The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-30

SEATTLE TUESDAY, MARCH 80
BOOM SPECULATION.


other cities Of the state passed during
the boom times has brought us much re-
rentancs and tribaiation. but We are noi
alone The prosperous years tempted
most people to speculate. many bought
land and cut IL Up into town lots. but
could not sell 1t. and are now paying
heavy penalty in tbs shape Of taxes as
sessed for plated property instead Of
acreage. Others are paying tho penalty
o, having on their hands lots which never
had anything but a speculative value. and
must Inevitably be held at a loss.
IL was not only In the state of Wash
ington. however. The United States In
weston makes feature Of answering aues-
tons OF correspondents as to property
values owned By non-residents. and some
of the answers are very pathetic
A correspondent who lives In Hazelton.
Pa, wants 20 know ttls present value Of
soma odd lots In Gales subdivision In
sherhurn and Beebe's addition to the city
OF Minneapolis. The answer Is that the
property lies north OF the city about two
miles" bat II would be a difficult matter
TO dispose Of them at 500 or 500. This
10 quite n respectable showing. and Will
afford ths owner more satisfaction than
an inquirer from Portsmouth, n. H. gets.
He has evidently invested in Minneapolis
real estate. but he must have bought
entirely on faith. He Is informed that
1T is poorly located. thu ground being
low and broken; we should not consider
the lot today worth much more than the
fares"
An inquirer from Vermont Is told that
sons land In Anoka county. Mimi. asked
about. IL worth $50 10 SO an acre: 4;
has no improv sm~nts; sandy soil. with
clay slb-soii: oil wild land" TIL. viii no
doubt be very Disappointing. for the In
oulry denotes a vision OF q very different
character IL desires 10 know the number
OF acres under cultivation. value OF build
inss name Of occupant and possofiice ad-
dress Perhaps the inquirer has been be
ausathed the land. or he has found mort
gage among his securities and he has
pictured a thriving Minnesota farm. with
lis substantial dwelling house. outhouses
barn and windmill; stretching before IL
acres Of growing corn. except for one
corner where a fruit orchard divesines
the scene and suggests all kinds az dain-
ties In the larder. 10 which also the plump
and cackilng chickens contribute. Fur
Their OF Is group OF weli-fed cattle
loving pleasantly and prosperousiy 80
they meiisatively turn satisfied from the
plentiful pastnrage to glance around in
milk-yielding eontentmsnt But IN the
presence ef such an answer. not only Dc
all these attractions disappear. but he
sunshine also. and the chilled MORTGAGE
r. left alone with bleak. cherries and
unprouising tract 81 Wild land and an
inexcrahle tax delinquency.
From Denver. Col. the report comes
''there Is no such thing aa cash value
for the lots inquired about. because there
Is no demand" Pueblo has also. its
wrecks stre~n upon tho path Of inJudi
oious investment. and one unfortunate e
told that his town lots are Considerably
removed from the business center OF the
city and there Is no demand FOR property
In this locality; TIRE owner is advised e
t7@tF @A 8tFettANA AAkA@s @+tHWktA H4ksE AlH
taxes. % they seem 20 be twisted"
All this is very sad. but q Is TO more
attributable 20 any fault OF state thaa
Is the los due TO buying wildcat stock due
90 Development OF mining. Wherever there
Il prosperity viii b found a number ~
people reoklessiy disposed 20 speculation
and others no lees willing TO Indulge them
There Ia however. scarcely valuable lot
or land or rsch mine for wssich some
person IL no, rsxrettinw his refusal o, 7,
az scTns tine Every man who has sold
for sew hundred dollars property nov
worth ter- % thousan wishes ha had
kept II when Il was comparatively worth.
less.
1ssre ought 20 he . moral - thiz ans
there -; Use ire 49,; Judgment You have
IN investment. but aon't put al your .xxs
into oue basket. Then II YOU lose, don,
sGa@aL bat walk FOR the neat chance and
Use batter Judgment