New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
A SUBURBAN BOOM" TOWN.
FOUNDED BY THE DIPLOMATIC MR. CHUG-
WEATHER.

auctioneers. dozen years ago II integral
part Of old Hank Brewster's farm and the way old
Hank used TO grumbe at It's worthlcssness and nm
productiveness is matter of common tradition.
when speaking confidentially TO his Dcighbors he
used to bewail his illfortune in owning property
which consisted largely of sand, stun and pesky
weeds" though II must be confessed that on the ure
occasions when possible purchaser appeared on the
scene, old Hank took different llne and expatated
eloquently on its many material advantages, In
GLIDING an entire freedom from "malary,' owing 10
the presence. In tudcious quantities. OF course. OF
sand and stun.' Even the "peshy weeds were
referred to such occasions as unmpeachibe wit
nesses Of the material fertility of the soil The skill
OF old Hank In thus using the three counts In his
private Indictment against his farm indications of Its
great value is the best possible evidence that he was
not the embodiment of bucolc Innocence that some city
folks imagine all farmers to be.
And yet grieve to say that old Hank was taken in
after all. For many years lie had talked about
cuttin' up his farm into city lots, and plottin
town on it," But somehow other he had never
got to the point Of doing 1t. "Old Hanks town plot
however, became current phrase with the neglbors
Of whom, indeed evolved " town plots" OF their
own. From all which IT Will be seen by the reader
that this sketch Is decidedly rich In plots, though they
artless enough to please Mr. IIowel!s While
things thus in the air, the of suburban
booms came along, when shrewd spectators saw the
chance of buying suburban land at low figure and
selling it by the lot at figure comparatively high,
but which seemed to tile city buyer anxious to own
little home very low Old Hank was sure some
sndercate' would look In his direction, and
offer him fancy price for his land which lie acknowl
edged 10 his wife, Mrnndy, was. Jest about Godfor-
saken enough TO build a town on" But the sinder-
catcs' didn't appear to look his way although not lar
away the boom towns of "Norbourne," "Pinesllde'
"Antmalariavie," "Elyslum" commuters City,
and 4" Gloriana" had been started with big auction
sale Of lots, with the accompaniment Of special train
from the city, a clambake under an immense tent on
the grounds, and music by the Hail Columbia Band.
All this made old Hank feel that something must
be done: and so lie finally broached the matter to
Adonijah Chugwcaer, the celebrated real estate auc
toneer whose word with capitalists was reported 10
be most potent. That great man. however. was most
emphatic In declaring that he wouldn't take old Hanks
farm rs gift. Therefore, when not long aftcrwnrd
rough looking farmer who said he was tired OF farm
in it on a mounting side in Moo Iampscr," came along
and guessed he might talk bout buyn eff the price
want too steep" old Hank was quite ready to propose
q figure not more than twice the value Of the place
for farming purposes. Tho New-liampshire man
nagged for while, and pointed mournfully to the
great number OF stun but at last guessed" he
would have to take IL at old Hanks price. and the
papers binding the bargain we're drawn. Then OLD
Hank learned. wien too late. that the real buyer was
n big syndicate Of real estate men. whose agent and
boomer was Adonijah Chugwcathcr, the very man
who had said he wouldn't take the farm a gift
He had fixed up one Of his henchmen to represent
farmer, and in this way. lie expressed It, had
taken old Hank into camp We will draw a veil
over old Hank when he learned this, for the way lie
talked and acted not at all edifying.
Then came the advertisement in the papers. No
suburban boom can be successfully started without
advertising and Mr.. Chugweathcr was postmaster
in the art of sky rocket advertising that helps boom
TO catch on" In the ad" In question the public
was informed that a certain date there would be
grand and unprecedented sale Of lots and villa sites In
the beautiful new suburban town OF Balsamhurst.'
"This place." 1t went to say, ais, without excep
tion the most beautiful picturesque and healtful spot
within fifty miles of New York. Situated, 1t is In
the very midst of natures most witching enchant-
ments 1t smiles In idyic loneliness the visible
realization Of all that poets have hitherto dreamed of
rural charm and sylvan beauty. God made the coun
try but man made the town. we told and surely
the Creator must have lovingly fingered over His ere
alton Of the spot which Mr.. Adonijah Chugweather
with singular felicity has named BasamhuTst. This
magnificent property, which has for many generations
been In the family of Henry Brewster, esq then fol-
lowed some details to location Especial trains" 1t
continued "wth free tickets, free, genuine Rhode
Island cIombake, and music by splendid reglmenta
band. Pay more rent but own your own home In
Balsomlurst. where there are no mosquitoes, no ma
laria and no nuisances Of any kind, place that will
suit equally we'll those who love the moist air of the
ocean and the dry air of the hills, for II is sentneed
by the mountains and gently kissed by the Don't
forget that Adonijah Chugweather has been ordered 10
sell this earthly paradise by auction. Come and get
corner lots for song and villa sites almost for TIE
asking"
Thus was Balsamhurst born, to the great financial
gain of the syndicate and Mr.. Chugweather The press
was now filed with the most astonishing euoges Of
Balsamhurst In fact the word Basamhurst confront
ed the average citizen everywhere. If you looked cut
of a car window of any train coming into or going out
OF New-York you would a great painted fence
erected With some such legend this 1t: "You
can live in an earthly paradise. Howl Why, by in
vestng in a lot at Balsamhurst.' Or else this would
be the style: "Ob he's all right. Who's all right
Why, the man who Is lucky enough to own homo In
Basamhurst Now is the time to get In the ground
floor"
But perhaps the biggest advertising scheme
cocted by Mr.. Chugweather was the erection OF
gigantic fence, which he had capable artist paint
a handsome house in such realistic way that when
seen from a moving train 1t seemed to be a real house.
A landscape gardener was employed to turn the
ground in front OF the painting into beautiful
lawn, with walks and driveway running through
H. and pretty flowers and shrubs planted In
profusion. Scattered about here and there the
piazza and on the lawn were wax figures of men and
women in summer neglge costume and In various at
titudes Of summer enjoyment. For instance woman
was seen reclining I'm a hammock, while man In
bright tennis suit reading to her from real
novel In front of the house stood real carriage.
with dummy horses In real harness and a dummy
coachman holding the rens And on the blank wall
near the house In letters two feet high were the
words: "This is d Balsamhurst home. Dost like
the picture? Then go and do likewise This re-
Variable adj attracted universal attention. and
the city editor OF of the city papers had written
up as a piece of interesting local news, much to the
citation OF Mr.. Chugweather. The secret Of adver-
Using according TO that worthy, is TO make your
advertisement an integral element of the progress and
movement of the day, and then the newspapers will
tumble each other in their efforts to give you
all the publicity you want for nothing. An excellent
principle truly from the advertisers point Of view,
but one which requires both money and brains for
It's accomplishment Mr.. Chugweather modestly be-
lieved that he had the brains, while the syndicate