River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-10-29

Something over a year after David
had gone to work for the Imperial the
street railway company of the city was
attempting to build 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
call from Paul Rider.
How much is it worth to you to get
that Riverside line through" asked
Paul
"It is worth a great deal. Why?' re-
sponded the president.
"I have figured out a 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 week had the entire deal
fixed up.
ard people said:
"And that Paul Rider, too. Who'd
a. thought it was in him. Wonder who
suggested it to him7'
One day Paul started out with horse
and buggy and began to buy potatoes or
the farmers, which he stored as fast as
they were delivered. He put his entire
SO 900 into potatoes, and contracted for
as much more. A month later the papers
were full of stories about potato fam
inc, and prices began to jump. A month
later he sold out and was So, 500 to the
good.
what COMPOUNDED luck some fellows
have" was the comment wonder who
gave him the hunch?"
Anew 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 a franchise.
"How much is there in it for me?"
asked Paul.
"Ten dollars day and expenses" re-
piled the promoter.
Twenty replied Paul.
And $25 it was when the conversation
was over. 1t took three months to finish
the work.
"Well," remarked Paul, to himself
one day, 81 may have wasted bit of time,
but am getting more money in month
now than Dave gets in six"
There was a stock panic in Wall
street. When things looked their worst
and securities were tumbling so fast
it kept the tickers white hot, Paul took
| SIS 900 from the bank and bought stocks
on a margin. Four days later the decline
ceased, and within week the entire list
was marching skyward A month later
he pulled out $4,000 in profits and quit,
saying he didn't want to hog it all.
| 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.
1--WE do" replied the president. took
| it on a foreclosure of mortgage"
Its dead property" suggested Paul.
ct is" replied the president
"What will you give me if l will ar
range a deal to locate furniture fac
factory employing /, 500men 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
1t 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 go
| 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 well
and advancing. Four years after he en-
tered the employ of the insurance COM
pany he was made manager of the
agency department at $4,000 year
| One day after the land boom had flat
tened out. the president of the Imperial
sent for Paul and said:
81 want man at the head of our in