The sun., 1912-07-14

concerned with the government of their
municipality.
Probably of as great interest as any,
thing else in connection with the Wool
worth Building is the story of how the
plot on which the building has been
erected was assembled.
~The Irving National Exchange Bank
had for long time been anxious to OBJ
tain plot on Broadway for the establish
ment Of its Offices. l as member of the
board of directors had looked at several
plots, one at Broadway and Reade st rect
The plot proved to he unsat isfactory. 80
we looked for another. We heard that
the Mercantile Bank was willing TO sell
the plot on the southwest corner of Broad
way and Park place.
My representative began negotiations
for that and the adjoining plot to the
south. Without both plots We could
have done nothing. Finally the officers
OF the bank agreed to sell. but the owners
OF the plot to the south held of.
Il sat in my office one night while INV
real estate agent was at the Office of n
title company on Broadway procuring
signatures to sell the plot adjoining the
corner. Twas finally advised that papers
were about to be signed and told TO he
ready. l went down Broadway from
my Office and stood in front of the Guar
dian Trust Company's office.
an short time my agent came out
and told me that the papers for the plot
next to the corner had been signed. |
was hurried into an automobile and we
speeded up Broadway
II had supposed that the Mercantile
Bank plot had already been procured.
but upon asking where We were bound
l was told that the bank had kept the
option open until o'clock and that the
vice president had then gone to his home
without signing the papers.
I'VE arrived at the home of the banker
a little after o'clock. ! waited alone
In my automobile while the agent went
into the house. Tho banker had ,Aer
dressing to go to some entertainment
with his wife. She was hurrying him
and he wanted to put of his signing unit {
the next morning.
my agent feared that II that werc done
the banker might learn of the sale Of The
adjoining property and hold out for a
higher figure or probably refuse to sell
at all. He did not dare to appear too
anxious but urged that the deal be con-
cluded at once,
"In his hurry the banker when taking
the pen upset the ink bottle and spattcred
ink over his cuffs and shirt fr mt.
There he said to my agent. don't
you sec am too nervous to sign tonight?
won't do it; let It go until morning."
My agent was persistent and nnally
persuaded him to sign. My ideas had by
this time expanded and had determined
to erect the greatest business building
in tho world. ! wanted that Barclay
street corner. II was leased at good
rental and the owner declined to SELL
1T looked as il We would be unable to
get it, 80 my architect worked out tho
plans for the building without it. We
then began negotiations for the plots in
Park place and in Barclay street Those
negot lat ions were successful
the owners Of the Barclay stree, cor-
nor by lnls tim" knew what We intended
to do and saw tha, my building would so
hem them IN that thov could get no light
tor any h,ndlug thai in future micht 10
erected on heir plot ana they capituiat"d.
'or that corner finally paid something
like SiOO,OoO lees than | offered them
saRas mouths pssviouA'