The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-07

rent He would not reduce the rent TO Sc
cure a tenant. He used to say that he
would not reduce the rent and come into
competition with his neighbors and depre-
ciate the value OF property.
HAD GREAT PLANS.
He was found of home life; he was very
quiet around the house. and spent most
of his time in the garden at the rear OF
the house, where he thought over his busi-
ness plans He wanted 20 construct tun-
mel under the Detroit river He thought
it would be benefit TO the city, and he
knew that there was money in il. so he in
vented boring machine for the purpoSed
tunnel, and secured patents in this coun-
try, Germany. France and England He
was thinking about iris tunnelscheme for
az least 12 years before he died
He had an idea OF investing all his pro-
perty in the tunnel. and IL the railroads
had entered into the agreement he wanted
them to it would have been the biggest
investment he ever had. but the railroads
wanted him TO build the tunnel and make
terms afterward. but this he would not do.
My father left an estate OF nearly two
million dollars, OF which about seven hun
dred thousand fell 10 his second vile,
Mary W. Beecher and when she died il
=
Father died Sept 16. lss2 He was blind for
four or FIVE months before he died He
could see further into the future than any
man ever knew. He would point out
good locations for railroads and portions
of the country that there were sure 20
grow. He has shown me on the map MAN.
places that would become important in
after years. He marked out the route of
the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic rail-
road years before il was built. and said
that a road would be constructed there
some day He saidthat Nunising would be-
come an important plase. ! have an old
map upon which he had marked many
raiIrod routes. aud in later years they
have been constructed
He was continually engaged in lawsuits
and at one time loo suits were begun
against him az once
B. F Haxton says: When the Biddle
house was in the hands OF Dibble Son
Il was a success. and they ran II for
number OF years. Then Beecher got pos
session. and he leased il to another man
The house began TO run down, and II was
simply through his interference. II had a
very serious effect on the business or the
street. Jefferson avenue has simply
wasted away ever since. He was hoo
doc TO the street. His property all over
the city was idle most OF the time be-
cause he would not lease Il for any length
OF time"
Mr. Beecher in his youth was first
class business man" said Don NJ Dickin-
son. 'but the peculiarities he developed
in the last quarter century of his life were
not conductive to the prosperity or beau
" Of the town. He was very litigious. and
~Ia~ \ n 1
a majority Of his suits. but II made no dif-
ference in our friendship. There was Ger
tain geniality about him so that one could
not help liking him. and he liked any man
that would fight him well. I fought Mr..
Beecher in the courts for twenty-five
years"
Robert P. Toms was a famous lawyer
in his day. and very wealthy. II was re-
puted that he could do more with Beech
er than any one else. Like Beecher, he
was, genial IN way. but very irritable
with men in business. Fora long time Mr..
Beecher had been trying 10 get Toms 20
come up TO his house and see him. and
Toms finally consented.
AT this time Mr. Beecher was much an
moved by boys ringing his front door bell
and then running away Mr.. Beecher
chased them. but could not capture them.
and he finally resorted to strategy. He
carried couple of pals Of slop up stairs.
and waited patiently at window opening
over the front door. In a few minutes
there was a loud ring at the bell, and.
without looking out Mr.. Beecher emptied
both buckets out OF thewindow. 1t was
Lawyer Toms at the bell, and old resi-
dents say Jefferson avenue was blue for
blocks.
INTERFERED WITH TENANTS.
Beecher would interfere with his clients
no matter II II was stipulated in the lease
that hewas 20 keep out of the place. J. NJ
Maxwell came from New York and leased
the Biddle house. He was enterprising,
and Just the kind of a fellow 10 make
success of a hotel In ashort time he had
the housepretty well filled. To pay ex-
penses until he could get the stream Of
transient trade flowing his way. he let
rooms and gave reasonable rates. and got
the dining room filed. One afternoon the
head cook came tearing up 10 the Office
with the announcement that the heat was
going out in the ranges. and that dinner
could not be prepared. Maxwell made
rush down into the fire department regions
and found that Luther Beecher was there
with a gang OF men tearing out the fur
naces. An agent had convinced him that
he had a better range than the one in the
hotel and Beecher went at work at once
20 tear out the old one and install the new.
without saving a word to any one. Max
well had to resort 10 all sorts Of exped-
tents 70 feed his guests that day. Such
things made Paecher's tenants afraid of
him He vas likely 70 come into mana
place at any time, and II things did not
suit him he would proceed 70 change them
Mr. Beecher once became interested In
the newsboys and gave them several ban
oIets. but they made too much noise and
would not listen 20 his speeches. and so
he dropped them. The labor movement
attracted his attention He wished the
laboring men 20 OF Eanize. and 20 give
them an opportunity 70 meet and talk he
offered them the use Of Young Mems hall.
light and heat free The lsborinE men
took. advantage Of his offer and meet one
might a week The only trouble with
the meetings was that Luther Beecher
wanted 10 do all the talking. and no PEI
son else could get a chance. He wanted
20 be the whole thing. One night he dis-
covered that some of the men IN The aud
fence were smoking. and he requested
that IL be stopped a. once The laboring
men wanted 20 smoke their pipes and they
persisted At succeeding meetings and
Bsecher finally lost rs interest and the
laborins men were obliged 20 seek other
quarters
Cr-trS- p,.hff~affo- Ia rs1sA