St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-25

Taken altogether, the past week has
not been very favorable one for real
estate dealers. The weather has been a
decidedly unfriendly factor, and has
turned its coolest and most blizzard
shoulder to the market. The sharp
winds have come, some days at the rate
of 100 mills an hour, apparently from
the ''icy mountains" and have swept
through the streets in manner and
with degree of impertinent freedom
that caused most people to seek shelter.
Of course. the usual number of people
have been here looking at property and
making inquiries, and some naye found
realty to suit them. These have closed
their contracts, and secured something
that has not only satisfied them but
from which they will ultimately make
handsome profit. Others are still look
Ing around for something, or patiently
waiting till the weather Will enable
them to hunt for property OF their own
liking.
One of the events of the week was the
return of j. j. Lemon from the Pacific
coast, and more particularly from Wash
ington territory, where he has been for
two or three months prospecting gen
SraIly for himself and number OF
gentlemen who are mixing arrangements
for very extensive purchases on the
coast Should the reports from that re-
gion seem to justify them in so doing.
1t is not known what the gentlemen
think who were instrumental in send
ing Mr.. Lemon out there, but from what
Mr.. Lemon says Of his trip and what he
saw while out there, it is very evident
his report will lie of very favorable
character.
Mr.. Lemon will return to Washing
ton territory with his family as soon as
he can complete his plans and make his
arrangements here i'll st. Paul. That
he will go out of business here to go to
that territory shows that he is fully con-
WINGED of the SOundneSS Of his opinions
in regard to that region. While out
he purchased considerable property for
himself, and also for his friends, and
will 90 back i'll the spring and buy a
good deal more. He reports that, even
this early in the season, large number
of prospective settlers are going to
Washington territory, and that this I'M
migration consists not of poor people
the states, largely farmers from Iowa,
men who have means, and such as will
take hold of the lands out there, till
them and help to increase their value
and build up the territory. Those who
are associated with Mr.. Lemon will also
make large investments iii or near Ia
coma, with view to future improve
mentS.
Quite furry was created in some
quarters in st. Paul during the week by
the fact that two parties of surveyors
were found out near Mendoza, survey
ing, as it is supposed. for railroads. No
one knows, nor could anyone find out,
precisely where these roads were to
run. The surveyors were carefully
watched, and number of gentlemen in
town. who own large lots of land on the
West side and who last year were con
tempiating building railroad through
and over the bluffs, from South st. Paul
to Mcililota, were Intercepted as to
what the survey meant, but no SatiSfac-
tory particulars could be ob,a ned. No
one knew anything, nor had any of the
parties Interested any knowledge.
-
Possibly no road may be built be-
tween South st. Paul and Mendoza dur
ing the coming summer. But whether
there is or not there are persons who
have large interests in that vicinity who
have contemplated very extensive i'm
provemenjs in that locality, and these
improvements include the building OF
one or more lines of railroad. During
the past five years these parties have
been buying up, from time to time, as
fast as they could without exciting SuS-
piclon. all the property they could OBJ
tam between South st. Paul and Men
dota. Several of these parties are now
in Florida, and therefore cannot be
seen.
The disposition to build apartment
houses is not quite so extensive now as
it was a few months ago, and it is I'M
derstoOd that MeSSrS. Cakes, Finch,
Livingston and others, who at one time
intended to erect one on the corner of
Third street and College avenue, have
abandoned the idea. A good many peo-
pie regard it as injudiciouS to erect
these houses on account of the danger
from fire. OF course they can be con-
structed as nearly fire proof as human
ingenuity can devise, but if this Is done
the expense of the structure will be so
greatly increased that the rents will
then be too high, and thus one of the
principal ends of flats will be defeated.
Several Of these buildings are being
constructed in the city, and within con-
venient distance of the business part of
the town, and others are gradually to
follow, so that in all probability we
shall have all that are needed.
-
AS soon as Mr.. Doremus returns and
the plans can be fully completed for the
new Germania Life insurance building
that is to be erected on the southeast
corner of Minnesota and Fourth streets,
work will be begun Oh this structure.
The Market.
The extremely cold weather, together
with the snow, has made it impossible
for agents to show property in the sub
urbS. The fact is that the SHOW and ice
in the outskirts Of the city is yet about
two feet deep, and the roads are in such
condition that it is almost impossible to
get to the suburban plats off the beaten
r0adways. There is, however, consider
able inquiry for property in various
parts of the city. From the best in
formation obtainable, it is apparent that
there will be a good demand for centrally
located property, and it will be pur-
chased more for improvement than for
speculation. There are some localities
in the city where it is more apparent
than elsewhere that there will
be greater activity. The very best
property will only be bought
for actual improvement. Another
grade of business property, which
does not now command high prices, will
be i'll great demand for speculative pur-
poses. There is one district parteu-