The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-01-14
ENORMOUS WEALTH.
VALUE IN POUNDS OF SOME OF LON
DON'S GREAT PLACES.

Inch-The Bank of England-Immense
Riches Represented In Museums, Art
Galleries, Churches and Bridges.
Have You ever thought what Lon
lon is worth?' remarked valuer to
the writer the other day, "and will you
believe me when tell you that all the
money in the world piled up in one
enormous heap would not buy the treas
ures ON which Londoners may gaze at
will every day of their lives?"
There was "copy" in the idea, and 1
took my valuer friend round London on
valuing intent.
We came to town ON the under
ground. 1.-TWO thousand yards of this
railway" said my friend, "cost Ca
600, 900, or, if you like to have it SO,
$50 an inch. If you wanted to buy this
bit now, you would probably be asked
| G5, 600, 900 for it. There is another mile
.on the same line which would cost you
something like $4,000, 600, having cost
third of million to lay down. But
that is comparatively moderate. If the
electric railway were put up to auction
and you were fortunate to get it at cost
price, you would need the wealth Of
seven millionaires to buy it. These 81
miles of railway are worth quite e12,-
600, 600 as prices go nowadays.
"Get out at this station and look at
the monument. You would not buy it
for ego, 900. In five minutes you will
be at the Mansion House, which cost a
mere e70, 900 to build, but is now worth
nearer 9750,000. The Royal Exchange,
as a building of bricks and mortar, is
worth 100000, but it stands ON land
worth 1000, 600. Not long ago land
in this neighborhood was sold at the
rate of e2, 600, 900 an acre.
"The Bank of England would prob
ably fetch 100000 in the market,
but as there is always $40, 900, 600
worth of gold in the cellars its standing
value is about e24, 200, 900. Go west
ward over Holborn viaduct and remem-
Der that that short stretch of highway
is worth over 92, 1000, 900. You would
want nearly e2, 900, 900 to buy the gen.
eral postoffice, which you have just
passed, and the law courts, with the
land on which they stand, are worth
So, 500, 900.
"Walk along the Strand and stand
for five minutes on Waterloo bridge.
The property you see here would make
dozens of your friends millionaires at a
stroke. Two million pounds would not
buy those two hotels, and Somerset
House, at building cost only, is good for
100000. The bridge you are standing
on was disastrous failure when it was
built, but it is worth now more than
the 81. 100000 which it originally cost.
There are seven bridges on either side
of you, which cost between them over
ga, 600, 900. The tunnels underneath
the river are worth millions as COM
mercial property, and the embankment
is now worth probably double the 92,-
600, 600 which it cost to make.
IF st. Pauls were private property,
you might induce the owner to sell it
for $40, 1000, 900, but the likelihood is
very remote. Those tattered banners
which you have seen so often would
arouse pretty keen bidding at the sales,
and if you got one for $40, 900 you might
think yourself extremely lucky West
minister abbey is difficult to value. 1t is
one of those things that cannot be
bought, but the sales give us some idea
what historic treasures are worth in the
market, and should not be surprised if
the abbey-put up in lots-realized
ESQ, 10000 Fancy putting ticket on
Jacobs pillar or the royal tombs!
"You have admired the magnificent
exterior Of the houses of parliament and
the splendid interior, but you will per-
haps be surprised to know that you could
not erect these buildings today for e5,-
900, 600. st. Thomas hospital, and the
Albert embankment running along the
front of it, are worth together over 81,
600, 900, and the bridge leading to it
cost G250,000
Perhaps you have never reflected
what a privilege you enjoy in being
able to visit so many places free. The
British museum, which anybody can
see for nothing, could not be bought up
by all the millionaires in America. If
it were absolutely empty, it would be
worth 81 800, 900, and it is full of price
less treasures, one collection alone be-
ing worth nearly e25O,0O0. The Ma
tional gallery is worth millions. 1t cost,
with the new Tate gallery section,
$3.50, 600 to build, and has one picture
which cost ETA an inch and 3S others
which cost Ell, 700 apiece.
"The Albert hall and Royal aquarium
are each worth about a250, 600, but the
Crystal palace cost more than three
times the value of both these, the bill
for the palace being 81, 100000. Earl's
court, the great show rivaling the pal
ace, has millions worth of treasures
which you can see for 1 shilling, and
even when it is empty the % acres of
gardens and buildings are worth $780,
600.
"The hotels and public houses of
London could not be bought up for $780,
900, 900, to say nothing of the land on
which they stand. Two of them pay
4 ...,1