Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-11-26

1870 -
that the idea of refusing one seemed al
most an evidence of insanity-especiai!y
when a young man had powerful friends
on the board of directors and high in the
management. At the worst, it was = life
job, as there were never any radical
changes in the Imperial. The town put
down 4 big black mark against Paul.
It ran along about a year, during
which David made q record for himself
at the Imperial by his energetic. con-
scientious and intelligent work. AL
ready recognition had come to him, and
he had been promoted from mere clerk
ship to a position carrying with it some
responsibility. In the meantime, Paul
did nothing except read the papers and
smoke q favorite meerschaum.
Something over year after David
had gone to work for the Imperial the
street railway company of the city was
attempting to build a new line to GER
tain park 1t was necessary to have the
consent of majority of the frontage,
and there was sufficient opposition In
certain quarters to prevent this. One
day the president of the street railway
company was surprised to receive Q
call from Paul Rider.
"How much is it worth to you to get
that Riverside. line through" asked
Paul. ,..u,x.
1T is worth great deal. Why" re-
sponded the president. ~.>,-~
II have figured out route where the
frontage consent can be obtained" re-
piled Paul. = -.
"Let me see it," demanded the presi-
dent.
mot until price is fixed" replied
Paul, coldly. ,..
But it is undoubtedly too long and
involved, and besides maybe the 'front.'
age consent could not be gained"
"How much will you give me if the
route suggest is feasible and get the
frontage consent?" asked Paul. ~
"A thousand dollars" replied the
president.
Paul reached for his hat and started
for the door.
"Wait a minute" said the president.
OBTAINING him.
The upshot of it was that Paul was
promised $4,000 If hisroute was adopted
and he obtained the frontage consents.
The minute he unfolded it the president
gave cry of delight. That evening Paul
began to see the property owners, and
in less than a week had the entire deal
fixed up.
A new telephone company came along
and wanted franchise. Remembering
Paul's turn for street railway company
the promoter sent for Paul to help them
fix routes and obtain franchise.
GLOW much is there in it for me-"
asked Paul.
Ten dollars day and expenses" re-
piled the promoter.
"Twenty-five," replied Paul.
And $25 it was when the conversation
was over. It took three months to finish
the work.
"Well," remarked Paul, to himself
one day, II may have wasted bit of time.
but I am getting more money in month
now than Dave gets in SIX
A few months later Paul went to the
president of the Imperial Insurance COM
pany, and sat in the same chair where he
had sat when he refused the position.
"This company owns the Havlin tract
Of land in the South end" he said.
eve do" replied the president. "Took
it on foreclosure of a mortgage.
"It's dead property" suggested Paul.
ut u.s." replied the president.
What will you give me If will ar
range deal to locate furniture fac
factory employing 800 men on the land
you, of course, to donate the site and
give the owners of the factory say 20
lots as an inducement to locate.
The president figured a bit and re-
piled: 1.-TWO thousand dollars"
zone thousand and every fifth lot,"
replied Paul.
It was finally agreed that Paul
should have $4,000 and every tenth lot.
The deal was concluded in month,
and within six months the great build
ings were erected and homes were
springing up all over the hitherto de-
serted tract.
The railroads built spurs to the new
manufacturing center, and the street
railway built line tapping it.
There was a great rush to buy prop
erty in the vicinity where property had
advanced from 500 an acre to $500 and
$3.50 lot. Then it appeared that Paul
Rider owned all the property about,
either in fee or by option. He was good
natured, however, and willingly let 90
of tract after tract, but always at good
profit, and retaining the choicest pieces.
where there were promises of business
streets. The town went land crazy, and
gradually Paul sold out almost entirely.
retaining only few choice corners, but
piling tens of thousands of dollars in the
bank.
In the meantime David was doing we'll
and advancing. Four years after he en-
tered the employ of the insurance COM
pany he was made manager of tho
agency department at 1000 year.