The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-25

A somewhat noted newspaper CORE
spondent, named Frank Wilkeson, is
writing up the mushroom real estate
booms OF various Western mushroom
points for the New York Times. His last
letter is dated at Gypsum City, Kansas,
January IA, and is largely devoted to q
graphic description Of that unique per.
SON known In the West as 1.-THE real es.
tate rustler," We quote from this letter
az iollows:
In Central Kansas there is q town the
name Of which l purpssely withhold be.
cause / shall visit 1t next month, and,
times being little dull az present, "the
boys" might, II named the town, crave
q little sport when arrived and make my
visit uppleGsant-whers o local associa-
toni beg pardon, local syndicate
bought eighty acrea Of low lying land
which was Justly famous for bountiiul
crops oil suntloweru. The syndicate had
the property surveyed and plotted, and
then added 10 she town as an addition.
Then il Tss turned over to a real estate
rustler to sell. He looked at the plot at
tentively. He thought profoundly for
few minutes, then hs tapped his nose three
timea with hisindex finger and murmured
to his clerk, whom he alleges is mo SLOUGH
at spotting tenderfoOt," ~ have il, and
walked out OF his office whistllng gsyly.
Presently youth who bore telephone
appeared at the Office. He BET up the In
str1ment and connected 1t with the cen.
trail Office. His work done he disappeared.
Then the rustler, accompanied by clever
mechanic, entered, ana they connected
the bell OF the telephone with q battery
vhiCh was concealed in the desk Of the
clerk who was NO SLOUGH. The balance o.
,hs day wss devoted to preparing the
Office for the reception OF customers.
When 1t wss ready strangers were invited
to cali sud buy lois by advertisements in
aerted In the local newspapers and by
hand.bills distributed In tho railroad cars
which passed through the town.
The next morning the rustler sat in the
office and smoked good cigar with great
apparent enjoyment. A stranger walked
in and began to talk about town lots.
The clerk who was no SLOUGH glanced out
Of the corner Of his eye at him for an in
slant, and in that instant he "took in" the
stranger from the crown OF his silk hat to
the toes Of his polished boots, and had
spotted him as a pilgrim from the East.
In a moment the bsll OF the telephone
rang sharply. The curtain arose and the
play began.
Excuse me for minute, please" the
real estate rustler said to his visitor as he
walked to the telephone and placed the
trumpet to his ear.
"Yes," he said, in reply to mythical
gentleman at the other end Of the line.
ayes. Ara you the Filth Avenue?"
Affirmative answer received.
"Oan't cay till look at the plot. They
are being cold rapidly. Wait q minute,
please" Then turning to the clerk he
said: "Mr Clarkhill, Just look at ths
plot and see II lota 10 10, inclusive, block
Z, DunraVen's addition, are sold"
The clerk turned to the plot and pre-
tended TO inspect 1t, then he tipped the
leaves Of large book several times and
studied fraudulent entry for minute.
Hs turned 10 his chief and said briekly:
'Yes, they we're all cold yesterday to o
Kansas City syndicate to build tenements
o."
"They are sold" tho chief ruDtler shout.
ed into the telephone. He held the trum.
pct to hia ear listening stteptively, and
then said: "Hold on minute, rll see."
"Are the came numbered lots IN block 0
soldP" he asked the clerk.
Eyes, they were sold this morning to q
Chicago syndicate to build IN opera house
on" the clerk replied after pretense to
inspection Of the large book and plot.
Eyes, they are sold" the rustler shout
ed into the telephone. He eat down and
talked to his customer for few minutes,
to be sgsin interrupted by the ringing OF
the bell. This time man at the Grand
Central asked him to reserve certain IN
sold lots for him, and said he would call
at the Office in az hour or two. The lots
we're checked on the plot. He resumed
his conversation with his visitor, to again
leave him to hold another conversation
With another mythical gentleman who
was at the Windsor Hotel, and to whom
ne sold more lots. And the clerk, as he
checked these lots on the plot, ventursd
to remark In low, soft voice, IS becomes
clerks who sTe no slouches, 1.-THE addi-
ton will be sold cut clean in less than
week."
Yes, the ruatler sold the gentleman who
wore silk hat and whose boots were
polished few desirable lots before he left
the Office. In truth, he sold 10 him and
his brothers from the Atlantic seaboRId
so acres Of town lots. The local syndicate
did not object to paying the rent OF the
telephone, and in addition they gave both
the rusller and his clerk gold watch and
chain In token Of their admiration OF the
business Bapscity they had displayed In
making sl7, 900 With the aid Of few plots,
large blank book, and telephone which
connected with battery concealed in the
clerks desk. With such rude tools to aid
bis skill does the uncultured Western
rustler meet and overcome the finished
craft Of men raised in the great CONNER.
clal marts Of the elete East.
visited dozens Of towns where real
estate excitements ragged. For months |
watched the most magnificent brace game
l ever saw played. And the towns with
the exception OF three, have no future
worthy Of consideration. The three are
Duluth, Kansas City and Bufalo-and tho
greatest Of the three is Buffalo.