The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-06
"BANK OF HARTMAN"

This would-be city is on the Emory river.
where 1t breaks through the Cumberland
mountains. and Is in the valley surrounded
almost ain completely BY the everlasting, hills.
are scattered about the adjacent country,
and the Down-Easters present at this sale
only got view of the muddy and decidedly
uninviting site Of the coming great CITY,"
But the sale to the seeker for strange things
In this vale of tears" was really worth at
tending. for the rare specimens Of humanity in
attendance do not come together in the bor-
ders Of conservative New England.
Just previous to the auction of lots meet
ing, of the fellow boomers" took place
under a large canvas tent on a small hill in
the centre of the supposed city, which was
addressed by Judge Hughes Of Kentucky,
Judge Fuller of Michigan and numerous 9th.
er disciples of blackstone, who hsrangued
the crowd on the necessity of not getting ex-
cited at the coming sale, and the need of
keeping the prices of lots down to conser-
vative basis. The assembled multitude
howled itself hoarse In calling on different
stump orators OF this section of the country.
When the sale began In the afternoon, Gen
eral Fisk, ex-prohi6ition candidate for Pres,
ident and now president in fact OF this land
company, made brief address filled with
glittering generalites and witty wOrdiness.
Then Col. Frierson-the judges and colonels
are numerous hereabouts-began the auc-
tioneering. The first lot, 25 feet front by 125
street. sold for S1750. The bidding was
sharp and spirited, and the lots were knocked
down with rapidity truly astonishing. and
none sold whether on hill or in gully for less
than $400, and more than 200 were sold at
these prices. The principal buyers were
from Tennessee and Kentucky. The sale
was continued the next day In
against which the leaky canvas of
the tent proved poor protection; Nearly
thousand people waded through the mud and
the deluge to run wild over the bidding on
lots. For on this Thurs sday morning the
crowd there was miniature IpandemODium
for the first hour or so, and lots, the size first
mentioned, sold as high as S5050. Men that
had attended similar sales In this region said
they never saw such mad excitement as pre-
vailed. You meet men here who, by their
own story, have made great deal Of money
ries are so much Of the Munchausen order
that l feel as If all men are liars. and the
truth Is not in them.
To anyone in Maine that has saved few
hundred dollars and thinks that by investing
it In one of these southern schemes he can
realize fortune from it, let me say that the
chances are very much against it, and he had
better look for surer and safer investments
nearer home. And If any laboring man,
possessed with the idea that change would
be beneficial, looks to the South for that ad-
vantage, he makes great mistake, for no
mill operative in any manufacturing town
in New England would live In the manner
the natives do here, nor work for such
wages.
This region is picturesque in the extreme,
and to the tourist on pleasure bent 1t will
well rapay visit; the rugged mountain
scenery and the mild air are indeed attract