Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-23
REAL ESTATE OXYGEN.
Something I'm the Atmosphcre That Makes
Chicago People I3uy Real Estate.

Cncngo Ieopfo Asuy &keot fsstetes
Talking with broker on tho question
Of trade and weather he gave expression
to some very peculiar ideas, for this same
broker. though prominent on the street
and very successful, has wonderful inn
aginntion, and frequently expresses him
self in the most visionary manner.
On this occasion he said: 81 can tell You
what the trouble Is; it's tho 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 rend
DR.. Oxs experiment. He way tho chap,
you know, Jules Verne writes about as
having stirred up tho quiet little Dutch
burg and set the steady going old resi-
dents in commotion by the aid OF oxygen.
form that very thing Is transpiring around
us every once ia q while. There Is cer-i
tainly something in the dir that makes
people buy real estate. ! feel 1t very
quickly. Tho moment get out OF bed
some mornings IL seems rs though could
not get TO town quick enough, and oil the
way In there Is sort Of suppressed eager-l
ness to buy acres and subdivide them. j.
fairly have craving to buy land.
/ "Well, as sure as shooting. when /
reach the Office notice nm activity among
the clerks chat Is unusual, and also no.
tice that people begin TO flock In. They
do not struggle in, one at time, and 60
out almost Immediately, but they crowd
the Office and they buy lots, too. and when
they do finally leave It is with q sort Of
hungry look ut the maps and plats as
though they wanted more. You can laugh
and think i am crank, II you like, but
It's fact, all the same. Why, l at
tended an auction sale OF lots ono day
when had this bunch to buy. tried
to keep AWAY, but could not. Some big,
bald headed fellow, with voice like q,
broken down calliopc. was acting as auc-'
tioneer, and had got the crowd In laughing
humor by telling funny stories, but evil
IDENTIFY that was not what they came out
for and they began to howl for the sale to
begin. The sale did begin, and 80 did
rainstorm, but 1t had no moro effect on
that crowd than gentle breath of wind; !.
everybody had tho fever, and we all stood
there in the pelting rain bidding and buy
ing until the big chap said he was cleaned
out entirely and had no more lots to sell.
This atmospheric boomer comes very sud.
denly o. times.
II remember another sale happened to
be Mt where the crowd, lnouBh large,
seemed npathetic. loggy and lifeless; the
salesman was doing his best, and 1t was
uphill work for him, only a stray bid hero
and there reaching his ear. was lean
ing against n tree, as listless rs the rest,
when. In twinklng, oil was changed
life and animation had taken the place of
lethargy, and the bids were rolling in
thick and fast. ! knew what 1t was. for
felt it sweep over me and surge through
my frame like charge Of electricity--it
was the real estate oxygen, and, 30 far as
was concerned, / bought thirteen lots In
the next twenty minutes. What l am
telling you Is right md no funny bust.
ness, and the only regret have now is
that the epidemic does not strike oftencr.
I'll tell you what would be n good scheme.
II some of those invention fellows, like
| Edison, would get up machine to store
| this stuff and let 1t off upon proper occa-
| sions what real estate booms could be in
augurated; but we have no such machine
yet, and have 10 depend upon the fitful
fancy of nature for q supply. and nature
has evidently got her back up nt Chicago
real estate men, for this strange and ex'
hilarating mir has been denied now for
many weeks. Let us hope FOR q speedy
change. Chicago Herald.