Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-08
WASHINGTON.
How a Government Clerk Increased
His Fortune
IN sHREWD LAND INVESTMENTS.
Phil. Thompson's Good Luck in Colorado
Mining Speculation Expectations OF
a Boom in Real Estate at the
National Capital.

WASHINGTON, June THE beauties OF
the system which educates business men
in Government offices, illustrated IN the
case of Commissioner Raum, are again
seen in the case of gentleman OF this city
of the name of Hill. He has just made
purchase of piece of ground on Golum-
bia Heights, overlooking this city tor
sI5O,OOO and says he is going to hold 1t
until he gets $3.50, 900 for it. He was, three
or four years ago, clerk in the Govern
mept employ.
Where did he get his money" your
correspondent asked OF a gentleman mere
who knew his history.
"He made il in land speculations out
West" was the reply. HE resigned from
the
Land Office
a few wears ago with $50 n money, and
100000 worth of inside knowledge ABOUT
the land office and its workings. he went
TO Dakota and invested both, and maue
cool hundred thousand in cash IN year or
two. Then he came back here 10 the scene
of his early struggles as government
clerk. and settled down as real estate
speculator and agent. He has made lot
OF money in the boom in the real estate
line this spring
.sDon't YOU think the boom in Washing.
ton real estate is going rather high"
Not vet. Heretofore the values in real
estate which were worked up at this time
of the year were
Scarcely Justifiable.
Now. however, it is different, for II IS out
side capital that is doing the work. Money
is coming in here in large quantities TO IN
vest. and so long as that Is the case the
growth in prices may be consiuereu
"Spcaking of Mr. Hills Dakota successes,
how we're they accomplished?
"Oh. through the judicious use OF land
scrip, | believe. There is great deal OF
money to be made IN the use OF this scrip
if one only knows how, and is so fortunate
as 20 pick up his scrip at reasonable hg-
ure.' =, ....,.,
.'Sone Of it is very valuable, "a it not
"Yes, some brings fabulous prices. Take
the Revolutionary soldiers scrip, for IN
stance. 1t is held by some, you know that
can be
Located Anywhere.
no matter who owns the land or anything
about it, That proposition is rather douot,
ful, vet il is so confidently asserted that
this sort OF scrip brings remarkable sums
thousands of dollars on account in some
cases. Why, you see they go to work and
locate il right in the heart of great city
and men bring suit 10 recover the land.
Eyen if they don't get it a great many are
glad to compromise and pay them some
Thing, so that they often make large sums
IN that way. Mind, am not saying that
Mr.. Hill did this. ON the contrary, do
not hear of his having done anything I'M
proper in his enterprises. But am speak
ing of land scrip in the abstract and its
possibilities
Dies. Rolls and Plates.
The question OF returning TO manufac'
turers of proprietary articles the dies, rolls
| and plates that have been used by the
| government in printing labels and wrap
lers bearing the internal revenue stamp
was to day brought before the commits.
| sioner of internal reveAuc, who decided
that these dies, rolls and plates could not
| be returned 10 the original owners, but
must be retained in the custody OF the gov
| ernment.
| Phil. Thompson in Luck.
Hon Phil Thompson, of Kentucky, ap-
pears to be in luck. 4 little more than
three years ago he and two other gentle.
| men put little of their spare cash IN a
| piece Of mining land in Summit county,
| Colorado. They have spent very little in
| developing the land. Yesterday he
received telegram from New York offer
| ing him $4,000 for his interest in the
| property. He left for New York this eve
| ming. Hewill probably form company
TO develop the silver mine alleged TO be on
| tho land He thinks the prOpertV NAV be