The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-23
FOR our PROTECTION
To Keep Out irresponsible Deal
erS and Bogus Lots.
A REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE
TO Promote Legitimate Business
and AstOria's Growth on
True Lines.
A REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE

Danger threatens the city of Astoria
and her future growth and prosperity.
Sharks are waiting on every corner TO de-
YOUR the unwary. Fraudulent represent
ations are to he made to rope in the
would+be investors. Failure to realize
upon purchases of wildcat property will
give the town and its people black eye.
Boom methods will be employed to make
few dollars at the sacrifice of the
true resources and business prosperity of
the community. Stable worth and merit
to be buried in an avalanche of worthless
additions" Innocent buyers at dis
tance to be defrauded by stolen names
and spurious references
Now that the upbuilding Of Astoria has
commenced and construction operations
on the railroad are in progress number
less Schemes" are being Matched which
will be sprung upon an unsuspecting pubA
lie. 1t is well known that men of little
or no capital are making strenuous ef-
forts to plat and put upon the market
worthless property that could not be
utilized and built up in q hundred
years. Tracts of land in outlying dis
triets, covered by water a large part
of the time, and which never can be
worth anything for business or residence
purposes will be put upon the market
and sold under false colors to those who
are not posted. The Hammond" ad-
dition will probably be the name of one
of such additions" the west, east, north
and south Hammond" additions the
names of others, when Mr.. Hammond
probably has never seen the stuff and
has not scent piece invested in it. But
some people Will not know this and will
drop their money into the slot only to
find that they nave bought losing num-
ber. When a number of such investors
awake to the fact that they have been
swindled they will publish the town ana
the people to the world as a blackmailing
community and so hurt the standing and
reputation of the place that notwith-
standing it's real worth and commercial
importance its growth will be materially
retarded and set back years
Even in the handling of legitimate bus
mess property and valuable house sites
much damage and unnecessary delay will
be occasioned from the lack of uniform
ity of methods and cooperation of deal
ers and owners. HaphazGrd laying out of
sections of property and building up of
different portions of the city can only
result in confusion and the making of
another Boston, where all should be
straight lines and symmetry. The indis-
criminate fixing of prices in property and
rivalry between agents will tend to un-
necessarily reduce the prices on gilt edge
property and unfairly raise the price on
second and third grade property.
What is to be the remedy of these
various evils, how secure uniformity of
action, protection to genuine worth and
the elimination of the evils?
Combination of the responsible dealers
in real estate upon a common ground
of self protection and protection of the
public from irresponsible sharks and
swindlers is the only way to preserve
the integrity of the community and Sc
cure its rapid and substantial growth
into the prosperity and important posi-
ton to which it is entitled.
How are these results to be obtained
and on what basis can such combination
be effected and maintained?
Some ten years ago, when Chicago was
upon the eve Of its phenomenal growth
as a railroad and commercial CENTER it's
real estate men and property owners got
together and formed an association for
the maintenance of prices, uniformity in
the plating of additions, and the regu-
Iation of dealers, which has resulted in
the extraordinary prosperity and solid
growth, upon right lines, of that city.
Wild cat schemes of all kinds were barr
ed by the association but all legitimate
business propositions were entertained
and fostered.
Today Astoria needs a similar organi-
zation. One composed of the representa-
tive men and real estate brokers which
will see to it that only such enterprises
and propositions are f1oated as have true
worth and merit in themselves and which
will lead to the Advancement ard real
growth of the city and community. All
-,ad.a -
should be debarred and so shown up that
the interested public cannot possibly be
led astray
The simplest and most effective way
to accomplish the desired object is to
form a real estate exchange or mutual
association under the guidance of an ex-
ecutive board which shall prescribe rules
of action; uniform scales of prices ac-
cording to location, of adj property; the
barring out OF all wildcat schemes, and
the establishment Of such a credit as
will carry weight throughout the coun-
try. An executive board and secretary
could be elected, representing the allied
interests, whose duty it would be to see
that all plated additions should conform
to the streets of the city as already laid
cut, proper grades maintained and SYM
etry In The growing city secured. None
but responsible dealers would be ad-
mtted to the association, and proper eff
forts made to suppress all who might
attempt to throw disreputable. property
en- the market. Once year, or oftener,
as circumstances might require, sehed-
ules of prices could be arranged and the
necessary action taken to secure the de-
sired results. Each has his own interests
at stake, and is desirous Of. selling his
own property, but only by cooperation
and equitable methods can success be
attained. Worth will always be recog-
nized, but in real estate operations dur
ing the rapid growth Of any city or COM
munity it is always an easy matter for
worthless property, agitated and promot-
ed by irresponsible boomers to find suck
ors who viii purchase. Profit and tenn
porary advantage are sometimes gained
by such adventurers, but only to the in
jury and marked detrimcnr of the COM
munity in the long run.
1t Is a conceded fact that all right
thinking citizens desire only the best in
terests and most rapid advancement Of
Astoria on the lines Of truth and solidity.
It only remains for such concerted action
as viii secure these results. Individual
effort cannot do it; combination can.
Meet, form an organization, draft by
laws. outline a definite policy, elect OH |
GERS to carry II out, punish infractions
Of the agreement. and the best results