The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-25
PIERRE MAN BOTTLED UP
Jos, Harker, ST. Put the Cork in
the Neck on a Capital Prop
osltion Advanced.

OsltiOn Advanced.
"a. Z. R1lnk. of Pierre. has been in
the city this week nosing around to
see what was going on in Mitchell
along the capital line. Mr.. Brink is
a real estate man and has been in
the business at the capital city for a
number of years. MIR. Brink dropped
IN to see Jos. Harker during his STAY,
and naturally he brought up some-
thing about the removal of the cap
flal. This eventually lead to the
discontinue of the Pierre man and
he vas given a good opportunity to
display his faith in the future
growth and development of Pierre.
OF which we hear so much at the
present time.
About twenty years ago Mr.. Hank
er bought six lots in the residence
district of Pierre with the hope of
icing able to sell them some day at
an advance in price. He paid an
average Of $3.50 for the lots, and with
taxes and Improvements he says he
has $4,000 invested in them now. For
the past fourteen years Mr.. Brink
has had these lots listed and for
sale, hut up to the present time they
are Still on his list. Mr.. Harker
wanted to sell them, and sell them
bad, too, for he thought if he ever
could get mis- money out Of them nov
would be his chance.
Mr.. Brink began expatiating upon
the greatness Of Pierre property and
how it was advancing and would ad-
vance still farther. "Why," said
he, "Mr. Harker your property out
there is worth good money today and
if we retain the capital of the state
it will be worth $4,000. You hang Oh
to it and 1T will bring the money!"
The prospect was glorious as pre-
sented by Brink, but MI. Harker had
been waiting so many years for this
same prospect that it didn't hold out
anything very strong.
Say, Mr.. Brink" said Mr.. Hank
re, you've got a lot Of faith in
Pierre, more than / have, and as you
have had my property listed so long,
feel that you ought to have some
%recompense. You are a pretty good
sort, of a fellow and would like to
see you make some money. You say
that if Pierre retains the capital my
property will be worth So, 1000. You
give me 81, 1000 for the property and
you can clean up the balance as
profit"
That rather staggered Brink.
"Well, it's just this way, MIR. Hark-
er, l am not buying property and
want to sell. OF course that is lib
eral proposition, but 1 don't want to
buy"
"Well, well," replied Mr.. Harker,
don't want to buy when you ear
clear up s 1000 in such an easy and
sure way. Well, Brink il you won't
give me 81, 1000 for the property I will
make it still easier to you. Give
me SOU FOR the property and you can
have it. This is a clear loss to me
OF $1,000, not to mention the taxes
| have paid all these years and for
improvements around the property"
Again was Brink staggered. And
again for ever so small a sum for
such valuable ~ property did Mr..
Brink have to say that he was not
buying Pierre property but wanted
to get rid Of it. Finally in sheer
desperation MIR. Harker said to him:
You make me any kind Of an offer for
that property and YOU can have it,
and these gentlemen here will be
witnesses that | will accept it and
deliver the COCOA" Brink declined
to take the property under any cir
cumstances and it is likely that he
would have refused a free tender Of
the capital city property.
While all of this conversation was
going on there was more or less cap
ital talk thrown in by Brink con-
corning Pierre's prospects for retain
ing the capital and Mitrhell's inabil-
ity to win out. The atmosphere got
too warm for Brink and in a rage he
lett the Earker office, chagrined be-
You'd measure at being worsted in his
argument and bluff on the glowing
prospects of Inflated Pierre.