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the year. Not Up to the Mark. It was nobodys fault that a batch of panicky news came on the day set for the sale of the Exchange building, but the conjunction was unfortunate, as it no doubt prevented a deal. According to previous notice, the building was put under the hammer yesterday. There was a large crowd in attendance. The first bid was $90,000, or $2,000 a foot. The next was $100,000, and the next $125,000. Then, after a short pause, it was increased to $130,000 and then to $140,000. Another short breathing spell ensued, and then followed the best bid of the day, $145,000. This being $5,000 below the limit, and there being no prospect of raising it, the sale was adjourned. The sale failed to attract as many capitalists as had been expected, but as they were well represented by real estate agents, many of whom were present, their absence,it is thought, made no difference. Some curiosity was expressed to find a reason for the non-appearance of the gentleman who, as reported all along had for months had a standing bid of $150,000 ready to launch forth at the first opportunity. East End Realty. Business property in the East End has scored a big advance in prices in the last five years, and the demand for it is steadily widening and taking in a greater scope. Several sales made quite recently show clearly that buyers think well of the business advantages possessed by this part of the city. One of these involved the property on the northeast corner of Frankstown avenue and Station street, lot 30x100 feet, which brought $14,000. A lot 64x190, in the same locality, was picked upat a price approximating $23,000. The other transactions referred to were of less importance from a financial point of view, but equally significant as showing an active demand for the kind of property in question at good round figures. Homes for the People. Rapid transit has come to be the most important factor in the development of the suburban districts and the founding of country houses. It has rendered thousands of acres accessible to the industrial classes which a few years ago were practically worthless because of their isolation from the business centers. As the system of rapid transit is developed the movement of population toward the suburbs will increase, until in a few years they will be thickly built up. There is no reasonable doubt that this will be the outcome. With such a prospect few, if any, will deny that real estate in any of the surrounding districts is a good purchase at present prices. The Cost of Water. W. B. Bull, Superintendent of the Quincy, Ill., water works, furnishes the following table, taken from the Erie, Pa., water works report. It gives the cost of water to the average householder in 25 cities, compiled from official reports: Allegheny City, $24 50; Boston, $37 25; Buffalo, $25 50; Chicago, $21 75; Columbus, O., $32 80; Dayton, O., $45 80; Detroit, $28 25; Erie, Pa.. $21 75; East Saginaw, Mich., $26 50; Fall River. Mass., $31; Grand Rapids, Mich,, $33; Indianapolis, $32; Lawrence, Mass., $25 80; Milwaukee, $22; Minneapolis, $26; Newark, N. J., $26 25; New York City, $32 75; Omaha, Neb., $30; Philadelphia, $28 75: Pittsburg. $23 50: Sandusky. O., $25 50: St. Paul, $24 80: Syracuse, $31 75; Toledo, $28 50; Utica, N. Y., $31 50. Itappears from the above statement that $28 66 per annum is the average price paid for water by the householder circumstanced as above in the United States, if the above 25 cities afford a fair basis from which to construct an average. The Building Record. During the past week 31 permits were issued, representing 37 buildings-7 brick, 27 frame and 3 ironclad, the total cost of all being $51,432. The Twenty-first ward led with eight, followed by the Fourteenth, Eighteenth and Thirty-second, each having four buildings. The number of permits issued the previous week was 46, representing 51 buildings. The total number of permits issued this year to date is 15,997, representing 2,695 buildings. Yesterday's list follows: Charlotte J. Dawes, brick two-story and mansard dwelling, 83x40 feet, on Craig street, Fourteenth ward. Cost, $5,300. Joseph Bowden, two frame two-story dwellings, 20x16 feet each, on Cobden street, Twentyseventh ward. Cost. $2,300. Iron City Car Company, frame one-story office, 16x20 feet, on Pennsylvania Railroad, Twenty-first ward. Cost, $200. Margaret A. Lowry. frame two-story dwelling, 18x30 feet, on La Belle street, Thirty-second ward. Cost, $950. Business News and Gossip. There was considerable talk on Fourth ave. nne yesterday afternoon in regard to the embarrassment of the Barings, but as it was not a failure, and as nobody would lose anything by it, the conclusion reached was that the excitement over it wouldsoon subside. All concurred in saying that Pittsburg would not be affected beyond, perhaps, making financiers more cau tious in extending loans. W. I. Breane has just completed a fine three story business house at the intersection of Herron and Wylie avenues. There was a good movement in real estate last week. A season of dry weather is all that is needed to give it a boost. Buyers are ready and waiting. Property owners in upper Allegheny are anxiously awaiting the advent of rapid transit That part of the Northside is full of pictur esque building sites, and they will no doubt be eagerly sought for as soon as they can be quickly and conveniently reached. It is only a question of time when the Home wood race track will be cut up into building lots. The movement toward that end is gain ing strength every day. The First National Bank of Sewickley opened for business yesterday in its handsome quarters, on Beaver street. The bank starts off with a good line of deposits and indications of plenty of business. One of the city papers keep on quoting black berries and watermelons, showing that to it al seasons are the same. There were no large mortgages on file yester day, $4,500 being the most important. There were 32 in all, of which ten were for purchase money. Finishing touches are being put to the Ma sonic Temple in the East End. Heaters were put in yesterday. It will be dedicated about the first of the year, Movements in Real Estate. Samuel W. Black & Co. sold the property Nos. 49 and 51, Fourth avenue, having thero two three-story brick buildings, lot 46x54, 01 the corner of an alley, for a price approxima ting $25,000. Black & Baird sold to Mrs. Julia Hamilton new two-story and attic brick dwelling in Neg ley place, fronting 50 feet on the corner 0 Stanton avenue and Wayne alley by 133 feet in depth, being lot No. 1 in H. S. A. Stewart' plan, for $8,000 cash. Reed B. Coyle & Co. sold No. 145 Franklin street, Sixth ward, Allegheny, being a brici dwelling of eight rooms and all modern im provements, with lot 20x100 feet to an alley, for $7,000 cash. The purchaser is a well-known railroad man. Baxter, Thompson & Co. sold for W. R
