Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-06-22
THE SMALL BOOM
THAT STRUCK THIS METROPOLIS
OF OURS THIS WEEK.
1t Was Very Weak, Scarcely Lasted
. Day, and Didn't Amount to Much
While It Did Last.

Last Sunday letter received her
, from Boise stated that the terminus
of the Wood River branch of the Ore
gon Short Line railroad had beer
fixed at HALEY. This was nothin!
, new. Ever since the first start O
!. the town it had been said that w
would have the county seat. the Ter
ritorial capital, the sampling and
smelling works, and two or tire,
railroad termini. None of the ole
settlers therefore took much stock il
the report. Some of the newcomers
however, with more curiosity than
money, began to inquire about this
and that lot, and as nobody in town
except the TINES employees, the stage
and express agent, and the dep
nty postmaster, had any very
pressing business on hand, people
began to gather in little knots and
talk.
Presently S. E. Childs offered Lew
Walker, the colored barber sport,
81, 200 for his lot. He owns the Is
foot lot adjoining Oldham e. CO. s
saloon, and on this lot he, last week
began building rustic front one
story house, l2x6O, for a barber shop
The offer was made for this property
on condition that Mr.. Walker finish
the building according to the orig
inal plan. He accepted, but while
the papers were being made out he
commenced figuring on board with
chunk Of charcoal, and ascertained
that he would lose exactly $500 by
transaction, SO he backed out.
This was not known to the impe-
cunious spectators on the street,
however, and the report flew about
that Lew Walker had been offered
81, $50 for his naked Is feet! w. H.
Watt, he of waggish propensities,
then went to Lew Walker and offered
him 81, 500 cash for his house and
l5-foot lot. Lew scratched his head
minute, and asked $1,000. Watt,
who had feared that Lew would ac-
cept his offer, thereupon felt relieved
and asked for, and lot, the re-
fusal Of the property at that figure,
until shutdown. He then sent Dan
Coleman, of Bullion, to Of
fer Walker $1,000 for the
lot, and Walker began to
look wise. While Coleman was still
talking to Walker, another man, also
sent by Watt, offered $2,25O for the
property. Mr.. Walker assumed airs
OF Importance, but beginning to smell
a mouse, refused to put any price on
the property. This placer being ex-
hausted the wags began work else
where. But the real estate boom was
started, and has been going since.
Whether it has any other foundation
than mere joke, runor, or a prob
ability, remains to be seen.
Certain it is that few lots have
changed hands, but not at enhanced
prices. A few houses have also been
bought, but, III every case, for less
than the actual cost. The lot adioin
ing Geo. L. Hurley & Co.'S, for in
stance, sold for 800; that adjoining
the Merchants Hotel for $500; Post
master Parsons is said to have sold
his lot next to the hurdy-house for
s4o0; the lot opposite Bartsch &
Willis's place sold for $500; and a
lot opposite May 4 Kreig's and Will
man & Walkers for $3.50. These are
all the purchases known to have been
made ON Main street, and the prices
paid are not ''boom" figures, by any
means. The lot, corner of Bullion
street and First avenue, owned by
Coffin Brothers, sold for $3.50; John
Houston's house and lot, 100 feet
from the corner, brought $500; Mr..
~
Specht's house and lot, adjoining Mr..
Houston's, 1875. These two last are
bargains, as the houses alone cost
more than the price paid. The par.
ties who bought the above mentioned
property own seven houses and lots
In Bellevue, and four in Ketchum.
The above is the extent of the
boom. II there has been a boom it
has certainly not been very violent,
nor has it lasted long.
H.