The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-02
Daily New York Letter

Remarkable Profit in Real Estate.
April 2-Evidence of the possibility of re-
markable profit gained in a short time from a
real estate transaction is found in the expert
ence Of William X. Niyer. who sold to the
city in 1901 under condemnation proceedings
for $5S0.000 ground for which he had paid
1000 in December, 1897 The plat in sques-
ton is the block bounded by Eleventh and
Twelfth avenues and Fifty-third and Fifty
fourth streets, property condemned for the
Dewitt Clinton park.
1t became known that the city was to buy
this property on Dec 90, 1897. On Dec. %
the property was purchased by Patrick J.
SWeeny at that time clerk in the office of
John Whalen, and on Dec. 20 the land was
sold to William X. Niver. Petition was made
to the supreme court to condemn the prop
erty on Dec. 81 three weeks later the con-
demnation was ordered and three appraisers
appointed.
1t is regarded as a remarkable coincidence
that the original purchase of this property
should have been made by clerk in the
Office Of Mr. Whalen, who had been desgnat-
ed by Mayor-elect Van Wyck to become cor
poration counsel on Jan. / following. Under
the corporation counsel is the bureau Of
street. openings, through which all condemna-
ton Of lands for public purposes must pass.
The corporation counsel nominates the three
appraisers. Mr.. Niver is a business man from
Syracuse, n. Y. He is president of the Inter-
national Contracting company and is close
friend of John B. Macdonald the Rapid Tran
sit contractor, who is intimate with Mr.. Wha-
len. Mr.. Sweeney refused to-day to discuss
his purchase. Mr.. Whalen says there was
nothing peculiar about any part of the trans
action.
Some Heavy Taxpayers.
On account of the low tentative" figures
the final tax lists issued yesterday BY the tax
department show that this year very few mil
lonaires tried to dodge their assessments
These millionaires were originally assessed
for amounts totally incomEensurate with
their real personal fortunes. They are now
willing to accept the estimates as final In
former years they have sworn off their assess
ments so freely that there has been $75, 900
difference between the figures made out by the
assessors and those finally recorded on the
rolls.
Andrew Carnegie. William K. Vanderbilt,
Alice G. Vanderbilt, Florence A. Twombly
and John D. Rockefeller are all assessed at
81 100000 each, the amount of the original
assessments
The highest individual assessment is made
against Frederick w. Vanderbilt for 50, 900, 600
The Huntington estate was assessed at first
for $3,000000, but this amount will be con-
tested. j, Pierpont Morgan pays on 100000
only. Russell Sage will pay taxes on 5000, 900
only, John Jacob Astor will be taxed on $780,
O0e, and William c. Whitney on 100000.
Except for the change OF Reginald Wander
bilt from 100000 to s25oO0O, the final as
sessments Of the Vanderbilts are the same as
the original figures.
A Little Invalid Disappointed.
A young girl, sick and pale, caused the
route Of the Forepaugh & Sells circus parade
to be moved five blocks to enable her to see
it; and after all she was disappointed, and to-
day there is no unhappier person in New York
than she. In the mail that came to Madison
Square Garden last Saturday was letter
from Mrs. e. l.. Couse. who said that her
daughter had been an invalid for seven years
and had never seen a circus; and would it be
asking too much to have the parade pass her
house at 1923 E Twentieth street. Peter Sells
himself, struck by the pathos in the letter.