The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-07
REAL ESTATE OXYGEN.
Something in the Atmosphere That Makes
Chicago People buy Real Estate.


Talking with broker on the question
Of trade and weather he gave expression
to some very peculiar ideas. for this sam"
broker. though prominent on the street
and very successful, has wonderful I'M
agination. and frequently expresses HIM
self in the most visionary manner
On this occasion he said: Il can tell yon
what the trouble is, it's the air for dead
certainty have watched this market
for years and have seen some queer
things Under ordinary circumstances
rain and snow have their effect upon the
real estate market. but there are times
when they do not. Say. did you ever read
DR.. Oxs experiment. He way the chap.
YOU know, Jules Verne writes about as
having stirred up the quiet little Dutch
burg and set the steady going old resi-
dents in commotion by the aid of oxygen.
Well. want to tell you that in minor
form that very thing is TRANSPORTING around
ia every once in while. There is GER
tainly something in the air that makes
people buy real estate | feel it very
quickly The moment get out of bed
come mornings it seems as though could
not get to town quick enough. and all the
way in there is n sort of suppressed eager
aess to buy acres and subdivide them. |
fairly have n craving to buy land
We'll, as sure az shooting, when |
reach the office notice an activity among
he clerks that is unusual. and also no.
tice that people begin to flock in. They
10 not struggle in. one at time. and 60
9ut almost Immediately. but they crowd
Tue Office and they buy lots too, and when
they do finally leave it is with a sort Of
hungry look at tho maps and plats as
.houghthey wanted more. fou can laugh
and think am crank, if you like, but
It's a fact, all the sarGe Why, | at
tended an auction sale Of lots one day
when | had this bunch to buy ! tried
20 keep away, but could not Some big
add headed fellow, with a voice like
broken down calliOpe, was acting as auc
oneor, aud had got the crowd in laughing
Aumor by telling funny stories, but evi
iently that was not what they came ont
;or and they began to howl for the sale to
recin The sale did begin, and 50 did
fainstorm but it had no more effect on
nat crowd than a gentle breath of wind
everybody had the fever. and we ali stood
there in the polting rain bidding and buy
ing until the big chap said he was cleaned
ont entirely and had no more lots to sell.
This atmospheric boomer comes very sud
enly at times.
Il remember another sale ! happened to
be az where the crowd though large.
seemed apathetic. loggy and lifelessi the
salesman was doing his best, and it was
uphill work for him. only stray bid here
and there reaching his car. | was lean
ny against Il tree. as listlcss as the rest,
when. in twinking. a.l was changed;
life and animation had taken the place of
,cthargy, and the bids were rolling in
thick and fast | knew what il was. for
felt it sweep over me and surge through
my frame like n charge of elertricity-it
was the real estate oxygen, and, 50 far rs
was concerned bought thirteen lots IN
the next twenty minutes What ] am
telling YOU is right, and no funny bust
ness, and the only regret | have now Is
that the epidemic does not strike oftener
I'll tell YOU what would be good scheme
If some of those invention fellows, like
Edison. would get up machine TO store
this stuff and let it of upon proper occa-
s,ons what real estate booms could be in
augurated; but we have no such machine
vet. and have to depend upon the fitful
fancy of nature for a supply, and nature
mas evidently got her back up at Chicago
real estate men, for this strange and eX
nilarating air has been denied now for
many weeks Let Us hope Tor a speedy
change Chicago Herald.