The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-08-06
Is ASTORIA READYi
ASTORIA, Aug. 9Th, 80.

EDITOR AsToRIAN:
Investors not only must know of
the opportunities of investments and
the advantages of investments, but
there is a preparation necessary before
they will invest. The prosperous
cities of the west have been thorough
ly prepared to receive men of capital.
We do no not mean advertising the
place, although that is important.
We do not mean that attention shall
be paid to those who may come
among us as investors, although that
is no small matter. We do not mean
that holders of real estate should be
willing to sell at marginal prices, al
though that is indispensable to a
sale. But we mean that the property
on the market must be put in con-
dition to be seen and appreciated.
One could hardly expect to sell lots
on a timber claim by taking the
would-be purchaser in sight of the
dark forests and say: In there, some
where, are a thousand lots; if you
buy a lot it will sometime be
located; if not you can locate it, or
what is the same, slash it, and get it
ready. We can make ourselves undor-
stood by a statement of facts. Taco
ma has in Allen G. Mason one of the
most successful real estate brokers
any where to be found. He pur-
chased a hundred acres of land some
four miles at the north east of the
city. 1t was heavily wooded, and to
reach it you must cross a wide deep
gulch. Before asking for a purchaser
he made first class bridge over that
gulch; placed a sign over it. Pre-
sented to the City by Allen c. Mason"
He selected forty acres lying along
the water front, cleared it up, and
gave that to the city as park, Over
the entrance to it is this sign: Pre-
sented to the City by Allen G. Mason"
He then had the balance slashed, the
trees removed, underbrush burned up.
streets and avenues laid out, and
made passable. Every lot was lined
off and stakes placed at their corners
with number of lot. Then after this
expenditure, which the writer was
told came to $4,000, the land was
put on the market. You go in
to his office to inquire about
residence property. Nay You regis
ter at any one of the hotels, soon a
card will be handed to you, inviting
you to see the city. A pair of horses
driven by wide awake man, will
carry you all over that pushing city,
and at last bring you up at the Mason
addition. Everything has been made
ready. Even the price to a cent with
no change, the terms easy and those
lots only two thirds the size of lots
in this city are nearly all sold from
S400 to $500 lot, and that since |
April last. Now suppose those same
investors are attracted to Astoria, by |
the thorough advertising the Real |
Estate Agents association intend |
to do, they come here. What have
we to show them? Several tracts of |
rOughwoody land unsightly and un-
approachable; not cent expended to
make them either attractable or in
viting. Here and there a lot or two.
now and then dwelling house, which
hardly deserves the name. What else
is there? There is land, and land,
hills and gullies bit none of them
ready for the market. No inclination
to invest anything in order to secure
profitable purchasers. Nov il is
useless to throw open the highway of
advance to Astoria by advertising its
resources and prospects, unless the
men who have property to sell will
prepare it for the market. 1t is a
stamp thrown away to invite moneyed
men to come here, if thou who hath
property to sell are asking next years
prices and seem afraid somebody will |
make dollar on their investment.
Said man to the writer: Il am
loaded with land; cannot take oil All
other piece" Why not partly unload!
Let somebody else carry part of the
burden. 'Simply," was the answer,
because L expect it will bring more
more money bye and bye" If that
spirit continues, if there is to be a
llstless Indifference as to whether in
vestors come to us and find it for their
to invest, if the land is
simply held for higher prices, and a
sigh of regret when a purchaser makes
a dollar, then 1.-The little city by the
sea" will continue what someone
has said of it: "Oh, that is one of the
old TO be places" Rather let us make
ready to secure our share of the thou
sands coming to make homes and in
vest their money in this part Of our
great and prosperous country.
ALLEN.