The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-16
THREE IMPORTANT DEALS.
Fifty Thousand Dollars for q
Front Street Lot.
oHe sale for SEQ 600 and Another
for So. Of the
Transactions.

i
week, the most notable OF which was
TIE sac By NJ. n. s Drew. Of Port Gamble,
70 Mr.. A. A saith. the weIl-kn0wn ~
sier, Of lot 4 b eek :. Boren 4 Denuy's sd-
ditisn. for s5oeao This Is sn inside lot 81
the e4s; side OF F-9z, street between Mad
on aRd Coiambta, and the price Is |;
highest ever paid on Trout street. although
H. L Tesier some time ago refused sf2oe
foot for the corner Of F.oa; snd James
streets. He declined the offer because OF
his previously formed deeis1on to erect 8
magnificent six-steFy brick block on the
lot in the spring. Christopher sherman
has also refused $500 9 foot for the north
east corner Of Front and Cherry.
The sale Of Mr.. Drew's lot was nrou ghs
about in rather novel manner. NJ Drew
wss 10 Seattle about q week ago. and while
walking up Front street met Mr.. 5 l. Craw-
ford, OF the frm of Crawford & conover, a
friend and AGO aain;ance for many years.
Mr. Drew incidentally remarked that ii
was deplorsble fact that business men
were driven OUT OF Seattle every day be
cause OF an inability to secure
stores and business locations Mr.. Crawford
said in reply that the men who own the
choicest property in the city and refused to
improve IL, were TO blame for such q state
of Affairs and animated that Mr.. Drew
would be doing praiseworihy act 10 re-
move the old wooden building on his lot
and erect in its stead q fine brick block.
Mr.. Drew said he hada't the spare cash
sufficient for such an enterprise, and Nj.
Crawford reioiBed that he would secure
the money for him at per cent, and II
that proposition was not satisfactory, he
would sell the lot for MIN 10 some one who
would build After thinking a minute Mr..
Drew answered, Wen. sam, II you can
sell to some one who win put up a fine
building you can take 5000 for it,
After few minutes more conversation
Mr.. Drew shook hands and went 10 the
steamer on his way back TO Port Gamble.
The next day Crawford & conover adyer-
tised the lot in the Posi- lSTELLIGE seER.
Before 10 O'Clock that morning A. A smith
called at their Office and purchased the lot.
paying down a sufficient forfeit to hold II
until the deed could be made out and
signed. An express condition is that Mr..
smith shall on January commence the
construction Of thfse-story brick block
on the lot aud have II completed within
sight moaths. Tne plans are now being
prepared and W0rK viii commence
promptly as agreed. The tenants have
been gwen notice TO yacate By January j,
but Iheg viii be given refusal Of the new
stores.
HISTORY or THE LoT.
MrDsew vas in seattle Friday and Posi-
INTELLIG ESSEg reporter asked MIN for a
little history vi the lot Sir. Drew said:
We'll, 10 begin with that lot only cost
me >I50. IL came about Ia this way: some
years ago Mr.. HOieate, who owned leo
acres OF land south of and adjoining the
Maynard donation Claim came 10 me 10
borrow Sl50. l loaned II 10 rim. taking a
mortgage on hair ais land. When the
money became Que he could not pay II,
but gave me u deed 10 the land. | traded
ms property TO Gen. L. |. Mckenuy. of
OlX IA pia Tor n house and block OF land ia
the capital city. Twelve years ago ! sold
the house ana lot for $500 and oougnt the
Front street lot in seattle. At various
times have placed the property in the
hsuds of real estate brokers for sale. The
pfiee has been advanced from time TO
fime rs the growth Of the city iusJned,
aud had about made up my mind 10 hold
the property, borrow the money and build
II BRICK block on IL ny self. For several
years the property has been covered with
wooden buildings when brought me IN
good rental. Nnen bought lie lot i had
= small dwelling on u. which for several
years was occu pied By The family OF David
higgins, iDunGvt 81 lhe DAILY INfELLi-
GENGEK
a few days ago a member OF the arm of
Crawford ~ CoHUseE approached me ana
gave Inc 10 Understand taai III - either
put mp a brIek bi0ek ~ SCH tDe lot. ! tod
MIN / would give tavm - IA. to get me
soe.n9 for tie properly, aud II II be pot
sold by January 9TH, would hold Il anu
Improve u IL soon IS ! could make the
nvUe skary arrangements. j went home,
ana gave the matter 10 more thought, Is
the property mad been Offered Tor sale
many times before By some Of the oldest
nrms OF the Sound anu nothing came Of
II. Two Gays later, however. 1 was
surprised ~ seeing Heubrr OF the
HrTo in Forl GaIabie, aud wien asked
him What IA the devil he came Gown Tor,
he replied that tEey had sold my lot, and
he there "a make 8 "a! nlent on H. /
felt llks backing cut, even then, but as my
wsrd nad bean given, ! accepted the earn
~ money aHd clOsJc the deal. If | were
~ Years yvaukeE ! shOUiu not have sold
the .s.t. as / believe IA i've years Il VIII be
worth double TIE sIuney, but am getting
too lar alUbs IN ears 10 contract the uet.s-
sary i.t.-bteGueSs Ia IInpro taai prop
cry, aud 80 / let itgo iHIO younger bands.