The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-18
B. F. EBORN'S MARKET REPORT
AND REAL ESTATE QUOTATIONS
BIRMINGHAM fuday, March II,
BIRMINGHAM. ALA.

spects marked by unsettled conditions
The reported indefinite delay of the rail-
road in awarding the contract for the
depot, supposed to have been eontem-
plated at 9Th avenue and 10Th street, to-
gether with persistent rumors of other
deals on foot to locate 1t elsewhere, makes
l. appear that the air is being charged
with a sufficient number of invisible
strings and subtle current to tackle, and
land a new crop of land suckers"
who will crave for a chance to caper in
clear, shallow water, after unwittingly
going beyond their depth In the unseen,
and unseeable deep waters, and, who,
having the small measure of sight re-
naming, so impaired by sand turbulent
sediments from the bottom, which leave
them no other option than TO darkly feel
their way to a clearer atmosphere, or
what is awful perhaps be felt" by the
cold, slick cells" that swipe across their
guilible pathway. until the old-fashioned
chilly sensations creep down their de-
fenseless spinal columns (and "nanks).
leaving the forlorn pocketbook to look
as disconsolate as Andy-Hamltons oft
filled and oft depleted life insurance COM
mttees' campaign graft fund, after the
republican elephant had made his weighty
presence felt "in the midst thereof"
Birmingham is too good town, and
rests upon too firm foundation for real
estate investors to be tossed from pillar
to post at every change of the wind, reck
lessly taking unreasonable risks, and
seeking and acting without a sufficiently
and reasonably reliable foundation for
unnatural enhancement profits, which are
sure to prove disappointing, IL when the
mist clears away. instead of the beautiful,
imaginary fairy of Fortune. all over the
region of disappointment, only wrecked
estates and the dry bones of a few
adventures are left to beat time to
the Ndoleful music of the passing winds
as they calmly pass on to more stable,
healthy, congenial climatic and financial
conditions.
In connection with the New Depot
project. which has disquieting influence,
not only in healty values In that portion
of the city, but is affecting other portions
as we'll, If 1t is true that railroads are
deferred from letting the contract for
the depot, because of exorbitant demands
for damages on the part of property
holders, who are reported to be demand
ing damages, Notwithstanding the fact
that the property will be increased In
value 100 per cent by the depot improve
ments adjacent, it is sad commentary
on the public spirit and fairness of our
city to be published abroad, that where
our real estate is doubled in value by
an enterprise increasing our values, that
we insist ON taxing the promoters of such
enterprises, in which our entire city is
so vitality interested to a prohibitive point
for damages. in return for the benefits
received.
The advertising of this spirit abroad,
II 1t states a fact, cannot result other
wise than injurious to the city at large.
nor will this spirit, If generally persisted
In under all like circumstances, fail to
exercise a depressing influence on real
estate values, for, Notwithstanding our
wonderful resources and advantages for
industrial enterprises, they will not be SO
eager to come in If the city and her citi-
zens stand at the entrance gates, with
nnenaclng club for damages to keep them
out
We have heard of the wonderful goose
that laid the golden eggs; we have seen
geese big enough to continue laying eggs,
even where the nest was stripped, but
have never yet heard of a goose trying
to continue her benefcent work when the
parties receiving the benefit are so
thoughtless as to cut the creature open
with a chop axe. in the hope of getting
all the eggs, bones, feathers, blood and
everything in sight at one stroke.
A fair public spirit toward all enter
prises affecting the entire city will result
in benefit to the community at large,
and viii in the long run rebound to the
best interests of those who are willing
to make some concessions for the public
good.
There is to a marked degree a more
conservative spirit fastening itself on
the minds of larger portion of our
trading public who are taking with a
large grain of salt the mysterious,
pantomime, silent tips of 'sumthn'
dom aroun' here" "sumthin big on tap
aroun' yonder" and that Johnnie Hun
t,I1 .
he will just buy where the Scratch An
kle' bellies perambulate or the 'Buzzards'
Roost'' he will get off all that rough
taste, which other improper risks have
in the very nature of things left In their
mouths.
Sensible, conservative real estate deal
ers. who have well founded faith in Bir-
mingham, win make their investments In
Birmingham based on what they see and
not on what they hearts, likely ~ ex-
pected to happen.
These conservatives may not find gold
bags at the end of rainbow, but they
will have the abiding comfort of escaping
many reckless and unwarranted risks,
and consequently shun many mistakes,
and when other estates begin to shrink
theirs will stand the strain of adverse
conditions, should they ever come, and
the unfailing merit of Birmingham dirt
Will bring them around all right under
the line on the 'home stretch
We have no sympathy for the "I-told-
you-so" crowd any more than we have
for those who would saddle all of their
plumbers and errors of judgment on en-
terprising real estate firms, who happen
to have proflted by making numerous
sales in localities about which THE word
had been sent" as darkies used to say
when 'scalawags' and "carpetbaggers'
sent word what G. o. P. they were to
vote for.
Nor is 1t inspiring, even though suffer
ing under mistakes and losses, or proba-
BILE losses, to see the needless investor
attempt to throw the burden on other
than their own shoulders, where one has
a reasonably good pair of eyes and
slight, even though 1t may be a somewhat
indistinct, tracing of invisible gray mat
ter in the upper story.
The week ending Saturday, the 18th,
has been marked by more inquiries than
the preceding week; numerous deals have
been closed or are in course of COM
pletion on the quiet, and the indications
are for still more active trading during
the coming week. Very truly,
B. r. EBORN
BUSINESS PROPERTY.
t10,000-A valuable business lot; on 4th
ave, near the city hall.
300 Per Foot-100x100; the most valuable,
central corner on Goth street; one-third
cash. balance easy 6 per cent.
t1O,000-50x100 10th ST., close in; one-fourth
cash, balance easy
Ho00-40x100; alley corner promising bus
mess location; 8 blocks of union de-
pot; two-story building around it, closely