The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-11
Rome Wonders Just What Pope Plus
Intends to do With SO
Much Real
Estate.
rs BUYING HEAVILY
Pine Forest May be Connected With
Vatican by Tunnel Two
Miles Long TO the
Gardens.
[By Henry Wood, Rome Correspond
emf Of tha IInifad Pres

Iby Henry WOOQ, Rome correspond
ent of the United Pres.l
ROME, Aug. 11.-Rome is very much
worked up over the actual, the alleged
and the prospective real estate activi-
ties of Pope Plus x At the present
moment 1t is his alleged and prospec-|
tive purchases that are causing the
most concern, and In fact. it was
these that brought to light what he
has already done.
It now develops that for several
years His Holiness has been quietly
buying up most OF the real estate that
Immediately surrounds Saint Peters
and the Vatican These purchases
have never been made directly by the
Holy See but have been made by
prominent Catholic business man or
organizations. Later 1t has developed
that II the property had not already
passed into the hands of the Holy
See, 1t was at its disposition when
ever it should happen b, need It.
A case that has been particularly
aggraYating to the city administration
OF Rome, which is essentially anti
clerical, was the securing by Pope
Plus OF the ground on which stands
the old papal mint. This piece OF land
adjoins the Vatican gardens and al
though it, as well as the mint, origi-
nally belonged to the popes. the new
Italian government, being without a
mint, appropriated both for It's own
use.
A year ago the government com.
pleted new mint and the old papal
one was abandoned. Later 1t became
known that 1t had been purchased by
the president of the Bank OF Rome,
which is the financial depository and
adviser OF the Vatican Nothing was
Thought Of it at the time, as the bank
naturally has many real estate invest
ments. Later, however, the city
council having need to open a new
public school in the vicinity of the
Vatican. bethought itself of the old
papal mint. But the idea came too
late. It developed that the mint had
quietly slipped from the hands of the
president of the Bank of Rome into
those of Pope Plus x, and the city
council is now looking elsewhere for
a school tite.
In addition to this purchase, Pope
Plus has also secured number or
other sites Immediately adjoining the
Vatican. Some of these were al
ready in the hands of religious organ
fzations from whom they were taken
over by the Vatican without difficulty.
Others were owned by white" adher-
ents and their purchase had to take
the roundabout course Of the old
papal mint.
This might have continued more or
less indefinitely, and more or less
openly, without ever a hue and CRY
being raised, had 1t not been for the
fact that 1t was suddenly announced
that His Holiness was conducting ne
gotiations for certain tract Of land
so famous at Rome that no one coula
possibly overlook It, This is the
"Pineta Sacchetti,' or Pine Woods of
Sacchetti. which are known to every
one who has ever visited Rome.
The little pine forest ia not large
but is probably without rival In the
world for beauty and position. 1t was
begun several centuries ago when
someone planted eight long rows OF
pine trees on the highest point OF
land just back of the Vatican gardens
and where the hills begin their last
unbroken slope down to the sea,
which Hes In full view some twelve
miles away. Centuries ago the trees
were trimmed into the famous para
sol pine form and now constitute
one of the most characteristic charms
of the Roman landscape.
The forest lies perhaps two miles tc
the rear of Saint Peters and the
Vatican. 1t was the intention, 1t was
asserted, of His Holiness to purchase
1t, as well as all of the intervening
ground, practically to the walls Of tn,
Vatican garden. connecting up the
two with tunnel just as the Vatican
garden is now connected up. and t.
have this place to spend the hot sum
mer months outside the Vatican con
fines. The announcement caused n,
end Of a sensation.
1t was the announcement Of thi,
alleged purchase that brought to ligh
all Of the other purchases which TIL,
Vatican has actually made or which
have been made in it's behalf. Som,
OF these are still held by the origina
purchasers but no denial is mad,
that they are at the disposition of tn,
Holy See. To the. insistent demant
Tor the motive Of these purchases
the Vatican has replied that It Il
merely because Pope Plus x prefer
70 invest the church money in rea
estate. Some OF his predecessor