Middletown transcript., 1894-03-31
A BIG REAL ESTATE DEAL.
Thirty-two Dwelling Houses in VIII.
mingtOn Disposed of.

| Thirty-twO Dwelling Houses in VIII.
mington Disposed of.
The biggest real estate deal that has beer
transacted here i'll some time was formally
| consummated yesterday, when Booker &
Whitesell, commission merchants on East
Fourth street, sold to the North Branch
Coal and Coke Company of West Virginia,
80 houses in the lower part of the Ninth
ward for the consideration of $45 600. The
dwellings are situated at Thirteenth and
Dure streets and on Marsh Lane beyond
Eleventh street beidge. They are near the
works ofthe Pullman Palace Car Company,
and comprise Nos. 1888 to 1853 East Thir-
teenth, and Nos. 1926 to 1864 Davis street,
and two corner stores.
1t is understood that Booker g. Whitesell
have agreed to exchange the property for
SAC, 600 worth of stock in the North Branch
Coal and Coke Company, corporation ofthe
State of West Virginia, and in view OF their
large holdings of stock the Wilmington
firm will be made directors ofthe company.
The deal was made through the firm Of
Philip R. Clark & Company, and Hugh C.
Browne, attorney for Booker and White
rell. The houses belonging to the firm
have been in the hands Of real estate agents
for some time, with instructions to sell
them in case the proper offer of purchase
was made. Four weeks ago Messrs. Booker
& Whitesell heard of the Virginia mine,
and in company with their counsel, Mr.
Browne, made business trip to West Vir
ginia and thoroughly inspected the mine.
So favorably impressed were they with the
surroundings that they made up their minds
to dispose of their Wilmington property
for block of the company's stock, and ac-
cordingly the bargain was sealed yester-
day.
The West Virginia property comprises
tract of 100 acres of land in Grant county
aud the authorized capital stock Of the
company is S150,00O. The mine is said to
possess an abundance of bituminous coal
and has been tested, the analysis proving
the very best. The mine is part of the
property acquired by the Deak in Brothers
the first part Of the present century, and
which fell to them by the laws of the
original state of Virginia in consideration
of the fact that they were the first to survey
it and take possession of the land, then a
deserted wilderness. The original tract
comprised, it is said, 100000 acres, and ex-
tended across West Virginia in one great
belt, reaching almost to the Ohio river. At
the death of the Deakins the property fell
into the hands of the heirs, who disposed
of it at ridiculous figures. some Of the
property bringing so cents per acre. The
discovery Of coal and coke mines on the
property caused it to enhance in value
The mine is close to the West Virginia
Central railroad and is 55 miles from Pied
mont Five veins of coal have been found
on the property and the capacity of the
mine lis about LOGO tons per week. The
mine is near the land of Henry L. Davis,
ex-senator from West Virginia, and near
the coal mines of ex-Secretary of War
Steven B. Elkins. 1t adjoins the great coal
belt of that country. The president of the
company is J. T. Rees. The other members
are J. W. Nihiser, of Hagerstown, Nd, and
S. B. Husselman, of San Francisco.