The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-24
REAL ESTATE.
Some Facts Concerning Booming
Cities in the North.
G. H Umbsen Discusses Their Present Posi-
tion and the Outlook Eere-The Auction
Room Yesterdays ales-Notes.

Mr.. G. II, Umbsen of G. II. Umbsen &
Co. returned recently from trip to the
Northwest, and in reply to various questions
he makes the following statement which is
based upon facts gathered by him during
his absence:
The love of something new and strange is
very strong in the human breast, and par
ticuarly so in that of the average American
citizen. 1t is to this feeling and to it
alone that the rush of settlers to the North
west cities, Seattle, Tacoma, ETC., can be
attributed. All that these cities can boast
of is fine harbor; rents are high. and the
water supply for household purposes bad,
while living expenses are considerably
greater than in this city.
Besides the above drawbacks these towns
are full of disconnected people and much of
the riff-raff of society, which naturally finds
its way TO new towns. can be found there.
Notwithstanding this. real estate on the prin-
cipal streets of Seattle and Tacoma brings
$1,000 front foot, without any grading or
sewering having been done. Nearly all i'm
portant improvements have been made with
Eastern capital, and the towns are, In
fact, mortgaged to Eastern capitalists.
There is really no settled value
to real estate; the market is
feverish and inflated, while prices on the
outskirts are imaginary. Lots are laid off
in the woods, three or four miles from town,
and sold for $500 to $500 per lot, upon the
installment plan, and most of these lots will
cost as much again to clear them. Pleasure
resorts there are none, and tho heavy growth
of timber prevents driving, SO that in the
matter of recreation there is great want
felt by the inhabitants. The climate in
winter is abominable. There are six months
of snow, slush and rain, and mud is ankle
deep During the summer the heat and
dust render the towns in question undesira-
BILE as places of residence. Taking all things
in consideration, | believe the present state
of things in the Northwest is caused by
boom, which is bound to break, as similar
boom did in the south, and leave business
almost at a standstill. Then will commence
an exodus of those now rushing to these
towns, and the lots which have cost so dear
will be sacrificed to supply travelling eX-
penSes. In my opinion 1t VIII be twenty
years before either Seattle or Tacoma will
have a population of 100000, if ever they do.
Compare this state of things with the
steady growth OF real estate values IN this
city, particularly those Of outside lands.
My trip to the Northwestern towns has
more than ever impressed upon my mind
that the real estate of this city and county
Pacific Coast. Living expenses are proba-
bly, cheaper here than anywhere else in the
world. There is plenty of recreation, parks,
theaters ana concert halls being worthy Of
the city. Ia spite of all this, outside prop
erty can be bought for but little more than
a lot in the woods three or four miles from
Seattle or Tacoma.
According to the last census the pOpula-
ton OF Seattle amounted to between 1900
and $500; that Of Tacoma is reported to
n M a IA
stautial town III the Northwest. has only
30. GOO. Considering the stability OF the
business interests Of Portland, and the
superiority of such interests over all posi-
bic ut Seattle or Tacoma, excepting, OF
course, the numbering interest, this dis
crepancy in the population of Portland is
very strange. That it exists points to the
fact that the phenomenal growth OF the first
mentioned cities is not grounded on natural
causes, but simply upon popular excite
mrnt, worked up by railroad competition
This competition has brought about the
boom, attracted settlers, and raised land
values TO their present high figures. and not
the business possibilities enjoyed.
With San Francisco the matter is entirely
different. Our city is undoubtedly the me-
tropOliS of the Pacific Coast, and While rail-
road competition is necessary to increase
the volume of business, the business itself
exists here, with unlimited possibilities Tor
the future. The same remark applies to the
State at large, when possesses lar greater
resources than that of Washington. That
the great want of the people of California is
more railroad accommodation is true, but II
is not wanted to build up a boom and initiate
property values, but to populate the valleys
of the State and carry the merchandise oil
this busy and enterprlslng city. with a
competing trans-cOntinental railroad, 1t Is
my belief that the outside lands OF this city
will be rapidly improved, population Will
flock to California, and by means Of scien-
tifc irrigation every culuvabie loot oil
land will be put into use. Ii is unnecessary
10 add that this means the rapid growth and
development of San Francisco.
IN THE AUCTION ROOM.
Easton. Edridge & Co.'s weekly sale,
which took place yesterday, was largely
attended, and the bidding for the proper
ties disposed of was lively. Following Is a
list Of the pieces sold, viz: Administrators
sale of residence, 1l21 Bush street, $500;
lot Oh south side of Fulton street, 1916 feet
west OF Webster, $500; Preeta avenue in
vestment property, 12OX300. $500; business
lot on the north line of Page street, 165 feet
west of Franklin, S23, 800; three lots on
Marine Heights. two Tor Sl575 each, and the
third for Sl625; corner IN Richmond,
81 :4X100, southwest corner of Point L0bOS
and Twentieth, $500; lot 25xS7 IS on the
north line OF Seventeenth street, short dis
tance west Of Douglass street. $50. Total
amount of sale, S50050.
SALES.
Shainwald, Buckbee & Co. have closed
the following sales: The 50-vara lot on the
northwest corner of Vallejo and Fillmore
streets for S2l, 900. This lot was purchased
on the goth of last April by c. b. Platt from
Lolita Crabtree, but, owing to slight defect
in the title, which has since been satisfac-
torily adjusted, the deed was not executed
until yesterday They also report the sale
of 20 feet on Suffer street by l37 IS feet in
depth, between Cough and Octavia streets,
purchased by a. j. Boyken from Governor
Low for $4,000. The deposit on this prop
ertY was made some weeks ago.
NOTES.
Won Rheims auction sale of miscellaneous
city properties takes place tomorrow at their
salesroom at noon. and the catalogue in
cludes the following well-known pieces OF
property which will be offered without re-
serve: A California-street two-Story dwell
ing; a Pacific Heights corner dwelling; No.
2lS Lombard street; lot on San Jose avenue;
cosy Fair Oaks cottage; home on Clipper
street; dwelling on Seventeenth street; the
southwest corner of Thiriieth and Dolores,
and building lots on U tah street, with sun
dry lots elsewhere. The sale promises TO be
a good one.
BUILDERS CONTRACTS.
Mary j. Lehman to Richardson & Gale,
brickwork on the south line of Market
street, 800 feet east of Seventh, east 50x90;
S14, S34.
Louis Flach ct al. to Caspar Zwierlein, to
build on south liue of Pine street, 81 Is feet
east of Webster. east 100x125; S7400.
Peter Forsythe with Daniel Hartnett, to
build on southeast line of Harrison street,
% feet northeast of Eleventh, northeast 25X
100; $500.
Mcneil & Weldon with Patrick Mulligan,
to build on northeast line of Hawthorne
street. 325 feet southeast of Folsom. SOUTH
east % :6x112:6; S3007 20; bonds $1,000; John
J. Beaton Ell al. sureties.
MONDAY LUNCH.