Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-04-22
A NEW PROFESSION.
Proourine Tenants for sky.sorap.
ing Omce Buildings
Esoiution of . Race OF Expert and Fiuent
Liars Who Get Good Fay for
Their Enorts-now They
Operate In Chicago


Getting tenants for sky scrapers has
become an important profession. The
only professors of this kind live in Chi
cago, says tho Post of that city. and
this Is their harvest time. They arc
working day and night, some OF them
earning fees hat would please tho
biggest lawyer or doctor in town, while
others Rrs wearing out their last pairs
OF shoes 1t Is in some respects a ilcklc
profession, for keeping cvcrlastinEly
at IL ducS not always bring success.
I.nc's has n good deal to do with it, and
what is still verse. ] ing has also.
Some Of the most prodigious liars in
Chicago nrc remarkably successful in
this new field. They arc really pro-
fcSSional liars, but it should be added
that they arc frowned upon 10y the
lcgitimntcs and regarded as qunclis
md intcrlopcrs who ought to be doing
something else.
To do the quacks Justice il must he
explained there is neither school nor
college in this town that issues dipl"-
mas to recognized professors and hence
II man has just Us good right to prac-
ticc as another, il not n great deal bet
ter. Probably the only difference be-
tween q quack and n regular is that
the former depends entirely on his abil-
ity rs Il liar TO get nlong, while the
latter relies on his acquaintance with
mel who inhabit the tall office build
ings.
The professional tenant gettcr is a
recent product, who belongs essential
" TO the tall-buildins era. lie is gem
orally n well-drcsscd young man, up
to date in every way and. with n
good presence. His training Is ac-
quired in real estate offices. About
this season of the year, when tenants
OF Office buildings arc either looking
about for more desirable Offices or re-
ncwiug their leases FOR the old ones,
the professor starts out. The first
thing he docs is to 70 to the agent for
q big building and have an understand
ing about his commission. lie informs
the agent that one of his friends Is
not satisfied with his present location
and will probably make q change. II
suppose you will allow the usual COM
mission il | bring him around and get
him TO sign q ~lcnsc,' he adds. The
s.Scnt says he will for he l. after ten
ants. ana il makes no difference 10
him who brings them around. The
commissions range fruEi twenty-five
dollars up, according to the ruElbcr
OF rooms taken, several hundred dol.
lars bring n common fec where n ten.
ant takes n choice suite or makes
long lease. After getting the promise
OF Il commission the professor starts
out,
lie may really have henri OF n firm
that intends changing its location,
but in the majority of cases he has
not and goes forth TO hunt n man who
wants to move He goes into n tall
building. begins at the bottom and
works up to the top, stopping in every
oaiee and explaining that he has n
number ui choice suites in the ncwcs;
sky-scrapcr.
Pardon me-" he begins, after be-
ing shown into the private Office OF the
head of tile firm. but l learned from
n friend OF yours that you nrc d~;Ssatis-
fed with your present location AID
think of changing. ] represent the
Wayup building and would he plea cd
10 show you floor plans. We furnish
lights and ~ianitor service free. and
our rates are away below Your terms
here"
In nine cases out OF ten this is n bold
bluff, but ii interests the tenant Just
the same.
"Who told you l was dissatisded?'
he asks
well, I don't like 10 give you his
name, but II was "a friend Of yours, and
h., n=Ns.1 ,Az -. . -
YOU"
The floor plans arc ont by this time.
and the professor goes on TO explain
tn" advantages Of his builIirg. lie OK.
plains It's location with reference to
the car lines, and. IL he IS talking "a n
railway supply man, for instance.
gives the amc OF purchasers Of that
class Of goods who are in the build
ing. Sometimes he succeeds in maxi
ing a tenant dissatisfied. and finally
gets him. hut il very frequently hap
pens that he is politely ordered to get
ont.
People In the big buildings arc get.
ting TO know the tcnRu.-gct,crs and TO
give them n cold reception. The other
day n of them entered the Office Of n
"'SS' W. =" N.SA'-' ttNA va VIC 4ANoA'
cry and made his little speech about
having heard the tenant was 3iSSaiis.
fcd.
as tina; so?" the lawyer answered.
Now, who told you | was sick of this
ba~ildirg?"
One of your friends whom / met a.
the club yesterday"
We'll. you tell hitn that he is mis-.
taken. Six weeks Ego I signed q new
lease Tor irc years"
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