Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-20
HOME FOR STATE EXECUTIVE
Board Of Public Lands and Buildings
Finally Buys House,
PROPERTY OF 0. E. THOMPSON PURCHASED
Twenty Thousand Dollars is the Price
Paid, which Includes All the
Furniture Vow in the
Building.

LINCOLN June H. Especial Telegram.)
The residence OF D. e. Thompson at the
corner Of Fifteenth and II streets, immedi
otely south Of the state house, was pur-
chased this morning by the Board OF Pub
lie Lands and Buildings for a governors
mansion, the consideration being $4,000.
This includes nearly all OF the furniture at
present in the house. The board acted
rather Unexpectedly in the matter and only
the secretary of state, the treasurer and
land commissioner were present at the
meeting. 1t was stated at the capitol this
morning that Mr.. Thompson agreed to sell
his house and furniture for $4,000 at the
time the other bids we're submitted, and of
this sum $4,000 was for the house and 800
for the furniture.
The three houses that received favorable
consideration by the board we're the ones
belonging to J. A. Buckstaff, George Lowry
and ID. e. Thompson. Mr.. Thompson,
through his agents, Elmer Stephenson and
G. d. Mullon. intnated that he would
duce his price and the offer of 900 was
made. Today Mr.. Mullon and Mr.. Stephen
son notified Secretary of State Porter that
Mr.. Thompson had agreed to sell at that
price and the deal was consummated in five
minutes.
Other Houses offered.
]. A. Buckstaff, the father of the bill ap-
propriating money for the purchase Ct
governors mansion, was very anxious to
dispose of his house to the state and the
action OF the board in making proposition
to Mr. Thompson without giving the other
bidders an opportunity to change their prices
is taken as an indication that there was
no difference of opinion regarding the house
10 nd ar he price n secondary
consideration, for had such an opportunity
been given the other bidders they perhaps
would have been as anxious to shave their
prices as was Mr. Thompson. The bill as
originally introduced provided for an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for the purchase OF
the Buckstaff residence, but it was after
ward amended to provide $500 for house
and furniture. Among the houses offered
for sale to the board were some OF the most
costly homes in the city, but the members
OF the Board Of Public Lands and Buildings
favored the Thompson residence and but
very little difficulty was experienced in ef-
fecting a compromise. There Is no COM
plant as to the price the board has agreed
to pay for the house, but the unsuccessful
bidders feel they were treated unjustly when
the board made proposition to Mr.. Thomp-
son without giving them an opportunity of
changing their bids.
There probably Is not a more handsomely
furnished house in Lincoln than the one
that will soon be the property of the state.
1t is finished throughout in hard wood with
ONYX washstands and bathtubs in several
of the upstairs rooms. The floors are all
of polished hard wood and the walls are
decorated in many of the rooms with beauti-
full has relief figures. In the receiving hall
are severa, expensive divans, one OF which
IN
stantinople. The lower floor is divided into
four large rooms with a kitchen and ac-
companying closets in the rear. On the
right of the entrance or receiving hall is the
main drawing room ana back Of this is sit
ting room The dining room is at the right
OF the sitting room and at the
rear of the receiving hall. From
near the door beautifully carved stairway
leads around and above to the second floor.
On this floor the northeast room has been
used as a smoking room and the others for
bedrooms All are papered and furnished in
different colors The third floor has been
finished for dancing. Perhaps the most at
tract,ye features in the architecture OF the
residence are the broad porches that extend
nearly around the house on the first and
second floors. Ever since the house was con-
structed 1t has been pointed out as one OF
the handsomest houses in the city.
Mr. Thompson has been interested in an
extensive coffee plantation in Mexico for
several years and he has recently invested
in the irrigating business in this state and
It is quite probable that he will decide to
locate in Mexico some other city in Ne
braska He stated today that he had no
plans for the future and was undecided as to
whether to remain in Lincoln or not
Delinquent Paving Taxes.
DR.. G. o. W. Farnam of this city has
written Mayor Winnett letter demanding
to know why the city has not taken some
steps toward executing judgment for $l1l,-
600 delinquent paving taxes, rendered In the
district court several months ago against
the Lincoln Traction company in favor of
the city OF lincoln. Dr. Farnam has threat
ened to enjoin the city If it officers at
tempt to compromise with the street car
company for less than the judTmont and en-
account of the complicated condition of
affairs n will Drobably be several years