The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06
July Opens Up Rather
Dull for Men Handling
Richmond Dirt.
FARM LANDS COME
IN THE LIMELIGHn
Automobile Rides on the Glorious
Fourth May Result in Big
Sales-Half the Week Was
Holiday-Hot Weather
Knocks Out Auc-
ton Sales.

war was there such a general holiday
IN Richmond on the Glorious Fourth
as this year. and no men or set OF
men took more holiday during Inde-
pendence week than did the real es-
tate people. This observation has ref
erencc not only to the agents. but to
the investors and spectators and the
nome buyers, and all others who watch
the real estate market, as we'll Not a
few of the Offices OF thu agents were
cioSed at noon on Thursday. and have
remained closed ever since and on
Inc doors of some sign was stuck
up: This office closed until Monday"
or words to that effect. Those offices
that did not hang out that sign might
as well have done so. for the occur
pants or the same attempted no busi-
ness OF the selling and buying and
trading kind after the noon hour on
Thursday, and their monotonous song
to the man OF news who sweated about
on his usual Saturday round was
nothing doing" and in most cases the
solo was rendered by a clerk or hired
man. the heads OF the concerns bsinE
out OF town, fishing or bathing in old
ocean or hiding from the rays of old
Sol under the outrageous foliage OF
giant oaks In the rural districts or Iu
on the mountain sides.
Poorly Attended Auction Sales
Several interesting auction sales
were announced to take place in the
hrst half of the week, but, notwith-
standing the fact that the sale hour
was in each case made late In the
afternoon, the bidders could not be
induced to brave the torrld weather,
and In a majority OF the cases the
sweet-toncd auct!oneers found no au-
diences to sing to. Nearly all of the
proposed auction sales were fiat fail
A,t
to have an auction sale OF a residence
on Grove Avenue. got up quite Sc
ductively worded advertisement in
which he offered all kinds OF easy
terms, thus hoping TO draw a crowd
or bidders. but the bidders came not,
and the agency hurried to call off the
easy terms. and accepted a cash offer OF
$4,000 for No 2ll4 Grove Avenue, the
same being n private sale. and this
was possibly the biggest reportable
sale of the week
Several agents report some small
sales that were pulled off in Nhe first
three days Of the week. but they were
very small and I guess the remarle
of one OF these agents that they "didn't
amount to hill OF beans" about de-
scribes tie size and Importance of tho
most OF the small sales that were actu.
ally made.
Waiting scSson.
An agent who has luXuriant Offices
on Eighth Street, not far south OF
Franklin, backed the man OF news up
In the rotunda OF the Mutual Building,
where the breeze was inviting, and of
fered to tell "all about It," Said he:
The opening week of July has been
one OF the dullcst In my experience in
the real estate business in Richmond,
and do you know I am glad of 1t.
II think a little dizziness just about
this time Is good sign. There Is all
kind of inquiry and all kind Of dis
position to invest in good property.
but the would-be investors are taking
time TO mako up their minds. and there
is no better season for taking time to
think and ponder than this overheated
spell. The string as you call 1t, is
full of big things. and that the people
who have caused them to be hung
there are taking time to consider
argues we'll for the stability OF real
estate In little old, solid old. Rich
mond. Don't you think 500" This
Eighth Street gentleman went on fur
Their TO say that this July dullness, In
his opinion, spells big business later
on. say in August and September
The men who make n speciality OF
suburban property also tell of mid
summer dullness. They say there is
n good deal of inquiry. but when they
try to pin an inquirer down to bust
ness he oftener than otherwise goes to
discussing the weather. and begs to
be allowed to wait until the hot wave
passes by. Well. the buyer holds the
bag. and if he says wait. then walt
it must be. and the suburban agents
are waiting, all right. They know
about the good things they have In
hand. and can we'll afford to walt.
Virginia Farms In Demand.
! The activity Of the week. and there
was some activity. was confined to the
| ma M la or nj val
in Virginia farming lands. 1t Is no
| secret that for the past several months
these people have been we'll loaded
with inquiries from all parts OF the
country for Virginia farm lands. espe-
cially farming lands near TO or con-
venient to Richmond One agent
showed me some OF the inquiries" on
his desk. They came from Louisiana.
Pennsylvania. Michigan, Wyoming and
Nebraska. From one OF these diver
gent points the inquirer came on to
Richmond ut the earnest solicitation
of the agent, and that agent celebrated
the Glorious Fourth by taking this
'furrcncr" out on an automobile ride to
look at several farms. They went far
UP into Goochland County. near to the
Fluvanna line in the upper James
River country. The "furrener seemed
to he impressed, but he had to go back
home and talk TO his wife about ic
all before deciding. but tho agent
thinks there are big chances to sell
this man about a thousand acres on
the upper James.
L know or another agent who spent 4
his holiday" autoing would be buyer
through Powhatan County, and on UP
70 Amelia. 1t is tolerably certain that
this outing" resulted in n pretty big
sale. but there are some finishlnE
touches TO be put on the deal, and \
until that Is done mum is the word.
All of the agents who deal largely In
farm lands report much inquiry ana
quite number OF sales here and thera
CONTINUED On Third Paga.) s