Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1885-09-30
Lot-Giving. Etc.
W1LL1Axsponr, D. r., Sept. 25

WLL1AAsPORT, u. H., Sept. rs.
To the Editor of the RECORD: -
By the published proceedings Of the B oard of
County Commissioners it appears that a PROPOSE
ton was made ito sell the county q block of land
for the location of county buildings" Evidently
the commissioners did not approve o the propo-
sition, as II "was taken under advisement."
The RECORD does not state the price asked for
block Of lots !; but from private sources learn
that the consideration asked was $1,000. It also
appears that on the same day that the Syndicate
asked TINT sum Of the county it; representatives
ing in or near Willamsport.
Are lots in Wiliamsport worth an average of
$685. and did the Syndicate, in giving away a
| large number of lots show a generopity unheard
| of in eorporation? -f - .s4.s ,es9S-l
Is it not more probable that the So 900 was an
exorbitAnt price for block, and that in order to
get it The Syndicate were distributing lots as
port? '''''''--'
need a courthouse; but, if the Williamsport Syn
dictate will not sell q site at its market value,
there are other !. men who will, and the Syndicate
loses them the county scat.
AS citizen Of Emmons county believe in
liberal expenditures for schools highways, ard
| all necessary even desirable public buildings;
but, outside of the recipients of free townlots,
| think there very few in the county who wish
to see public money passing, without value re-
ceved, into the pockets of a syndicate of specu-
| lators. r. s. LocKToH
Our correspondent is certainly mistaken
regarding the Soap" impeachment. The
lots given to Williamsport people were
their just due, and had been promised
them when they came here and went into
| business Or put up buildings, or both.
The RECORD learns that several lots were
also given to people living in the neigh
| borhood If so, it was certainly no more
| than right. When two of the townsite
proprietors were here, few weeks since,
| they stated that it was their intention to
give several lots away to farmers of the
vicinity, whose enterprise and hard work
had done so much to enhance the value of
\ all property in this region. For the life
! of us, we can see nothing in this but a
| just, public-spirited and praiseworthy ac-
tion on the part of the syndicate. Again,
we learn that lots were given to several
young ladies who have lived here right
along-winter and summer. It certainly
cannot be claimed that it was necessary
to brlbe these ladies, as no one Of them
has interested herself at all in the politics
of the county.
The correspondent is right when he re-
fers to 81, 900 as the amount asked for the
block of lots but he makes the mistake
often made in speaking of county ex-
| pcnses-that of placing the price on a
cash instead OF a county. order basis. He
states that the syndicate would. receive
at the rate of $s3.33 apiece for the
| tWcnty-four lots. Let us see. Taking
the $4,000 order to be worth rs cents on
the dollar "a cent or two more might be
obtained), would give $500 as the price
of the block. Now, divide the 81, 500 by
the number of lots (24), and we have an
average of $62.50 as The amount asked
per lot. Let us now see how this corre-
spends with the prices of similar lots
One lot we know was purchased by Prof.
Keim, who has farm a mile or so from
town, and he paid for it either $125 or
$15O--we cannot state the exact sum
and most Of the payment was made in
cash. #
At the present time not lot anywhere
near the locality of the block referred to
can be bought for sixty-two dollars and
fifty cents. If county seat is worth
fighting over. the property in it is GER
tainly of value. Besides, lots in anv
county seat in the midst of prosperou US
agricultural region are good property,
AS to the Commissioners taking the
matter under advisement, they did ex.
actly right. It is not usual to act on an
important matter without ample time for
consideration. 81
The RECORD is glad that the corresD ond.
ent agrees with it as to the necessary fnr
a county Jail, and trusts that, when butt.
neither he nor the writer will ever bs Is.
vitsd to protracted residences within HI
walls. n