Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-18
AN EASTERN WRINKLE
Introduced to Alleghenians by Two
Brooklyn Gentlemen.
LOUD WALLS FROM A COMPETITOR.
A Clever Scheme to Sell Furniture in a
Private Residence
INVESTIGATED BY POLICE OFFICIALS

A small storm has been raised in various
police and mercantile quarters in ALLIE
gheny by the unique auction establishment
which has been opened by two gentlemen.
They are quartered in one of the finest resi-
dences of the Northside, a large brick man.
sion near Bidwell street.
The gentlemen are from Brooklyn, n. Y,
and came from the East to show the people
of Pittsburg and Allegheny a new wrinkle
in the auction business. They sell every
thing that enters into the furnishing of a
house, but instead of selling their goods in
store room, they have them arranged
properly in the various rooms of a fine resi-
dence, so that they may show off to the best
advantage. The front and back parlors are
furnished in the most gaudy style, rich
with portierres, lace curtains, orien tai rugs
finely upholstered chairs and sofas, and an
abundance of glittering bric-a-brac and
paintings. There is, in fact. very large
amount of glitter The dining room has its
big table and polished sideboard OF hard
wood, with an appetiseing array of china.
The bedrooms, with their big mirrors and
curtained beds, are arranged with taste, and
are cozy and inviting. On this plan several
auction houses are conducted in Eastern
cities, and little over two months ago
these gentlemen concluded to try the plan
on the good people of Allegheny.
Opposed TO High License.
They did not set up in Pittsburg for the
reason that an auction room in this city pays
high license. In Allegheny no license fee
is required. They have been holding auc-
tions twice week. flooding the town with
handbills and filling their rooms with pur-
chasers. The trouble soon began.
First, some furnitu dealers complained
to the police authorities that these outsiders
were cutting the market. Then some of the
residents OF the high-toned section felt hurt
that such business should be carried on
right within sight of their homes. Some Of
these aggrieved citizens complained to the
landlord, but that gentleman said he lived
nearer than anybody else, being next door,
and had not been disturbed. Then came a
wall from q gentleman who had set up
similar establishment a few blocks away.
He had followed his competitors from the
East and thought he would have a share OF
the pickings. He went to Police Superin-
tendent Muth and complained that the other
fellows were distributing their hand bills
right in front of his door. He wanted to
was real mean. The Superintendent was
forced to tell the man that his rivals could
hand out their bills anywhere on the street.
The man went away, vowing that he would
lishment with bills announcing his superior
bargains.
Every Point Carefully Guarded.
The police inquired whether the Brooklyn
men had taken out a county license as
auctioneers, but found that they had care
fully covered that point of attack. The
situation was viewed from all sides, but it
was concluded that there was no weak spot
in the defenses, and the police retired from
the action.
superintendent Muth is not at all satisfied,
however, with the outfit. He says there is a
pretense, by reason OF the circumstances,
that the goods belonged in the house and
are being sold of for the unknown rich
owner, who had possibly gone to Europe or
had possibly gone to the cemetery and
therefore had no more use for the goods of
this world. The bills of the auctioneers do
not say this, and they do not say otherwise.
There is no doubt this impression is enter
tanned by many OF the men and women who
60 there to buy" said Superintendent Muth
yesterday. "They would soon drop it IL they
saw goods carried in at the rear door as fast
as they were carried out at the front, or
should wander into the cellar and see the
stacks of vases just imported from the old
world"