess. The commission men must stick to-
gether or they can get no business. The ex-
perience of firms that have left Liberty
street has been bankruptcy. Rents are too
high here, however, and besides we have
been warned that it will only be a few
years until we have to leave.
Many Merchants Will Be Frozen Out.
'The property extending up Liberty
about 100 feet from Sixth street is owned by
the Smith estate. An effort has been mad
to get money to put up an eight-story build
ing on the property, and whenever it is de-
termined to do so, of course, We will have
to leave. That would drive out j. X.
Henry, our firm, T. HI. MCGOWAN and G.
W. Van Gorder We can only get a one
year lease at time, and that is unsatis- |
factory. If the railroad company would |
give US their Liberty street station or |
place at Grant street we would be glad to |
take it, but Twenty-sixth street is too far |
out of town to be considered.
John Wallace, another commission mer- |
chant thought it would be good idea to |
have shipping headquarters at tTwenty-sixth |
street and to maintain their downtown |
stores.
Mr.. Wilbert, of G. W. & A. Wilbert, |
thought it would be a difficult matter to get /
all the commission merchants to act to-
gether. "Why, we couldn't even keep a
Produce Exchange together he said. "The
members took no interest in it, and what
might have been to great deal of advan-
tage to US was allowed to drop If all the
men would move out together
L think it would be a good scheme. There |
are about 30 commission merchants in the
two cities. The rent along here averages
from 50, 900 to $1,000 year. That is too
high for the business and will eventually |
drive US to some other quarter of the city,
One of the objections which Mr. Koenig,
of Koenig & Schmidt, had to moving out
to Twenty-sixth street was that it would |
take the business away from banks, post
office and other business houses. He agreed
with the others that the commission men
must leave Liberty street, and the best
place he knew to go was Duquesne way
rom Sixth street to the Exposition build
ngs.
Wants Yard Where All Roads Center.
W. j. McCracken, of H. j. McCracken &
Co., said that to go out to Twenty-sixth
treet would not relieve them of very much
lauling, because it would be so much
urther from the B. & o. and other rail-
oads. 0 eff all the railroads would
70 together and get one yard
We would be very willing to move to it, bat
t must be remembered that the Pennsyl-
'ania is not the only road coming into the
ity. 1t will be necessary for us to leave
liberty street in a few years, but it is not
likely we will go until forced away. 1t is
hen probable that the business will go
oward the Point. That is more central
'lace and offers reasonably low rent. The
liberty street freight depot would offer a