St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-28

oned in ttrSG days. He was worth close
onto million dollars, if not more tina n
That amount. 1t is probable that. if
some of his speculative investments
could be sold out under advantageous
circumstances, his wealth would in
cludc him in any list OF milliOnaires.
His holdings OF coal lands are large.
and with the development of the
country must greatly Increase i'll value
if Kept intact for several years. Mr..
Blaine. by reason of his wide popularity
and warm friendship. enjoyed oppor-
tuhities unusual to the average public
man of making money. He was aSsO-
clated with number of men of wealth
Ill various enterprises, ana his Sagacity
and business foresight kept him from
wasting much money on brilliant but
llluSory speculative projects. He was
Interested with Secretary ElkinS years
ago in silver mine, out of which he
made considerable money. At the time
of his death he owned real estate i'll the
city of Washington which would prob
ably sell under the hammer for more
than quarter of & million of dollars.
LII 1881, when he was living in his old
house near Gen. Sherman'S former resi-
denc2, and was building his house OH
Dupont circle, he told a well known and
wealthy Republican, with whom he was
talking Oh the subject of their reSpec-
tive riches, that he was worth S500.000.
His property in this city has greatly en-
hanced i'll value since that time, and
the development of West Virginia coal
lands in recent years certainly made
MIR. Blaine Il much richer man on this
class of property. Mr.. Blaine bought
his Dupont circle property, how almost
in the heart Of tue fashionable North
west, when Stewart castle, which is
across the way. was thought to be out
in the suburbs. The grounds and the
house cost him approximately SS5, 600.
Two or three years ago he sold num-
Der of the lots in the rear of his house
for $4,000. The house and the remain
lug ground is valued by competent
judges at $l50,000. Mr.. Letter, Mr..
Blaine's tenant, originally paid $4,000
a year rent, which has been reduced to
5000, in consideration Of Mr.. Letter
making certain repairs necessary alter
the fire which came near consuming it,
The house Oh Lafayette square he at
first rented for six years with an option
OF purchasing for $4,000. He took ad-
vantage OF the option and bought the
property after SIX months residence.
He also owned some valuable ground on
/ street. cUu a dlSd vi
ground of less WelI-eStablshed, but
increasing value on what is known as
Meridian mill. This property is just
beyond the old city limits and overlookS
the town. Mr.. Blaine bought it very
cheap, paying in the neighborhood of
10 cents a foot. A boom in it a few
years ago makes it saleable at from SO
cents 10 81 per square foot, and some Of
the choicest lots are held at $1.50.
Mr.. Blaine also owned residence
property in Augusta and Bar Harbor,
Me. Ills holdings of West Virginia
and Pennsylvania coal lands are consid-
erable. He was associated with &. p.
Huntington and President Ingalls,, of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad COM
pany, in the ownership of land along
the line of that road. He was also one
of the directors in the West Virginia
Central Railroad company, i'll which eX-
Senator Davis, Secretary Elkins. eX-
Secretary Bayard and others are inter
ested. This road taps coal and timber
lands which Mr.. Blaine bought years
ago very cheaply, and which have be-
come valuable through railroad connec-
tions afforded them. He also possessed
stocks and bonds, including bank
stock, but the approx i'm ate value OF
which cannot be stated.