The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-03-31
WEALTH In STAMPS.
TRADED FOR A s35..
900 HOTEL IN WISCONSIN.

3. S. Ross, the Well Known Chicago Phi
latelist, Had Been Twenty Years Getting
His Collection TOgether-A Mining Mil
lionaire Bought Them For His Son.
Philately hasn't been an unproductive
pursuit to at least one enthusiastic collect
or of postage stamps. Keeping everlast-
ingly at it has brought him riches at last.
When Byron s. Ross of 500 Wieland
street, Chicago, began to collect postage
stamps 20 years ago, he was called crank
by his schoolmates. His parents tried to
dissuade him from what they thought was
foolish craze. He told his father that
some day his stamps would bring him for
tune.
His dream has come true. A few days
ago Mr.. Ross traded his collection of
stamps for hotel at Hurley, Wis, valued
at $4,000. He can now laugh at those
who 90 years ago called him crank. Mr.
Ross left for Hurley last night to take
charge of the hotel which was purchased
with postage stamps. He bought the prop
erty from John e. Burton, mine owner,
postage stamp business.
This is perhaps the first time in history
that deal of such magnitude was made
with postage stamps. The Bardon House,
which Mr.. Ross has bought, is one of the
best known hotels in Wisconsin. 1t was
built few years ago by Mr.. Burton, who
is the owner of several mines in the vicin-
ity of Hurley. 1t has so rooms anI has
always had good patronage.
Mr.. Ross knows nothing about the MOTEL
business, but he is confident of making it
a success. He says any man who can
make money out of postage stamps ought
to be successful as a hotel keeper
1t took about 5000, 900 stamps to buy the
hotel Mr.. Burton and his son spent several
days in counting them. After they had
counted $500 worth Mr.. Ross still had
his private and foreign collection left
For several years Mr.. Ross has been the
largest dealer in Cancelled stamps in Chi
cagO. He was mail carrier for ten years,
and this gave him unusual advantages for
making his collection.
He has bought and sold many millions
of American and foreign stamps. His col
lection, which he traded for the Hurley
hotel, is considered one of the largest in
the United States. He had stamps rang
ing in price from 10 cents per !, 200 to ST., :
500 for one.
Mr.. Ross had the largest foreign CORE
spondence of any man in Chicago He
frequently received as high as 800 letters
day from Europe. His name is known
in the remotest parts of the world. He has
sent millions of stamps to Japan and Chi.
ma, where small fortunes are spent in dec
Grating rooms with them. Persons who
dealt with him thought he must certainly
know everybody in Chicago. He has re-
ceived letters from all parts of the globe
making inquiry for this or that person
supposed to be in this city. During the
World's fair letter was sent from Siberia
in his care to a man who was visiting Chi
cago The writer of the letter had no
doubt that Mr.. Ross could find the person
for whom it was intended. And so he did,
through the Russian consul -
Mr.. Ross had been selling stamps for
the last five years to Mr.. Burton's son,
who has quite reputation as a philatelst.
The young man was anxious to go into
the business on large scale, and his IA
ther consented.
eff can trade the Bardon House for a
collection of stamps" said Mr.. Burton,
Sr., 81 will set you up in business. Bring
me stamp dealer, and will talk trade
with him.
Young Mr.. Burton correspondent with
Mr.. Ross, and the deal was consummated.
About two weeks ago Mr.. Burton and his
son came from their home at Lake Gene
va, and the counting of stamps was be-
gun. They worked late and early, and
when they had counted out $35, 900 worth
they quit. An express wagon was piled
high with the stamps that Mr.. Burton
took to his home in Lake Geneva.-Chica-
go Times Herald.
QUEER SOUTHERN STORIES.