The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-04
TITHINa OFFICE CORNER SALE.
Logan Realty Deal That Has Caused
Much Gossip.
(Speeial Correspendence.)

Logan Oct 3.--The editorial in the News
has started afresh the talk over the sale
of the tithing office corner. 1t seems to
convey the impression that the sale will
fall through. and in consequence people
are. all agog as to the reasons for sucn
the deal was closed some four or hve
days ago. The land in question is the
southwest corner of the tithing office
block, and is the only vacant business
corner in the Main street business district.
The tract is 1l5x105La feet, and II was
purchased for $500 by aAsyndicate at the
head Of which Is We s safes me man az
The other members of the syndicate are
said, upon the best authority, to be Judge
c. H. Hart, Attorney F. K. Nebeker and
l.. r. Martineau, manager of the bishop s
The members of this combine claim that
at least twenty of the prominent bust
ness men of this city were approached
to buy the corner for tile figure named,
but they all refused. They also assert
that the property mad be zee ofIered Tor
purchaser could be found. The syndicate
then offered $500 for it and the offer
was transmitted to President Snow. who
ordered the sale made. l.. r. Marttneau
desired that the money received be used
in liquidating the debt on the stake taber
nacle, so it is understood, but was over
ruled by his 'superiors.
other, and the one which has caused so
much comment here. is that the property
has for long time been considered worth
from $50 to $40 per front foot. whereas
the price received was but little over $50
a foot On the day the sale was formally
made, George l.. Robinson, the Main
street clothing merchant; offered. through
Fl. C. Hansen. a real estate man $40 per
foot. and he would have gone higher had
opportunity been given him. He was
informed that in two hours he could learn
~ Il, s.tE f.nfr of n off a nd
when that time had exI ired was told that
an earlier offer had been accepted. Mr..
Robinson was of course, disappointed,
and subsequently purchased twenty-five
feet frontage on Main for about $40
foot
State Senator Howell of welfsviIle was
considerably worked up when he heard
of the price for which the corner was
going to be sold, and going to the acting
president of the stake Isaac Smith, he
offered $500 for a three-hours option on
it. but hearing of his offer, the syndicate
telephoned him on Saturday, offering him
the property for $1,000 He declined the
offer, but in talking with your CORE
spondent yesterday he stated that he was
compelled 10 do so on account of his
money being tied UP in other ventures;
II. however, telephoned to George and
Moses Thatcher, said he, land tried to
induce them to subscribe $500 toward
buying the corner, but they declined, I'M
less assurance was given that the. church
WouIq get lne extra Slto1u. tHStedq OF snes
syndicate. 1 find the same objection
against buying the property among other
business men, so am unable to accept the
-s.Fndicate's offer
Zeph Thomas, a real estate dealer, says
he offered $50 per foot for the corner two
years ago, and was laughed at by Orson
Smith.
The knowledge of all this has stirred UP
the public and caused more comment in
Logan than any occurrence since Orson
Smiths disappearance All sorts of
stories were circulated about the syndi-
cate members, and there was much spec
ulation as to who really engineered the
taches blame to the syndicate: it simply
saw a snap and took it, ''But who put
them on?% is the question the public is
trying to answer. The News editorial
afnuses people here when it talks about
Latfer-day Saints venting their griev-
ances through the secular press. As the
grievances" referred to emanated from
the local bureau of the News, it has just
cause for feeling sore.