The Topeka state journal., 1908-02-08

i lcSS SdAS QluC O11 lA4io QO1AAs- -AAO 1S~-0
| ing contractors incline to coincide
with the former. and they ought to
know as much as anyone about II. II
| is pretty well agreed, however, that
| Topeka's sorest need. in the eyes of
many, more and bigger and better
| business houses. Is not likely to be
met Those who are in a position to
invest money in this class Of property
are mostly men who passed through
the trying times of the latter SOS
and are timid about undertaking great
enterprises, having lost confidence in
their own judgment. The extent OF
operations in new residence proper
ties depends largely upon the policy
of the railroads.&c. number Of men
laid off in the shops, and whether the
reduction of forces is n political move
and merely temporary, or whether 1t
is permanent. This may be said to
affect most vitally all that part Of the
city east of Kansas avenue. but par
ticularly the new section east of the
shops. Hundreds of shop employees
having from $S00up were preparing to
buy lots and build when the reaction
came upon the heels Of anti-railroad
agitation and all the lines began a re-
duction, first of hours and then of
forces. These shop men now hesitate
to buy homes for fear they may need
their money to live On and If it was
used for part payment on home
both home and living might be lost,
together with their jobs. So they pre-
fer to pay rent for the present and
wait for assurances of permanent
work.
Expressions from number of the
real estate men of the city in regard
to the local situation and the outlook
for the coming year have been OBJ
tanned by the State Journal, some of
which are given below:
H. C. Bowman: Trade in city
property has been pretty quiet but is
looking up at the present time and in
dications point to a better year than
1907 for real estate men. both in city
and farm property. There has been
considerable inquiry for farms since
this bank trouble. Depositors get
their money out and they like to have
it where they can see it and know it
is all there. There have peen a great
many inquiries during the last
month. Prices remain about the
same on farming land, which is always
cheaper in Shawnee county than east
or north Of here. In city property, last
year. there was more building than
selling, but this year It looks as II
there would be more selling and less
building. Purchasers are after prop
erty to live in. Buyers from out Of
town want good homes; they don't
mind if they are a little out of style,
if they are in good condition.
Geo. M. Noble & Co.: There is a
great deal of inquiry now but in
quirers are quite particular and not
near all are buying, said Mr.. Daniels.
Prices on property are higher than
three, four or five years ago, but no
place can be found property cheaper,
considering real values than here.
There are not so many transfers be-
ing recorded. as a year ago, but don't
think the financial furry had any
thing to do with 1t. Property is as
firm as ever; there is no weakening
in prices. There is less for sale in
Shawnee county than ever before 1
look for good business this spring
and summer.
Gillett & Gil1ett: Our business was
good all through last year. The de-
mand Is good now and prices remain
about the same. Kansas, and es-
pecially right here, is in better shape
than any state in the Union today and
think there will be fair real es-
tate business this year unless we have
a very short crop. Our farm sales in
December aggregated about $60,0OO;
January was not so good, but it was
fair.
r. =. Barnes of the Partnership Real
Estate Co.: Judging from our exper-
1ence in January and thus far in Feb
ruary, the outlook promises a larger
real estate business than ever before
During the early part of the financial
furry business was a little dull. but It
has now fully recovered and there is
now more inquiry for good modern
properties than we have had for a long
time. Many seem to fear that real
estate values may decrease but from
the sales We have made recently 1t looks
as though they are going to increase
instead of decrease. Others thought
building operations were going to fall
OFF, but we have sold six or eight fine
building sites recently, where, in every
case, the purchaser is expecting to build
right away. On two sold last week
building has already begun. A large
number of flats and modern rental
properties that were vacant some time
ago have filed up and these are very
scarce now All the better class of
properties vacant two months ago have
been taken up. The demand for flats is
applications for his but they are all
taken and the same is true Of the
kemper, the Devon and all the rest.
The Moffitt- -Shillinglaw Real Estate
Co.: We have a few buyers now and,
as usual, there is always something for
sale. I look for real estate to advance,
Without question we have the cheapest
farms here of any section in Kansas
know of. The railroad companies and
large real estate firms who buy big
tracts and ship homeseekers in have
filled up western Kansas and are now
sending people to Texas. But they are
drifting back from there and we are
now getting quite few strangers here
We are in touch with several Iowa and
Illinois buyers who were here about the
time the furry began, and look for
them back. There will be about as
much building this year as last; maybe
more There are not many vacant
houses and most of these are not mod
ern: the latter are all being filed as