The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-02-29
arpre citation g: Real Estate in Cl,i-
CeSo-a Hcminiscence


The property in Chicago, recently bought
by the Government Of the United States
for site fo- the new post-ofice in that
city. and generally known as the Bigeiev
Block, was formerly owned by Mr. Benz.
Jones, Of this city, who purchased it in
1888, from the State of Illinois las school
land) Tor the sum of $j95: in 1885 he re-
sold the same property TO Lieutenant, now
Commodore Bigelow, for 5000, an al
vance Of SC, 49j in the two years; the same
property has now been purchased by the
government for the handsome sum of
s., 000-an appreciation, in thirty
seven years Of 5I.243, 0J0-bsing an evil
dence, in itself, Of the rapid rise and pro-
gress Of the Garden City or, more properly
speaking, the Metropolis Of the West.
This i, only another, of the many
proofs, that had Uncle Benz. Jones staid
in Chicago, and held hz real estate that
he owned AMI ha, since sold to help build
railroads. and improve his property in this
city, he would have been worth at least
two or three millions. Yet you will TO this
day hear men say, that he kept people from
settling in Manitovoc, b. asking too much
for real estate.
Actual figures will show, that he filed
lots at an czponce Of one hundred and
fifty dollars and sold them for one hun
bred, ana such are often the experience Of
men in bailiing up new towns, and their
acknowledgment seldom ever comes IN
till they have passed away. Such Is life.
The property which competed for the sale
to the Government were the Morrison Block,
which frontcd on CIark-st., 900 feet, and
on Madison-st., 80 feet, was originally
bought for 5000, or at the rate of 81 per
front foot and was appraised at $4,000 per
front foot. The other prominent com
petlng piece Of property, is known as
block No. g., or the Ogden Block, which
was originally bought for 1910, and was
appraised at $l,500000. "Gath" the
well known newspaper correspondent,
gives the following description of the plans
of the new post-offce that will be built on
the above property:
The building Will be the largest post
Office in America-33D feet long by 30
wide. 1t will be Romane>que, surmounted,
over the central projections of the long
sides, by payilions of the dome character,
capped with cnpolas-a Isir Of domes on
each side, making four in all-and between
! the dOmes, q sort of Gothic gable. The
ends viii have similar treatment, with
oat doncs. In this style Of architecture,
| which is after tie fayoritc manner Of tie
! celebrated London architect, lingo Jones,
| the stones is roughly treated, and the
| dressed surface stands in coarse relief upon
smooth borders. Each story makes an APP
! proach to an order in itself but the hori-
| zontal lines between tn. floors are orna-
mcnted in a nondescript way, not with the
dignity of an entabature. The windows
are large, and, therefore, comparatively
few. The true cornice at the top is ricI
/ and elaborate, but not very pronounced
Especial pains Will be taken in this build,
ing with the heating, yentilating and sew
crage-the case and comfort Of the en-
! ployos being more properly cared for than
in post-ofices heretofore constructed.