The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
HOUSTON'S CALM BOOM.
NO BXmTRRLBNT OYER II, BUT
SOLID ADTlNOB IN PREOEa


There i- Ne Reason to supposs PrsspsFitY
has not Coue to stay-A Town with =
Substantial Reason for Existence.
Houston, Texas, April 19,-The moro con.
seryatlvo citizens OF Houston do not describe
the recent real estate movement In this city 40
boom: they say that prices here have been
less than actual values. Others talk boom, and
all agree that Houston has taken new start
toward larger prosperity. The movement
commenced about the middle Of February last
when the favorable prospects OF deep water -
Galveston had begun to draw investors and
spectators to that city. Deep water. 1t was
believed, would help the region as well rs Gall
weston, and some Of these strangers found in
Houston features that they thought were worth
consideration, and number OF those who had
bought In Galveston bought In Houston
also. In March a syndicate OF Calves
ton and Houson men invested here
about $265,o00. taking mostly acreage
property in and near the city, but inolud.
ing some property OF all kinds. This purchase
stimulated others, and for about two weeks
there was q very considerable furry and aos
tivity. There we're many sales OF real estate. and
many options were taken. Some Of the men
from Denver and Kansas City and Boston and
other points had already bought here. and
others took hold when the syndicate began
operations, and there were many local buyers,
both In large and small amounts; for time
there was considerable excitement This has
now In o great measure subsidized. but the
transfers OF real estate are far more numerous
than usual. though much fewer in number and
less in amount than they were during the
furry. There are still some outsiders prospect.
ing the city, and property Is held firmly az
the advanced rates. The increase In prices
has been from as to 80 per cent. according
to location. the greater advance having been.
as usual on oulsioe proper'y. tnere nave
oeen Sales OF OUTSIDE properly at advances iar
sstats IN ,his c,tv IN 1850 vors anou, zoo ooo
w.. - ahnS,. ...bo ~. a.,..t ~ a.
Is low o. .no
at s'SoO.ooo the bulk OF these transfers having
People here all believe that the advance IN
nr,oas e. ,rar,on.od hn tho ,rs,,,a,,, - -",1o.
To give some idea Of vaIuea bere, without
going into detail. it may be- said that a prom.
inent real estate man who endeavored to make
os s aIo on tSe 6sst boc US Wsin rs
was last year about $500 o foot on tho 6O-iooi
ln INSIDE lots aoo%6 sa9o i9g ana ShSS
Without the b1f HsH Psi0oS pfi'OS az"
moge IN nrice an9 IN ofhe ra ractions tba Sh n
creasa hoa noI baan noro tban s0 ~ osst -,
romndip@s Acrea1a nropepty nat in "H% thS
city Iimits that was Worth isst veSr r5o tor SsS
an acre mas oeen sGld tnis year ior SLOW 70 500
made money. and OF course ali expect Ia. Ao'e
4, Houston covers nine SQUARE nilesSSs square
House stands In the centre Of the oity. The
Buffaio bayou runs in n Winding oourse. WITH
4 @ sn S;S ae13ss tne Gy.
way bridees ACROSS the baVon' wbich IL navi.
+ at The head Of neviaaIion Honston stend:
abont tSftv Seet ahnve tiSswater Tba citH a.
4 uIations. There are som m.I rsyines tbe hig-
gest and deepest being That In which the bayou
c,y n Drh III tb and newer part OF
Homston il a 9rsat rairoad centra E,evar
railroads eone into the ntv and onc mnrs ia
nSiGng bon the s Ear0Md increment began 40.
thonSb T. was most activa ron asS te s1a IT,
Which period DEL eight e the roads either
Houston have taken a great intsreIt IN rail.
frseiy IN monsy and anare con'riouleo 70 'nem
Tho southern PaeiGc Company has repair
ION and Texas Cen raj ID emp S in IT. It's shops
Bs es's asss ss4 til.
ee to the y Tesses
.en feet come to Clinton. which is about Ave
miles from the Court House, and pernRpS ten
~ and from is tSes to tse
yuiL The water in the BAYOU varies from seysn
0 thirty feet. There are shoals Of its mouth
las since 1851 Appropriated abont &75, o6S foS
he Improvement OF Buffalo bayou, and the re-
Iults have been Rratifying There ara five cor.
on comrresses In Houston, and in the seaSon
ust ended the merchants Of this city hsndled
Ibout SO000O bales OF the Q 'tton crop. The
cotton is rolled OF the cars into the presseS
md from the presses to barges on the bayou
without drayage. Tugs haul It alongside ships
There are IN Houston eight .planinR-nia.
ottonseed oil mills. one car-wheel foctorY.
me rolling mill. two foundries and mGchinc
hops. and otbhr smaller eslabliShment6 ThS
lily oxpects to have still more.
The Wholesale trade OF the city Is good and
he retail trade ls fair. but not so great IN Vol.
me as the people expect It to bs. The country
r una Houston. though fertile. has hoen
arRely devoted 10 grazing. and the population
~ not S6S dsnse though 0 GrGTTGs More tHrmeFS
Re q sG
rinnlp pal business street Of the city e Main