The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-07-14
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 same
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 II can tell you
what the trouble is; it's the air for a 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.. Ox's 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.
form that very thing is transpiring around
US every once in a 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
some mornings it seems as though could
not get to town quick enough: and all the
way in there is sort OF suppressed eager
ness to buy acres and subdivide them. !
fairly have craving to buy land.
"Well as sure as shooting, when !
reach the office notice an activity among
the clerks that is unusual. and also no
tice that people begin to flock in They
do not struggle in, one at time. and go
out almost Immediately. but they crowd
the Office and they buy lots. too, and when
they do finally leave it is with u sort Of
hungry look at the maps and plats as
thoug they wanted more. You can laugh
and think | am a crank. If you like, but
it's a fact, all the same. Why. at
tended an auction sale of lots one day
when had this bunch to buy tried
to keep away. but could not. Some big.
bald headed fellow. with a voice like a
broken down calliope, was acting as a'1c-
tioneer, and had got the crowd in laughing
humor by telling funny stories. but evi-
dently that was not what they came out
for and they began to howl for the sale to
begin The sale did begin. and SO did a
rainstorm, but it had no more effect on
that crowd than gentle breath of wind
everybody had the fever, and we all stood
there in the pelting rain bidding and buy
ing until tho big chap said be was cleaned
out entirely and had no more lots to sell.
This atmospheric boomer comes very sud
denly at times.
II remember another sale happened to
be at where the crowd, though large
seemed apathetic, loggy .nd lifeless. the
salesman was doing Ills best, and it was
uphill work for him. only q stray bid here
and there reaching his ear. was lean
ing against tree, as istless as the rest
when. in twinkling all was changed
life and animation had taken the place OF
lethargy and the bids were rolling in
thick and fast. knew what it was. for
felt it sweep over me and surge through
my frame like charge OF electricity-it
was the real estate oxygen. and, SO far as
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 off upon proper occa
sions what real estate booms could be in
augurated; but we have no such machine
yet. and have to depend upon the 6tfu]
fancy of nature for supply. and nature
has evidently got her back up at Chicago
real estate men, for this strange and ex
hilarating air has been denied now fol
many weeks. Let us hope for speedy
change. Chicago Herald