The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-07-29
COUNTY LEASE IS
VERI7ABLE MINT
Coins Fortune for Former
Auditor and His Sub
Rosa" Associates.

hch inc county commiHsfcnere
and County Auditor Agnew handed
over TO Geo. y. Lamping lease on
the vest half OF the county block
on Third av., between James and
Jefferson SITS, they did a fine stroke
OF bu2iness-for Geo. y. Lamping.
They leased this property 10
Lamping land aEsOciaiesl for the
sum of $500 a month. The latter
and his sub-rosa associates imme-
diaiely erected one-Etory brick
structure. and are deriving an In
come OF approximately $1,000 a
month from the rents.
or course II may have been only
coincidence that Lamping had
been county auditor; that Agnew.
the present county auditor, had
been HIS chief deputy; that Lamp
Ing and the county commissioner
roasted in the same political wig.
wan. and that these commissioner
and the auditor signed the lease.
But the people. who got bumped,
as usual are entitled 90 form an
opinion from the facts Ia the case,
and here they are:
Higher Offer Turned Down.
In March OF 1906 the commission.
ers advertised for bids for a two
year lease on this property. With
q privilege OF renewing each two
years. but not under any circnm-
stances 70 extend beyond April,
1911.
Several bids were received.
Lamping agreed 10 the conditions
OF the advertised call when he ten
dered the sum OF $500 a month for
the use Of the property A man
named F. G. Wilson entered a bid
Of $3.50. but apparently forgot 20
deposit certified check
The commissioners made no at
tempt to have the error rectified.
but with all haste Immediately
made out lease 10 Lamping at $40
a month less than Wilson had Of
fered.
The lease was drawn up BY Lamp
ing II is unnecessary TO add that
the handwriting OF a shrewd bust
ness man can be seen throughout
the entire document In the words
of the Kansas senator. there was no
chance for anybody but Geo. n.
Lamring.
Lamping Given a cineh.
The advertised terms OF the lease
provided that the county should not
extend the lease beyond April. 1911.
In the lease which was signed by
the county officials. this provision
reads that ~ the lease rs extended
beyond April. 1911" 20 any other
than Lamping. Lamping can force
ar appraisement of the value of
his buildings and compel the county
to pay the award without recourse.
Not only are the terms OF the
original lease absolutely disregard.
ed. but Lamping actually has the
power TO make the county pay him
thousands OF dollars for all the Inn
provements on the ground n the
commissioners, by any mischance.
want TO execute a lease to anyone
else.
In the beginning the commission
ers rejected Wilson's bid OF $3.50
for the only apparent reason that
he did not inclose certified check.
Tho advertisement for bids called
for a certified check OF SIS on each
lot. Bids were entered and the
lease was executed on lots /, 4. 8
and s. block 80, G. u. Boren's adj
dition. Iamping's bid was accom-
panied by one check of S25. To
have been consistent. the commits
sioncrs should have rejected his
bid. exactly the same as they hsd
that OF Wilson, but perhaps there
was something I'm the name.
p. J. Smith was chairman Of the
which authorized this lease. Dan
Abraham and Al. Rutherford were
the other board members. J, y.
Agnew was county auditor. and all
four entered into the contract.
Has Perpetual Lease.
As the situation now staads.
Lamplng has practically q perpetual
lease on this property, and II tho
county commissioners should try TO
stick 10 the real intent OF the orig
inal advertisement Of the lease, he
could compel them to pay for the
buildings through which he ID &C.
irving the extremely SATISFYING i@-
come OF approximately ace per oeHa
on his investment
The block was bought a. . sita
for a future county court house.
This is the Only object for SHEA
Inc. commissioners wouid hrc@s ian
lease. " ls safe "a gamble has
will not come until lene
after tSif.
s'rH6a SEQ ts 1877 the lease VIII
net ianaginE snd his associates ap-
uNhRztely 100000 over and
s'soyc all s&Slr Investment and eN-
iSsDsrs-