The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

And the NeiShbOrs Were Disposed
to Buy 1t Rather Than Suffer a
Flat to BE Built in Their Vicin-
ity-But They Would Not stand
the Bluff After Seeing the Cut
Incidents Political Bearing.
For ways that are dark and tricks
that are vain, Bret Harte's Heather
Chinee" may be more noted, although
not necessarily more proficient than
certain members Of st. Paul's city
council.
1t can be and is openly said that the
ways of a certain assemblyman are
strikingly peculiar, although they lack
even the merits Of originality or sue
cess. This particular aSsemblyman re-
sides on st. Anthony hill.
Holly avenue, on st. Anthony hill, is,
with perhaps the single exception of
street in the city of ST. Paul. 1t has
become so through the long continued
efforts of its property owners, who
take the greatest pride in their hand
some residences, beautifully shaded
lawns and well-kept street. 1t would
be poignant grief to them should
such a street be marred by the erec-
known as flats"
Now this assemblyman, representing
a ST. Anthony hill ward, is the owner
or represents the owner of a lot at
Holly avenue and Arundel street
There is no question but that he came
by it honestly, If he owns it, and had
a perfect right to hold it, He has re-
Gently expressed many desires to sell
such lot. and again no one questioned
his right. He then told some of his
business associates and the report soon
spread that he was about to consum-
mate deal with Eastern parties, who
would buy the lot and erect a fiat
thereon. He may or may not have
known that the residents on Holly av-
enue would make almost any sacrifice
to preserve the many beauties of the
street and keep from it an undesirable
class of buildings. Be that as it may.
property owners on Holly avenue,
many of whom had voted to place this
asSemblyman in his present political
position, his friends and neighbors, got
together and proposed to buy the lot
in question, offering more than the lot
was actually worth or could be sold
for in an open market. So far every
thing was going the way of Mr.. AS
Semblyman, and no one doubted his
good faith. But he was really very
anxious to sell that lot, and so. advan-
tageously, too, as he had urgent need of
the money. In fact, he was overanx-
ious, and therein, it is alleged, he laid
up trouble for himself, so that the story
of his peculiar methods will return
with each election day to haunt him
like a horrid phantasmagOria Of an
unforgotten past. For last Tuesday
there appeared in the Pioneer Press,
whose columns are always open to
what appears like exclusive news
w iS ho
caption of New Flats on st. Anthony
HilT' in display type the following
item:
An attractive new fat building will be
erected next summer on ST. Anthony hill.
Eastern parties have purchased the lot the
northwest corner of Arundel street and Holly
avenue, with the intention of building on it
at once an attractive and modern building for
housekeeping flats, to cost about $40, GOO Work
will be commenced as soon as arrangements
can be made, and the intention is to have the
flats ready for tenants this fall.
Accompanying the item was a cut of
a modern and attractive" looking
building. That cut did the BUSH ess,
for it was Immediately recognized by
many people as the ancient cut of a
building that has ornamented Nicollet
avenue in Minneapolis for a few years
past. The idea that the Minneapolis
block was to be duplicated by capital
lists set some of the more Interested
ones thinking. Inquiries led them to
believe that the modern and attractive
flat at Holly avenue and Arundel street
was myth, and the lot is still unsold.
But for that unfortunate cut, several
gentlemen would now be Joint owners
of a piece of ST. Anthony hill real es-
tate that they had no particular use
for and the assemblyman would be in
a tidy sum.
The incident may cut no small figure
In future municipal politics, in the
event that Assemblyman w. T. Kirke
should ever again be a candidate for
political office.
And the poor old P. P caught anoth-
er exclusive" story cut and ALL