The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-01
DRINKS FOR THE SYNDICATE.
Treat Given by Mlssourian to New
 York Real Estate Combine.

From the Washington Post
 T have never looked up the genesis of syndicate" said a member of one of the oldest real estate firms in New
 York "bnt was In one before the
 civil war.
 "The combine had for it's object, in
 part. the purchase of tracts of land In
 what seemed to be cities of the future
 One of these was St. Joseph, Mo. In the opinion of our combine that was
 destined to be the metropolis of the
 Mississippi valley. Why it never real
 ized these expectations is not part of this story.
 "Three members of our combine, or syndicate. of whom I was one, went to St. Joseph to confer with the mil
 lionaire land owner of northwest Mis-
 souri, Elijah M. Patee. He owned about one-half the town. He laid out the first subdivision ever mapped ln western town and built the first hotei
 of any pretentions of that part or the
 country.
 '1t was long journey then from New York to St Joseph. We went py steamboat from Pittsburg to St. Louis
 From the latter city we travelled by another boat up the Missouri to our destination.
 We had never seen MT. Patee until we met him in his home. It was q southern house and stood in field which formed one side of the boundary line of the young city, that overlooked it from an amphitheatre of curiously 1 formed hills.
 MT. Patee was in appearance almost the double of Thiers, former President of France. whom I once met In Paris. While we were his guests the meeting was strictly of a business character.
 There was no sightseeing, no social functions.
 After supper MT. Patee went to bed, and we were informed that we could
 do as we pleased. We soon followed MT. Patee's habit.
 He was as shrewd as any man l have ever met He took nothing TOT granted Our mission was partially successful. We made a purchase, but within two years MT. Patee, through
 an agent. bought back the tract at an advance which was satisfactory to the New York combine.
 "The interesting and amusing incl dent connected with the New York trio's visit to St Joseph l will now re- late:
 "After the deal was made MT. Patee
 invited us to go with him on steam boat trip up the Missouri river. The
 craft was not the palatial steamer
 which later on made the Missouri 1 famous
 "It was a tub. The stage of water was low and the tub hit every sandbar in the channel as far up-as we went. The scenery on either shore would not have inspired an artist. q said the deal was made before we started on the trip. Some details re mained to make 1t an all-round bargain and these were arranged on board the steamer. After all was signed and
 ready for record, MT. Patee said "'Now, gentlemen. that we are all
 agreed and have had pleasant time,
 will you join me in my stateroom, I where we will have somethlngY 1 "Summoning up the captain of the | steamer. MT. Patee asked him to send to his stateroom a pitcher of water l and a half a dozen glasses We gladly 1 followed. We had had nothing stronger
 than milk and Missouri river water for several days.
 "Mr. Patee arranged the glasses on | the washstand and then pulled out from under his bunk an old.style car pet bag, such as you see now and then | in a down east play. After removing most of the contents from the bag MT 1 Patee took out a small box and care Ally removed the wrapping. Lifting | the lid, he said:
 Gentlemen, help yourselves The
 box contained just enough quinine powders to go around. That was the 1 treat of the Missouri millionaire to the
 first New York syndicate that ever did business In the west"