The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-04
Kaufman Block on Kings High.
way, Opposite Forest Park,
Said TO Be in the Deal.
ALSO TWELFTH STREET LOTS.
Mercantile Trust Official, Repre-
senting the Syndicate, De
cliGes To Go Into De
tails of the Plan.

Hotels and apartment houses 20 cost sew
eral million dollars are said to be planned
by the syndicate Of Eastern capitalists
which is represented by the Mercantile
Trust Company. II is reported that the
property the syndicate proposes 10 buy is
situated in the West End. and also in the
downtown business district. \ chain OF
hotels may be the scheme.
The Kaufman block between Kings
highway and Maryland avenue. and Lin
dell and Euclid avenues, and certain lots
On Twelfth street in the neighborhood OF
Pine and Olive streets. were said by real
estate agents to be the property upon
which the syndicate is figuring.
John w. Kaufman was in consultation
with Lorenzo +. Anderson. vice president
Of the Mercantile Trust Company. yesterday
morning. Mr. Kaufmsnn's property. front
ing on Forest Park. has been regarded
with coveious eyes hy all realty dealers
ever since the Worlds Fair was projected.
Its location is considered TO be ideal. and
the fact is generally conceded that a hand
some hotel with a series Of high-grade
apartment houses on the site would prove
10 be 4 profitable investment.
The Kaufman block Is a fraction more
than sc1N+o feet. ami is valued at about
SSr.Jo. The Residence cost about $4,000.
MI. haufnnann denied that he had sold the
property. or was negotiating for the sale.
My conference with Mr.. Anderson h
said. mad TO do with the sale OF some
other property. 1 do not know what the
plans OF tie Eastern syndicate are. hut tn
impression l gained from Mr.. Anderson's
conversation Is thar downtown property IS
Chiefly considered. Perhaps West End lpts
Tor hotel purposes may be involved. but l
Know OF no negotiations OF any character
IN this respect"
Az. Anderson would neither deny ncr az
nm that the syndicate may buy the kauf-
mann block. o. some other West End prop
vrty- He reiterated the statement that me
purchase VIII be heavy, amounting to some
ming close TO a million dollars. Whether
ms improvements would be IN the nature
Ot notes vas not said. but it is believed
Ihat the building Of several elegant hotels
Will De the result OF the big deaf.
The Mercantile Trust Company has been
S-AselE engaged IL the Improvement Of
lWelIln street property. between Market
strtel ana Washington avenue, and IL Is
tnOusht tnat the syndicate has an interest
IN mat locality. \ fin hotel on IWelrtn
street. With one OF more in the West End,
the cares.
A report was current that the Mercantile
trust Company was simply representing
NE Rock island road In the transactions
when are admitted 10 be under way.
II was stated that options had been closed
Tor the block between Pine and Chestnut
streets, Main street and the Levee, to be
ussq Tor a freighthouse by the Rock Island.
That is 4 mistake" Mr.. Anderson stated
" nile 1 am not yet ready TO say what
the properly Is. or what plans are in view
Tor improvements. 1 will state positively
mat the property mentioned Is not included
In The syndicate deal"
The ROCK island has been figuring upon
the purchase Of property downtown for a
freight depot. but II is understood that the
puIChdse VIII not De made within the next
lew months. The Rock Island does not
take possession OF the Colorado read until
log, and many matters relating to the ter
ninals VIII be adjusted before Inc Ioction Of
4 f:eighthouss can be determined.