The Detroit times., 1912-09-03
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WORTH MILLION, He RULES
LITTLE KINGDOM WHERE
JUSTICE HOLDS Full SWAY
Story Of Knute Nelson. Who
Turns Small Investment
Into Vast Fortune
KEEN FORESIGHT WINS
Refuses To Raise Rent On Poor
est Tenant To Increase His
Monthly Income
KEEN FORESIGHT WINS

SEATTLE. wash.. Sept 2.-Near-
ly half century ago. Knute Olsen
brought his family from Blake coun
U. California, to Alh Point. It took
them many weeks to cover, by
wagon. the journey which you would
make today In less than 4s hours.
When Olsen came. the earlier set.
tiers unloaded on him the land Oh
Aid Point.
They laughed among themselves
at his childish faith. He bought land
and with wheelbarrow, a COW and
q hundred bushels of potatoes. And
he bought land OF the government at
$t-26 an acre. In ali. he paid about
$1,000 for bis holdings, cash, and that
was much cash In those days.
He built himself house. He
farlned bought and sold lumber and
traded with the Indians. Seattle
was born. II grew from a frontier
hamlet 70 q rough, spraddling, pros
porous town. Those early enthus.-
asts, while they worked and dreamed,
had time to think OF Olsen and to
laugh at the recollection OF how they
left him holding the bag"
But Olsen surveyed his domain
Tor the whole point Is his--and was
satisfied.
Seattle had its ups and downs.
Men made vast fortunes-and lost
them. The town had booms and
slumps, booms and slumps. It be-
came city.
Alki Point Is still olsen's-his and
his family's. The blueeyed Nor
wegian found much wealth In the
bag the first comers left him to hold.
Olsen Ii worth, probably. million
dollars. He is the squire" OF that
country.
He Il worth more than q million
dollars, for the Seattle banks would
lend him half q million on his per
sonal note. They know he Is honest.
His tenants on the point want no bet
ter landlord.
On any fine day In the past 10
years you might have found Knuto
Olsen sitting on bench before his
home, with his crutches by his side
for he II now an invalid.
From that bench you can see the
ships coming In from the sea. You
can ! see Seattle's hills. their sides
gasheG with streets. Seattle's myriad
housetops fash back the sun. The
Incoming ships warp into Seattle's
docks. Here and there hang smoke
pals risen from factory chimneys.
Faint to the ears OF Knute Olsen
come. the crash and clang OF ma
chinsry and the screams of siren
wb.stles.c n ,a5u yfcclas s-e- !
Nearer at hand q fussy little ex-
cursion steamer bustles up TO q pier
and discharges q load Of city folks,
intent upon an afternoon Of fun.
Knute Olsen watches them 10
placid amusement. That's his fun.
when. the season permits, Olsen
Keeps a bunch OF roses by his side,
often people stop and talk with him.
If he likes them, he will give them
rose. y,,t r
Olsen never raises rents. II You
offered him $50 month for house
from which he was only getting $40
from an old tenant, he would only
shake his head and go on dreaming.
y Once a hustler wanted to rent a
store building.
what for?" asked Olsen.
Grocery" said the hustler.
I'VE have one grocery In that
eighborhood," said Olsen. Two
would be too many. One or the
other would be driven out OF busi-
ness"
"T'm taking the chance" said the
hustler :.
I'm not" said Olsen. Good
day"
Then he called two children play
ing on the lawn. They were his
grandehildren---th children who VIII
some day fail heir to his fortune:
They came running to him, flushed
and eager to serve.
What Is It, granddaddy?
II have given away all. my roses,
said Knute Olsen. Bring me some
more--a big bunch this time