The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-18
And Decides that the President Paid Too Much
for It-An Investment that Proves Very
Profitable for Other Landowners.
The Plan by Which Special Cable News
Dispatches Are Copyrighted.
The Alleged Abuses Which Have Caused tho
President to Veto SO Many Public Build
ing Bills-0ther Washington News
A Buffalo Real-Estate Man Intimates thae
the President Is a Chump.

the President Is a Chump.
Special TO the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, July l7-People have begun
to talk about the President and his wife again
Most of the gossip is turned towards the Presi-
dents business abilities in connection With his
purchase Of a country home adjacent to Wash
ington. During the past week a number OF
gentlemen from Buffalo, who have known the
President for many years. have been in the city
and have talked freely about enterprises and
ventures of various kinds entered into by Mr.
Cleveland at his old home. They all say he has
poor business qualifications, and that the only
money he ever made was out of Office or in tie
practice of law One of his old friends took .
drive the other day out to Pretty Prospect, or
Forest Hill, late Rosedale, on the Tennallytown
road, where the country-seat of the President is
located. After he had been out there two ou
three hours he was encountered by the Journal
correspondent and was asked what no thought Of
the Presidents purchase.
WELL" replied the Buffalonian, "if the Presi-
dent bought his farm to cultivate, he made q
mighty poor investment, but if he only bought it
to look at. it may be that it was wise. / under
stand he gave $2l, 900 for it. and that there are
is sure the city will not, in our lifetime, extend
so far out as the Presidents country house, aud
it will never have much greater intrinsic value
than at present. so that, so far as the President
is concerned, he must depend not upon its yield
ing him an income as farm or pleasure as are
sort wouldn't live out there for anything,
and doubt if the President could hire tenant
to cultivate the place. The whole farm would
not produce fifty bushels of black-eyed peas. Up
in Buffalo | heard that Grove had bought an
excellent farm, and that he wanted superin-
tendent / have known him for many years,
and my principal idea in coming here
was to secure that positions but l don't
want it. That land is the poorest
ever saw For worthlessness it beats the sand
beach along Lake Erie. Idrove with the Presi-
dent out to the place day, and ne pointed with
considerable pride to a field Of oats which are
trying to ripen in the pelting sun. That poor
red soil showed up through the thin oats Al
plainly as any background to picture ever did
Look at that crop said he; there are several
acres there looked the President hard in the
face when he made this remark and inquiredn
he thought there were ten bushels in the entire
field, and whether he thought it would produce
enough straw to fill bed tick"
The gentleman stated further that the party
drove around to the entrance to the place, aud
there found man with a uniform on and club
in his hand One of them had an opportunity
and interviewed the officer. He inquired
''Are you a government employer
YES SIR was the reply.
do you draw salary from the United States
for protecting private property|
"Mr. Cleveland will answer that question:
said the officer. II am not here to give out such
information, but simply to keep men out of the
place"
The would-be superintendent of the farm Tiled
up his handkerchief with the red. unproductivs
SOIL and tied it carefully for the purpose oz
taking it back with him to Buffalo.
"And what are you going to do with thaW
asked one of his companions.
'I intend to exhibit it in Port Hickox saloon,
the Presidents old headquarters so that the
boys can see what kind Of farmer Grove iaa
what do you really think Of the President'a
investment inquired your correspondent
WELL" said the Presidents old friend, III
Grove really paid twenty-one thousand dollars
for this lean farm and that stonebarn of house,
he is loon. He never was much Of a real
estate speculator, however. Come to think of it,
don't believe he ever bought but one piece Of
land before"
''Is that in his possession nowl and what kind
Of place is itp
HE owns it yet. 1t is a small lot in Buffalo,
not far from Cold Springs He and saloon
keeper Baptist went to a lot auction several
years ago. Each bid on lot and were tho
highest bidders. The lots have greatly increased
in value, and they still own themn
a few people who purchased land around the
place belonging to the President have made
quite spec out of their venture. A short dis
tance from the Presidents place, and towards
Washington, an old man has owned small farm
for half q century. 1t is worn out. Its fences
are down, the buildings difapidated, and sand
and gravel cover the ground almost everywhere.
Twenty years ago it was worth probably $4,000.
but he has endeavored with all his ability to sell
it for $4,000. A year ago ne extremely
anxious to dispose of it. A short time after the
President bought his place. and real estate began
to loom up. The old gentleman became excited
and on the spur of the moment put his place up
to 5000 It is an actual fact that within six
weeks he had disposed of ID for $4,000. One OF
his neghbors was very elderly lady, who owned
small farm of slightly better quality. She had
offered it for sale a number of times for 5000.
One morning about o'clock she was called from
her bed by real estate agent, soon after tbs
Presidents purchase but before it was mads
known. The agent said he had found pur-
chaser for tho old lady's house and ground, and
thought that he could get little rise Of $4,000
for it. With great elee she informed her early
caller that he could have all over S. 900 for the