The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-01

Conditions in Minneapolis are most |
favorable for the intending builder wheth-
er his purpose be that of establishing a
home or placing money in a satisfactory
investment.
This statement is made with much
confidence. because it is backed up by
facts and numerous examples to be found
about the city every day; but it requires
a bit of explanation. First it should not
be understood that building can be
erected in Minneapolis as cheaply as it
could be a few years ago, or that a lot
can be bought at less than or even the
same price that was asked a few years
ago. There has been stiffening of
realty values and an advance in the cost
of nearly all building material and labor.
But this condition prevails in every city
and it only remains to show that Min
neapolis is more favorably situated than
most Of them in these respects.
AS far as building materials are con-
cerned, Minneapolis is distributing
market on the largest scale for lumber,
sash and doors, interior fnish brick and
stone, hardware and everything else
which goes into building. With the
pine lands of the north and the hardwood
forests close at hand, it follows that the
city has a considerable advantage in the
staples which go into building. Some Of
the largest brick manufacturing estab-
lishments in the country are close to the
city. The quarries of Minnesota yield the
finest limestones, sandstones and GRANTEES
which may be laid down in the city at low
cost.
For goods which must be brought from
the east, Minneapolis has the famous
'lake and rail- transportation route
which allows freight to be delivered at
the local freight depots on equal terms
with Chicago and St. Louis. Labor com
| mands about the same figures here as IN
most large cities with perhaps an ao-
vantage in some lines.
I Now. if Minneapolis can obtain mateflal
and labor on even terms with other places
! the question Of favora bic inv estment lies
| in the cost Of real estate and the pros
1 poets for the future.
For the home-Seeker it need only be
said that slightly, large building lots may
be had in Minneapolis at prices which
would be regarded as snap bargains IN
| most cities of 100000 population. II you
| can buy for $1,000 or less 5O-foot lot
| fronting on desirable street or near a
i charming lake or park, you are getting
what no other large city in America al
fords. Workingmen may get fine lots on
high ground with good street car facili-
ties for from $3.50 up.
/ AS to the prices of business property
/ the following testimony from Walter L.
| Badger, a prominent and conservative
j real estate man of this city, seems con-
| clusive:
when recently in Milwaukee, investi-
eating the real estate situation there, j
| found that a sale had recently been closed
| there, whereby some business property in
| the same block as the Plankinton house
| sold for $4,000 per front foot, as an invest
ment, and an offer of $4,000 per front foot
had been refused for some other property
within short distance. In still another
locality, $4,000 per front fot has been
paid. To be sure, the property for which
$4,000 was paid was purchased for a spe-
]. cial purpose, and it is admitted by towns
men that that was little extra. But
! $4,000 to $4,000 per front foot for business
|.property they consider only fair ant
proper value.
.And we talk of $500 per front foo
for business property on Nicollet avenue
as being high. When one begins to lool