The Topeka state journal., 1898-10-01
CLEVELAND BUYS LAND.
Ex-President Will Extend His Chick
en- Raising Fancy.

New York, Oct. 1.-Grover Cleveland
is believed to be the principaI-or, at all
events, the most famOus-member of
syndicate which is engaged in a prOdi-
giOus real estate speculation at Prince
ton, n. J. The project of these men of
millions, among whom J. PierpOnt Nor
San and E. G. Benedict are mentioned
most prominently, is nothing less than
to found a clubhouse and Winter re-
sort sufficiently charming to become a
rival to the finest in this part of the
country.
Already has the land been purchased
for this formidable undertaking, and a
beautiful territory it is, with a frontage
Of a mile and a half on Stony Brook.
It consists of two properties, the fine
farm of Lewis J. Applegate and the
lOrdly estate which is known as the
Henry c. Johnson farm, which is part
1y in the borough of Princeton and
partly in the township Of that name.
According to the terms of the sale,
which was effected on Friday, Lewis J.
AppIegate receives $4,000 for his pro-
perty, and Miss Johnson, daughter of
Henry 9. Johnson, 100000 for hers. In
addition to this, a mortgage of $4,000
on the Johnson estate, held by the state
school fund Of New Jersey, has been
paid off.
This price for $50 acres of land in a
sparsely settled region is a striking IL
lustration OF the enormous increase Of
real estate values in Princeton since
Grover Cleveland and his rich friends,
there. Nevertheless, the members of
the syndicate think they have secured
a bargain. The oStensible purchaser is
M Taylor Pyne, formerly of this city,
whose magnificent estate just west of
Princeton adjOins the property acQuir-
ed by him for the syndicate.
There will be no delay in equiPping
this place with whatever is necessary
to attract the fashionable. Roads and
bridges will be built golf links laid out,
a charming club house reared and mon
ey spent without stint to make it a
worthy abiding place for the winter
guests whom the former president and
his partners hope to see hocking thith-
er.
The club house will probably be built
on an eminence on the Johnson farm,
from which the ground slopes down to
Stony Brook Superbly wooded and
abOunding in landscapes surprises, with
good fishing and a superb climate,
Princeton is we'll fitted by nature to be-
come a great resort, and it is consider
ed certain that the presence of Mr..
Cleveland will crown the syndicate's
speculation with the same happy re-
suits as attended the famous Red
Top" venture during his first term as
president.
Among other rich New Workers who
have followed Mr.. Cleveland's example
in the choice of an abiding place are
Lawrence Hutton and Julius Morgan,
son of J. PierpOnt Morgan. Mr.. Morgan
the younger, is building a home on an
estate which he purchased recently, ,ly-
ing just east Of the proposed club
grounds.
None Of these astute newcomers in
Princeton has forgotten the Red Top
affair and its consequences. But they
have little fear that he will aban-
don Princeton as he abandoned Red
Top, for there is every indication that
he has settled there for the term of his
natural life
Grover Cleveland bought after his
first inauguration five acres of land
near Washington, named Oak View. He
paid S25, 900 for the property, changed
its name to Red Top. spent about $780,
600 to embellish it, and then sold it for
tracted to Red Top by his interest in it
were disappointed. The syndicate made
building lots of Red Top.