Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-23
Real Estate Titles i'm Chicago.

From the Chicago Mail.
The abstract books of Handy & Co. are esti-
mated to be worth 81 900 600. They are owned
by firm made up Of such of the old convey
ancers who were fortunate enough to save their
records from the fire. There were half dozen
Of them, and they went in together pooling
their records and pooling their business. They
now own the only complete set OF real estate
records from ante-fire time down to date in ex-
istence. The legislature once ordered the pur-
summation of the trade on the ground that the
records were very much better off in the hands
insurance" said Mr.. Jones, one of the owners
This would look extraordinary to one who
concern. 1t was the big tire that made these csc
owners re, rich: The f5ss step taken sissr
a place of safety tor them. Handy's
place on Washing ton street is now a fire-proof
vault. He himself sits in a vault, brick under
meath him, arched brick above, brick all around
him. His seventy-tive men work in a vault. II
all the buildings around fell on him he could
keep right on working II the whole town were
with all area of about fifty feet square and about
twenty feet in height, would be a safe enough
lar hours like a public Office. Handy always
locks the door himself, carries the key and un-
locks it In the morning. II he is sick or pro-
poses leaving town he sends for one OF his part
ners, and he must take charge OF the kew
There Is no such concern holding the titles of
the property OF a half-million people in their
control anywhere else in creation, because no
where else except at Chicago has great fire
swept the public records out of existence"
A competent man tells me that with one ex-
ception all the good abstract men in the city
are either members OF the Handy firm or in the
firms employ. 1t Is its policy to gather in all
the best men in the city by paying the best
salaries. In the concern itself are half-dozen
gentlemen we'll along in years, all OF them with
memories chock full of family histories and of
real estate rnmAncpS NMOSt nf ho frIu ~
real estate" said one of these gentlemen.
.arises out Of dover rights. The owner of a
hve-StOry building on South Water street q few
months ago wanted to divide it among his
children, but was a little disturbed by the fact
that at one point in the title the grantOr had not
been joined by the wife,. He came to
me and asked II ! knew the man. 1 did.
Yes, thought SO, and that she was living at
Detroit. Would get him u release? did not
want to rob the old lady. Would he treat her
fairly? He said could not get her release
any cheaper he would give her two years
rental-$16, 600. Would he give 81, 1000 in any
event, without any dickering, and be perfectly
satisfied? He said he would. 1 found the Old
and found that could get her release for $500.
! got her deed; came back, got check for her
for $2, 900. a check for one OF her boys for $500
and a check for another for 81 500 and sent
them TO her: She was the happiest old lady in
Michigan. know another old lady still living
ana over seventy years of age who stubbOrny
refused to sign deed TO certain ock-yards
property granted twenty years ago. She has
70 be called on for release every time q parcel
is sold, and has already been paid over $40, 600
Ior releases on property which her husband
sold for 500 per acre.