The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-14
Unprecedented Business Being Done at
Present.
SEVERAL LARGE TRANSFERS RECORDED
Minor Sales Are More Numerous Than
Ever Before.
MANY NEW BUILDINGS ARE BEING ERECTED
Results of Proposed Bayou Improve
ment in Evidence Everywhere.
Some Large transactions.

The activity which has prevailed in
Houston real estate circles for some time
past is unprecedented. The news OF the
prospective Improvement Of the Buffalo
bayou channel has had the effect OF giving
new life to the alrsady busy city and evil
dences OF the results Of this condition OF
affairs are to be seen on all sides. Prices
on real estate are increasing constantly
end the most noteworthy feature OF the
general advance in values lies in the fact
that the increases are altogether healthy
and natural. There are no indications OF
a boom. or any false imitation of prices.
nor do any OF the evidences OF reckless
speculation, based on nothing more sub
stantial than paper and wind, which have
characterized the downfall OF many towns
and cities In the South and West, figure
in the present situation. Houston is grow
Ing rapidly and naturally, Her growth ia
natural from the fact that the causes lead
Ing up thereto are natural ones and be-
cause, In view of the present conditions,
she would expand as a result OF these
causes even without the efforts In that
direction OF her public spirited citizens.
When deep water is finally secured and
sea going vessels come UP the channel
to the wharves at the foot OF Main street
they VIII ma a city OF such magnificent
proportions as would not even have been
dreamed OF few years ago. new and
decided Impetus will, of course be given
TO all lines OF trade and business when
work Is actually begun on the improve
ment of the channel, but in the meantime
the city and her people will by no means
be idle.
The Post Of last Sunday gave a brief
resume Of the principal real estate trans
actions OF the preceding ten days and
mentioned therein the fact that during
the period named the sum OF $3.50 900 had
changed hands. During the past'week tins
sum has been increased to over 5000 OuU
and the good work Is still going on. There
are in Houston something over 100 real es-
tate agents, and the magnitude of the work
being done by them may be better appre-
ciated when 1t Is stated that one Of their
number has within the past fcw days ham
died deals in which the cash involved was
over $4,000. The same dealer has in ahey-
anee several transactions which, when
completed, will swell the total Just men
toned to nearly 500. 600, and the other
agents in the city, while the business
OF no one of them Is equal Just at present
to shat of the gentleman just mentioned
are all kept very busy and many of them
have recently recorded some large sales.
Chief among the improvements az pres
emit being made in the business portion oil
the city is the work being done
on the new building OF the South Texas
National bank, at No. 21S Main street
This building and the 1900 square feet or
which II stands was recently purchased
by the bank named, the price paid being
$4,000. Work has already been com.
menced on the interior of the building
The necessary foundations for the vaults
which are to be erected are now being
built and one of the contractors in charge
OF the work left tor st. Louis last week
for the purpose of purchasing the furni-
ture, A skylight will be put In and the
walls and ceiling viii be finished with
ornamental steel and frescoed throughout
The watnscotlng and counters will be o.
Italian marble and the floor Of mosaic
The interior finish will be in mahogany
and the grill work and office partitions
in antique copper, The present plate Ras;
front will be removed and a handsome
variety OF beveled art plate will be put in
When finished the establishment VIII bt
second to none of its kind south Of St
Louis. Mcssrs. Dlckey and Allen are tn,
architects In charge OF the works,
The two lots on Main street adioinius
the Masonic Temple which were recently
sold by the Masonic association to Mr.
Henry Henke for $4,000, will soon be oc
tupiNd Wy q hSlH pullulHe WuANh WI
be credit to its owner and to the city
Messrs. Rue and Dunbar have already pre-
pared plans for the structure, which vii
occupy the entire space Of 80 by 100 feet
1t Will have a pressed brick front, VII
be four stories In height and will be up tC
date in every detail. The estimated cost
of the building is SIS 900 Material for lbs
foundations Is already On the ground ant
sctlve work will be begun in tho neal
future.
This Is not the only contribution publ,
spirited Mr. Henke 10 making 20 the mum
Ter of fine buildings in the city. 1h'
foundations are already in for the addition
TO his store On tho corner of Congress
avenue and Milan street and active vorl
on the erection of the building proper vii
be begun within the next few days. Th
structure. which occupies the space 81
Which the old Texas house" formerl,
stood, will be AZ feet wide, 40 feet II
length end two stories In height, Thu
walls, however, viii be made sufficient,
strong to admit of the addition OF another
story at any time in the future. Their
will be an enclosed area, feet in width
between the old and the new buildings
which will be connected with passagewayi
on botn stories. The estimated cost on tn,
structure, according 70 the plans prepared
by Messrs. Rue and Dunbar, IS $4,000
The architects Just named have als
prepared plans 70. a warehouse to be bull
by Mr.. James Butte on the tract adjoinini
tie McGowen foundry. In the First ward
Excavations have already been begun 70
this structure. which will be four storie
In height. with basement.
~
Work on the three or four story fat
which will be constructed by Mr.. NJ. But
Ter Of Austin on the property at the corne
of Rusk avenue and San Jacinto street
recently purchased by him from George 7
Jones for the sum OF $40 Ooo viii be com
fnenced during the next three or fou
weeks. In speaking OF the matter to a re
porter for The Post one day last week MI
Butler stated that he was paying consld
cradle attention to details In the premise
and that. in consequence he was not pre-
pared at that time 10 say defpitely whe
the work would be begun or to give on
anything definite regarding the size of tn
building.
The deal by which Mr.. j. " Neuhau
becazne the possessnr OF the George A
Cragin property on the corner OF San ia
cirso street and Webster avenue, wa
ccncluded last week. This property con
sists Of three lots and residence TIL
price paid was $1,000 In cash
Another transfer Of residence propert
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