Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28

a novel method Of conducting the real es-
tate business that has been adopted by an
Atlanta, Ga, real estate agent, has at
+rarted the attention OF the Washington
dealers in houses, lots ard other realty, anu
some Of them may follow out his scheme, II
Is said The Atlanta agent has a corps Oh
twenty-five men, experienced In tneif ses
eral lines The first. who gives his entire
time to renting, is equipped with a horse
and wagon, with which he conveys ten
ants from house to house until they are
suited.
Then there are four men to look after the
details of renting. drawing contracts. etc,
while two take care of all complaints, anu
in addition keep the owners posted as 10 the
condition of their property. Another Gun
ploye looks after complaints and has re-
pairs made when necessary. one niaii
looks after delinquents. unique featurs
OF the service is the inspection OF occupied
properties.
But the most unique OF all the Atlanta
mans methods is the storage and van
service He has new Storehouse with
moth-proof rooms, and moves his tenants
absolutely free OF all charges When
house is vacated his blocker" takes charge
of IL and the building Is thoroughly
cleansed. the hot and cold water pipes are
drained and the house closed securely.
II Ia said that on a commission of to
10 per cent. according to rental value OF
the property. the agency Is collecting S9o,-
COO per month.
Assistant Secretary Edwards of the treas
ury Is firmly convinced that Eddie" Rob-
inson. his private secretary is not o good
'spotter' of crazy people. The other day a
man walked into Mr. Edwards room. Mr..
Robinson INQUIRED about his business ard
he said he wanted to talk with Mr.. Ed
wards Mr.. Robinson entertained him sew
eral minutes and then took him over ana
introduced him to the assistant secretary.
Mt n
greatest things ever devised on earth, was
the opening remark of the visitor
Mr.. Edwards listened intently
II have plan went on the visitor, Tor
killing EARTHQUAKES in San Francisco. All
1 need is about a million In money and
understand YOU can easily arrange that
Mr.. Edwards looked around the room to
see If there was assistance In case he
needed Il. He saw Robinson across the
desk scared half to death at the idea that
ne had admitted as bad crank as that,
Mr. Edwards lust nodded to the last
proposition of the visitor. who continued:
MY plan Is to sink a dozen or so wells
1000 feet deep and three feet In diameter
in San Francisco. This will let the gas out
of the earth and prevent the earthquakes.
Yes sir. there is no question about It. All
that is needed Is to let the gas out. which
can be done by digging the wells guar
antee that it will work all right
Mr.. Edwards had been thinking, and
thinking strongly, 1T strikes me. SIR he
butted in. that this is magnificent
scheme but before 1 could furnish the
money II will be necessary for you to con-
suit the geological survey which has charge
OF the earth and would have to issue
permit for YOU 10 dig the wells before any
thing could be done. The sooner you see
them the better. as I understand they have
several other schemes on hand OF the same
kind"
The visitor departed quickly for the geo
logical survey.
Young man" said a red-faced, perspir-
ing individual. as he presented himself at
the window of the cashier In the Office of
the collector of taxes, II came to pay this
water rent bill. not because 1 want to,
as it is the slickest piece of highway rob-
berry ever perpetrated on a taxpayer, but
because l know you'll turn the water off
IL ! don't Last year my Dill was $500,
and this year II is 81. p, and I'm not getting
any better water. or any more water, or
any less germs in my water, than l got
last year.
This is only a sample of the kicks that
are made at this time of year when water
rent bills become due.
Get meter" is the answer. and then
you'll only pay for what you use
In order to cover the increased cost of
furnishing water. due the necessity of adj
ditional pumping. the tax rates were in
creased % per cent, and all water rent
bills for this year are correspondingly
greater.
I've seen some strange sights on trolley
cars" said a man who has the summer
trolley-car habit. "a few weeks ago. while
riding on a car at Newport News. the car
stopped and the motorman and the con-
ductor got of, walked Ieisurely into a drug
store and each had a glass of soda. None
of the passengers was in a hurry II APP
peared. so the incident passed OFF pleas
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