The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-08-19

GEO. III. ELLIS OF THIS CITY
MAKES MANY PURCHASES
SIVE ORCHARD IMPROVEMENT

The land purchased at the school
land sale Saturday by George H. Ellis
of Wenatchee added to the purchases
he has hitherto made himself and in
conjunction with Jas. E. Forde, in
this county, figures up to large
acreage, and represents the invest
ment of many thousands of dollars,
says the LOOMS Prospector. This
disposition on the part of Mr.. Ellis
to invest in Okanogan county lands
is worthy of some notice, as it is in
dicative of the utmost confidence in
the country, ana will have tendency
to attract other investors this way.
This is not mentioned because it
happens to Mr.. Ellis as an individual
who Is buying, but because he is led
into these investments from personal
observation of the rapid advance in
real estate values in localities where
the soil, climatic conditions and ia
vorable aspects were far less auspi-
cious than in Okanogan county, and
from the further fact that he is not
the class of investor that will permit
his holdings to remain unimproved
and unproductive of an income. He
is a thorough business man, weighs
mercial dealings or any class of spec
ulation, and has plans formulated be-
fore taking the first step in the in
vestment of capital. Besides he is
in touch with men who have made
fortunes in handling lands. and es-
pecially irrigable lands, and his in
itiative in securing a foothold in the
move favored portions of this county
will be an incentive for others to in
vest. not only in lands but reclama-
ton projects.
Mr.. Ellis learned experience in a
good school, and while he did not
benefit largely from the first oppor-
tunity presented. he proposes to be
among those who will win out in the
certain advancement of Okanogan
county lands. Associated with Jas.
E. Forde of this place, Mr.. Ellis
embarked in the mercantile business
in Wenatchee a number of years ago.
At that time had these gentlemn put
tn capital they tied up in business
into town lots and acreage property
today they would be very wealthy
men. They succeeded in business,
of course, but the profits from their
business is a mere bagettele as COM
pared with what they would have
made had they bought real property
in those early days. Being immed-
lately on the ground Mr.. Ellis has
seen land values leap up with mar
velous rapidity Lots he could have
bought for a few hundred dollars are
now worth thousands, and lands that
could have been purchased for few
dollars an acre are now held at hun
dreds. Mr.. Ellis recognizes the fact
that so far as adaptability for the
growing of fruits and capacity for
production are concerned, the soil of
the Okanogan valley Is just as good
as that of the Wenatchee or any
other valley. The lack of transport
tation in the past has been the one
great drawback to the advancement
and development of the country, but
with that problem settled Okanogan
will become one of the great fruit
producing sections of the state. and
the land will rapidly increase in
value. Mr.. Ellis is shrewd enough to
see this. and enterprising enough to
get in and secure as large an amount
of land as he is able to handle. There
are no chances to be taken in such
an investment, it is simply a sure
winner. In a few years hence when
he makes a large cleanup. there will
be men to envy him who had the
same opportunity, but were shy the
enterprise to take advantage of it.
What plans Mr.. Ellis may have in
view of the improvement of his pur-
chases is not known. but undoubtedly
he has mapped out a method of pro-
cedure that will enhance the value of
his holdings. There is one thing sure,
he is persevering, as is shown in the
handling of the old Griffin ranch.
that is owned jointly by himself and
Mr.. Forde. Several attempts have
been made to get an orchard started
on that place without success Fail
ure, which was owing to carelessness
and incompetency on the part of
those in charge, did not discourage,
and now. under the management ~