The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-08
Northern Pacific Has Already
Invested a Million Dollars
and the Requirement of
Ground Still Goes Merrily
0n-Much Speculation In
duIged In as to the Real
Purchaser OF the Many
Tracts.


Lower town property. continues to be
the center Of activity in real estate cir
cles, the numerous and large purchases
of property in this section of the city
during the past few days having re-
suited in many wild guesses as to the
purposes for which 1t is being sought,
and as to who the real purchasers
might be. s.l.
One day It is the Northern Pacific
which is credited with these purchases,
the next day it is the Illinois Central,
and the next the 500 or some other
line, only to be followed by denials
which leave the pipe dreamers" as
far from a solution of the mystery as
they were a week ago.
Even we'll informed real estate men
have widely different views regarding
the purposes for which this property
is being purchased, and as the pur-
chaSeS increase the mystery continues
to grow. That one of the several rail-
roads entering the city is behind the
deal there is little doubt, but when
asked regarding the matter all Of the
roads deny any interest in the move
ment. Err
Northern Pacific the Buyer.
Regardless of denials, however, it is
learned from an authoritative source
that the Northern Pacific is the real
factor in the recent mysterious" deals
and that all of the purchases of lower
town property have been made for this
road. 80
Nearly every piece of property in
Kittson's addition, located on lower
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets, be-
sides several tracts purchased two
years ago, is now in the name of the
Northern Pacific, having been trans
ferred In a blanket deed during the
past week by the Northwestern I'm
provement company, which, by the
way, is the land department of the
Northern Pacific, and in whose name
many of the recent purchases have
been made.
The remaining property in this par
tfcular section of the city, some Of
which the agents of the Northern Pa
cific have been unable to purchase
even at the high prices offered will be
acquired by condemnation proceedings,
official notice of such proceedings hav-
ing been filed in the district court dur
ing the past week. The property to
be secured by condemnation pro-
ceedings is in the vicinity of John and
WHl1uS- streets, and when secured will
make the purchases of property in this
vicinity by the Northern Pacific COM
pIete.
The object of these heavy purchases,
as stated in these columns a week ago,
is said to be for the purpose Of giving
the purchasing road better track and
warehouse facilities. At the present
time none of the roads entering the
union depot and having terminals here
have enough trackage,~ and the pur-
chase Of the large tracts Of land in
lower town is for the purpose Of re-
Heving this condition. 1t is also rumor-
ed that the Northern Pacific and the
Great Northern roads would like to
control a union station located on
Seventh street, in the vicinity of Will
Illus. A depot in this part of the city,
it is said, has been desired for some
time, 1T being considered an admira-
BILE location, inasmuch as 1T is much
more centrally located and would be
adjacent to splendid ear service.
Would Move Wholesale Houses.
In addition to the new terminals
and warehouses, which it is said the
company will place on the newly pur>
chased land, it is said to be the plan
or the railway to have several of the
larger wholesale houses located there
on. Many of the wholesale and job
b1ng houses are at the present time
doing business in quarters much too
small for the demandsi of their BUSH
ness, and While mahy'nof them have
for year or moretsbeen looking for
new locations, the desirable sites have
been held at such a high figure as to
make their purchases prohibitive. 1t.
is the plan OF the railway company to
relieve this situation by offering these
houses good sites at a moderate price,
the railway company being willing to
dispose of its surplus land at price
much less than it is now paying for
1t for the purpose Of having the large
SHIPPERS on their lines of railway. The
wholesale houses are to be given good
shipping facilities, the railroads ex-
pectlng in return for their "generos-
ity an increase in shipments.
Among the wholesale houses under