The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-03
Want STATE TO
PAY $125,OOO
FOR BIG TREES
Senator Price and Banker lie
Baron Propose Sale of
Armstrong Grove
Four Hundred Dollars Paid for
Option on Purchase of
Property Worth $4,000

placed in escrow in the Exchange Bank
Of Santa Rosa
Small Sums for Option
For the option lie Baron paid Arm
strong and his sister each 5000 or $500
In all he agreed further to pay for
The park. in case he decided to pur-
chase. a total of $4,000 or $4,000 to
Armstrong and like amount to Mrs.
Jones. The option was drawn up to
run until the end of the session of the
legislature. Under the terms Of the
option given by Mrs Jones it appears
that lie Baron has the right to sell
only to the state of California.
As soon as the thrifty banker had
gone through these preliminaries he
began his campaign to unload on the
state at an $4,000 profit. Senator
Price covered the county and lie Baron
bot busy in his own behalf
lie Baron does not deny the facts. He
simply says that he does not care par
ticularly TO sell to the state. He evil
IDENTIFY overlooks the fact that his OPP
ton specifies that he must sell to the
state.
Understanding" Denied
There is no understanding with any
one on this matter" said lie Baron 4
would like to see this grove preserved,
bur / would much rather that the state
would not purchase il for $125,oo0, as
/ can get more for it for the lumber
The grove viii make fine lumber, and
rs there is now scarcity of redwood
1 could dispose of 1t easily to great ad-
vantage"
At her home in CIoverdale Mrs. Eliza
beth Jones confirmed the reports as TO
the deal as far as she knew them. She
said that she desired TO see the grove
preserved and had given an option TO
lie Baron on the express condition that
ther facts Mrs Jones referred to her
attorney, John T. Campbell
Attorney Campbell was not impressed
by the size Of lie Baron's prospective
profit. He said he believed the grove
70 be worth s25oOeO, but failed to ex-
plain why with that knowledge he had
allowed his client to give an option on
her half interest for $4,000. At
Campbelrs valuation Mrs. Jones should
have received $4,000.
Attorney Talks of Risk
Mr.. lie Baron knew when ne went
into the matter" said Campbell, that
there would be expenses for advertis-
ing, awakening sentiment, and for ex-
animation and other things which
would cost something. He figured the
cost and then added something for the
risk and trouble involved before fixing
the price at which he was willing to
dispose OF the property"
A few years ago the property was
cruised and report made that for
timber purposes 1t was not worth much
more than $4,000. There is vast
stand Of redwoods. but the trees are
or the variety that requires the most
expensive machinery
There is a decided sentiment through
out the state IN favor of the preserva-
zion OF these wonders OF nature In
fact no people have been quicker than
those Of California to extend a protect
ing arm toward the forests which have
become famous the world over The
Armstrong grove is recognized as one
~ the most picturesque in the state
but the attempt TO hold up the state
Tor vast profit for its purchase will
come as a shock TO those who were
earnestly working for the measure in
the belief that its promoters were act
uated by laudable sentiment and not
by commercial consideration.