Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-07-10
FIVE DOLLARS PER FOOTIOF WHAT GOOD IS THIS C
RALEIGH DIRT CERTAINLY
GOES DIRT CHEAP.
A Land Sale, the Like of which,
i'm Prices, Asheville Has not For
Years KNOWN in the Corporate
I-iinits-Newspa Change.

Liinits-Newspape Change.
RALEIGH, July 9.-[Special. Raleigh
had its first spasm of reviving energy
yesterday, when, reused by the inspiring
examples of Asheville, Winston, Char
lotte, Durham and other places, she made
an effort to sound a genuine real estate
boom. There are not wanting men here
who are alive to the necessity of the city
as well as to its capabilities and who are
encouraged to work by seeing the work
that has been done elsewhere. Some
time since, some of them, among whom
were J. NJ. Broughton and Mr.. Mosely, a
former large tobacco dealer, purchased
large property in the northeastern part
of the city, living with the large city Gem
ctery as its eastern boundry. 1t was
once, or part Of it, the Seawell farm
now exposed as an open old field, un-
fenced, and with two or three groups of
of forest trees that once shaded the man
sion and farm buildings. The houses
were burned some years ago, and the
whole has since lain wide waste. The
situation is somewhat elevated over
looking the city to the west, and offers
fine sites for residences. The purchasers
laid the grounds off in rectangular streets
and soon succeeded in selling off num-
Der of the most eligible at private sale.
Yesterday the remaincr was put up at
public outcry.
Initiating AsheyiIle.
The scene somewhat resemhled what
Asheville is accustomed to in the parade
and animation of the Pearson and At.
knson sales. band of music intlamcd,
or made the attempt to do so, to enthu-
siasm. Buses and carriages offered a
free ride to Idlcwild, for so the property
is named. and crowd of four or five
| hundred was mustered on the grounds
about lour O'Clock in the afternoon.
! There were oceans OF free ''icc cold lemon
ade" to refresh those who had gone out
There was music and there were banners
to excite the bidders; above all, there
was Pete Akers, the famous auctioneer,
who merits the reputation he has gained.
Mounted on an open carriage when the
/ first lot to be sold was reached he pre-
laced his duties with a sound, sensible
and humorous speech which ought to
have put every spectator in buying
mood. But when the sale began, though
the lot was an eligible one, there seemed
to be a backwardncss or timidty un.
/ EnnNrt fn n A Acl,.xy,lI.s ,,rnv,l 'Th. b,Is
were few, and slow, and low. The first sale
was to a Michigan man for 81. 80 front
foot. About 55 lots were sold and in no
case did the bids pass So. Among the
purchasers was Gov. Holt and Josephus
Daniels, of the Chronicle. Among the
spectators was Alcck Porter, of Ashevile,
who seemed to look on with a kind of
compassionate amusement at prices so
infinitely below those to which he had
! hecrl acepstTr fd,s Hu-rn> a"."d". VI
$40, 500 were sold. The parties most in
terested seemed satisfied. The purchasers
certainly ought to be. A beginning has
been made, and Raleigh may eventually
fall into line with the younger towns
which thus far have surpassed her IN en-
tcrprise. The sensation was a novel one,
and may be lasting and useful one,
A cool wave is upon us this morning
following copious rains last evening and
night.
MIR. c. NJ. Busbee fingers with frequent
favorable fluctuations.
The street railway is progressing
steadily, the trolly wires are all hung
and the work of flaying, or rather rc'aylni
track is gong on. The old mule track IL
there, requiring, of course, repair ant
alteration.
{ The News and Observer, after having
l determined upon a change OF location
. has reconsidered and is now improving
= its premises greatly to the convenience o
a the editorial corps, and adding great.
S to the general efficiency of its operations
e There will soon be material changes an
Improvement in Typography. The New
# and Observer building is well adapted t
c its uses, being built especially for the pu'
c pose. 1t is the outcome OF the old Holde
J. regime; and the enterprise was prom
e able one when it had all the state worl
II when $1.25 per thousand ems was pai'
d and when every page OF the leglslati'
c journals had largely more fat" tha