Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-29
A CHANCE TO invest.
A GROWING DEMAND FOR SMALL DWELLINGS
AND FLATS
Pttsburg Firm Looking for Suitable Tract
Of Land-TOO Many Office Buildings
and not Enough Homes.

Local capitalists who are seeking
profitable investments, can secure fair
return upon any outlay made, by erect
ing small dwellings or flats. The de-
mand for homes of this description has
become more general during the past
few years than ever before, and is SD
strong at present that real estate agents
assert that there are three or four ap-
pllcants for every three or four roomed
house in the city which is offered for
rent.
1t is very probable that outside capt.
tai will take advantage OF the opportun-
Ity presented, and erect small dwellings
in different portions of the city. About
a week ago a representative Of the firm
of Geo. w. Martin & Co., OF
Pltts6urg, was in the city looking
about for suitable tract OF
land. He returned to the Smoky City
without making a purchase, but Rine-
hart IL Tatum are now negotiating for
property to be devoted to the purpose
mentioned. Martin 81 Co. propose to
buy a section or sections OF land, lay 1t
off in lots, grade 1t il necessary, and
then erect small dwellings Of three,
four or five rooms each, after which
they will be offered for sale.
A REGISTER reporter yesterday called
upon Rineha-t & Tatum, Nesbitt IL
Devine, Geo. j. Mathlson, l.. A. Rolf IL
Co., and other real estate agents, and
all stated that there is an unusually
large and constantly increasing demand
for small houses. In one Office there
were four applications for three room
house, for which the agent had received
a tenant a short time before, and all
within about twenty minutes.
There is a crying necessity for small
houses" said one real estate dealer,
because OF the cheaper rent. The or
binary mechanic or laboring man, earn
ing say Sl2 a week on an average, will
not pay more than SO or So month
for house rent, and would prefer a
house at So or $40 a month. We have
houses renting for SIS 10 $50 month,
and have no trouble In securing tenants,
but there is not such a demand as for
the smaller dwellings. In the other ex-
IRENE, large houses, we are also unable
TO accommodate all who apply.
They are desired for boarding
houses, and there are remarkably
few buildings in the city designed, or
adapted TO that purpose. There are
more boarding houses in Wheeling to-
day that at any time within the
past ten years. 1t is the natural result
OF a scarcity OF dwelling houses, and
the large influx Of strangers at
tracted by the industrial plants in
this vicinity"
"How about fats?' asked the re-
porter.
81 have for several years past, vainly
endeavored to induce some men OF
means in Wheeling, to erect flats, in
stead of Office buildings. Every large
building erected in recent years has
been divided into office rooms, with the
result that owners OF such houses
built in the future will find great
deal of trouble in renting their rooms.
and will not secure as large return,
as would have been derived from flats.
Wheeling is certainly behind the times
in this respect"
Real estate agents say that each year,
the proportion of Wheeling's popuia-
tion living in rented houses Is growing
smaller. This is deserved compli-
ment to the thrift and frugality OF
her citizens. A large proportion Of
the families who are clamoring for
houses are strangers, or persons who
have recently moved TO the city. 1t is
very probable that carpenters strike,
with a consequent suspension Of activ-
ity in the building trades will be fol-
lowed by an advance in rents through
out the city, as a great many buildings
made contingent upon the settlement
OF the strike, may be postponed indef-
nitely, and any increase in population
will have to be accommodated in the
already overcrowded city.