The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-27
REAL ESTATE IN HELENA.
The Largest Real Estate Deal Ever
Consummated in Helena
Took Place Yesterday.
Denver Capitalists Greatly En-
Unused Regarding Our City's
Future Prosperity and
Greatness.
Work Assured for Small Army Of Car.
penters, Masons and Laborers-The
Weeks Transactions.

Several years ago Mr.. Whine, a Denver
capitalist, while sojourninR in our city
drove over what is known as the Hockey
Corbin Tract" a half-section of land stu
ated east of the Blake addition, about one
mile from the court house. He was i'm
pressed with the beauty of the location, its
sheltered position and its nearness to the
business center. It was a windy day and
he had been driving over other portions of
the city with closely buttoned coat, but
here on the commanding plateau, overlook
ing the growing city of the west-the beau
tiful valley backed by the lofty range with
Bear-Tooth mountain prominent feature
on the north and an extended eastern view,
he found protection from the wind and
warmth from the genial sunlight, -alight-
ing from the carriage he sat for half hour
under the the shadow of the Lone Pine''
with his overcoat for cushion and enjoyed
the beautiful panorama spread out before
him.
On returning he called the attention of
Wallace Il Thornburgh to this tract and
later they drove over the ground with him,
and from that time studied effort has
been made to secure favorable bond from
Mr.. Jockey, who with shrewd foresight had
placed large price upon the property.
The bond was obtained last September by
Wallace & Thornburgh, and this week pay
ments have been made and the property
The land will be plated as an addition
to Helena without delay. An electric line
of railway has already been contracted for;
also arrangements have been made with the
water company to extend their mains
through the new addition. Money has
as soon as street grades have been estab-
lished work will commence.
Some seven acres of land in the most
slightly portion of the ground will be dedi-
Gated to the city for park. No expense
will be spared to make this the garden spot
of Montana.
The following parties have already pur-
chased land in this addition and contracted
with Wallace & Thornburg to build for
them modern and elegant residences: John
B. Claybere, Gen. George o. Eaton, Hon.
Horace r: Buck, Hon. William H. Dewitt
". D. Wheeler, James b.: Wells, Hon.
Thomas G. Bach. Hon. John s. Tooker. E.
N. Harwood, George H. Hill. John v.
Jerome, E. w. Knight, Jr., w. j. Brad
shaw, Herbert Nicholson, Robert Sale Hill
All these buildings are to be finished within
six months.
It is safe to predict that within one year
this new addition will be the most beautiful
and popular residence portion of the city.
It is estimated that fifty residences, costing
at least $3.50, 600, will be erected on this ad-
dition during 1880. Thus work will be given
to a small army of carpenters, masons and
laborers.
It is not generally understood how near
this tract Of land is to the center of our city.
By actual measurement the nearest point of
this Lockey-Corbin tract is as near to the
court house as the East Side school and the
most distant point is considerably nearer
than the nearest point of the Bradford adj
dition.
The great thoroughfare to this addition
will be Broadway. and nothing binders this
becoming good business street except the
steep grade. Without great expense there
could be a cut made extending from War
rem street to Davis street that would reduce
this grade 40 per cent.
This improvement would double the price
of property on both sides of the street. At
present the court house sets several feet
lower than the street and the benefit of low
ering Broadway to this building alone would
pay Tor the entire expense of the work.
We are also assured that i; il this cut were
selves to expend this year at least $4,000 in
business blocks.
This new east side addition will, bring at
least $3.50, 600 cash in our city within the
next few months, and there are other deals
that will probably be contaminated with
these Denver capitalists. These Denver
people have great confidence in the growth
and success of our city, and express consid-
cradle disgust with some of our old-timers
whom they have met, who seem to be doing
all in their power to make the outside
world believe that Helena is an over
prominent Helena merchants, in western
bound train, few weeks ago, publicly de-
clared that Helena was having great
boom, and that there was no question in
his mind but that property could be pur-
chased three years hence at q less price
man who heard the conversation and who
had put considerable money in our city
made our merchant feel cheap by offering
to put up Sc, 600 cash if he would give
him bond to deliver half
million dollars worth of Helena property
three years hence at the price of to-day.
If our city succeeds and grows We must
stand up for it and advertise it at home and
abroad. These Denver capitalists purchas-
ing in our city is good omen. They fore
see that Helena will grow as Denver has,
and it is a fact that our city has every ele-
ment to produce growth and prosperity that
Denver had about fifteen years ago, when it
was about the size of Helene to-doy.
Quite an effort has been made the past
week by several of our real estatg men to
sell visiting capitalists certain farms north
of the city. The effort has been unsuc-
cessful, as the securing of options in the
valley has aroused the farmers to believe
that their lands were very valuable and in
duced them to put such prices upon the
properties as rendered them unstable.
This system of longtime options is dis
advantage to both the seller and the buyer
and the experience of the past week teaches
us that it is liable to drive capital elsewhere
that should be invested in our city.
Mr.. Floyd-Jones-Have been very busy
during the last week closing up sale of the
Potts ranch. This sale amounted to $52,-
zoo. In this connection it is interesting to
note that l was offered this property and
almost as much more land as it now con-
tains three years ago for $4,000. Also
closing up sales of Helena avenue property
amounting TO FL 900. and some small acre
tracts on the east side during week; sales
of SO feet on Helena for S6.315: a block of
lots in the Syndicate addition. $11,OOO; two
lots in same addition. 5000; block of lots in
Paramount park. 5000.
l have made safe of piece of business
property for $50 900. the details of which
are not ready for publication.
Steele & Co.-Have done verv salts
factory business during the week just past,
and report very good month. The prin-
cipal activity has been in Mclean park,
which is deservedly growing in favor, as it
is the cheapest outside property now on the
market. Prices here are very low as COM
pared with adjacent properties, and during
the past month it has sold very rapidly.
John S. N. Neill sold $40 acres of ground
on Montana avenue during the week fol
$4,000. The property lies adjacent to the
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