Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-27

anywhere to make money
f. II Odell, senior momber OF Odel
Bros. y Co.. real estate and loans, anC
who was for years the secretary of the
board OF trade. was also questioned.
II la been in active business here
since 1876. At that time real estate
values we're about on a par in the two
cities. Business property could then
be bought at from 500 to 1850 a front
foot, and best dwelling property from
$500 to $1,000 per lot, fifty feet front.
The prevailing rates OF interest on
loans was 9 to 10 per cent. With
commissions, ETC., it amounted
often to II per cent. From
1876 to 1850 there was little progress in
either city. and few transfers of real
estate were recorded. The completion
OF the Union Pacific transfer buildings
gave Council Bluffs "A slight impetus,
but the establishment OF Union Pacific
headquarters and the machine shops in
Omaha W. that city an a. advantage
which Council Bluffs has never been
able to gain. From 1850 to 1855 Omaha's
population increased marvelously, and
real estate values rose accordingly.
Omaha sprang into rank as n great city.
Meanwhile Council Bluffs steadily
pulled along, increasing to %, 900 inhab-
itants. but property remained about
the same. the advance being slight as
compared with Omaha. Various lines
OF railways came in here, to connect
with the Union Pacific. Public i'm
provements followed, but still there
was little advance in prices of
realty until the charter was granted for
the new wagon and street car bridge.
The boom of 1856 struck us. 1t nearly
knocked us real estate fellows silly.
Everybody lost their heads, but the ex-
element subsidized, and real estate got
into Il more normal condition. 1t has
steadily increased each month since
then. Sales have been very satisfactory
the past year. Prices are low. very
low, compared with other cities"
why. there were more dwellings
built here last year than in any other
" years. The city's Improvement
bonds sell at n premium: investors on
bonds and mortgages are less skeptical,
and money is now loaned at & and I per
cent. Although we have handled nearly
$500. 600 annually, we have never had to
sue a note or foreclose q mortgage.
Doesn't this speak we'll for this neck of
the woodsT"
Charlie p. Braslan, of Minneapolis.
VINO is associated with others in large
real estate deals, and who has been
lately investing here. was asked like
queries. He remarked: AS you are
aware, [ am considerably interested in
Council Bluffs real estate. Within the
past three months | have purchased
over five hundred acres of land adjoin-
ing the city and Manawa. at a cost of
from 5000 to $500 per acre. and am still
in the market for more at the same or
even a higher price. | have just re-
turned from a trip to New York and
Boston, and have also visited st. Louis,
Kansas City, and numerous other cities.
and find and corresponding to what |
have here. worth from $500 to 81, 900
per acre. The low prices caught me
and | invested. If eastern capitalists
only knew of t hese chances they would
soon be all gone
you evidently have confidence in
the future of Council Bluffs"
Yes, sir, | believe the prospects
brighter than those of any other city
have visited. Business in real estate
circles is lively here. while dead in
other cities. Minneapolis claims the
largest building record of any city of its
size, but | find your last years record
was larger, comparatively, than Mime
apolis'. and for this year there are al
ready about 500 residences being con-
tracted for. besides twenty-three manu-
featuring institutions. Several large
deals, in which Boston capitalists are
interested, will be cousummated by the
lst of February"
"You are interested in Manawa; can
you give some idea of what is to be
lone there this season."
ut will be prominently the greatest
season ever bnown at the lake. Money
will not be lacking to build the drives
and make other improvements. The
hotel facilities will be enlarged, and
the management made first class. Mr..
Berry. the superintendent of parks in
Minneapolis, will be here this week to
look over the grounds, with a view Of |
seeing their needs. The railway facil- |
ties will also be improved and in
creased. No, sir, | don't want home
property while this chance is open for
quicker returns and larger profits. |
expect soon to get more per lot than |
am paying per acre, and that is good
enough for me-"
what do you think OF lots in Omaha |
abutting on the river bringing So 600 a
lot, and almost within a stones throw |
or the other side, in Council Bluffs. |
you can get better lots for 800 to $500. |
Omaha lots amt too high, but Council
Bluffs lots are too low in price. Why a
workman in the smelling works can get
a home within five or ten minutes walk
from his work for n few hundred dol
lars by Just crossing the bridge. Other
wise he vii have TO 20 out three or our
miles to get the anne kind of a home
in Omaha. The fellows who own prop
erty on Lower Broadw a and vicinity |
have got bonanza, if they will hold
onto ii Il few months"
w A. Maurer-''We bought out the
stock of w. l.. Whitney eight
years ago. We began business with a
small trade and have grown to be the
wholesale crockery house in the
Our trade is confined to western
Iowa and Nebraska"
What was your increase last yeary"
Fully S per cent"
What is your opinion as to the pros
pc cts for the coming year?"
st will be the best we have eve eX-
perienced. / I'm buying with reference
to the largest trade / have ever had.
Bluffs has reached a point in
population, wealth and energy where
Is no such thing as stopping her
growth"
Then you must think Council Bluffs
good place in which to invest money,
Or locate in business?"
''Certainly | do. ] don't know of "A
city any where which is so sure of Civ
ing handsome returns on investments
as this is. Yes, sir, Council Bluffs will
money for any one who will come