Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-13
RECEIVES AN ORCHID
AS RENT FOR PROPERTY
Westerner Asks Nothing More
for Use of Land by
School.

A western Institution of learning re-
ceiyed, several weeks ago, from an adj
mirer of it's work large plot of ground
near its present home on which, to extend
the institution. The property is in one
of the most valued sections of the little
western town, and had it been sold in the
realty market it would have brought big
prices as home sites. The school may
hold the land as long as the trustees Will
pay to the fee owner of the property an
orchid on a certain day in the spring of
each year. The year that the trustees
overlook payment of the orchid the lease
terminates. 1t is many years since real
estate has been bartered for any such
cOnSidera tons.
When the country was young there were
many such real estate deals Farms
would be leased for long periods on the
payment of SO many bushels OF grain
each year, or they would be sold for the
skins of few animals Many valua BILE
properties in New York city, where real
estate Is the highest priced in the world
were once bargained for few skins
Money was not plentiful then, and all
business was matter of barter.
Peppercorn as Rent.
The mission house Of Our Lady OF the
Rosary, on State street facing the Bat
terry Park, in New York city, was leased
for fourteen years for peppercorn to be
paid each year on the feast of ST. Michael
The lease not only covered that particular
property, but many acres to the north
running into the financial district
Not more than two blocks from this
parcel Is property that was sold for
thirty-eight beaver skins. This property
is at Stone street and Coenties alley
which connects with Coenties sip. Ac-
cording to what has come down from
. these times. 1t took longer to consummate
this sale than a million-dollar deal today
1t took nearly two months before an
agreement was reached.
Paid in Pig Iron.
The rental of a corner in Boston's bust
ness district is held on a lease in which
pig iron is given in payment every year.
The property is in Scully Square. at the
corner of Cornhill and Court streets.
which is a continuation of State street.
ABOUT nifty years ago the owner of the
property agreed to lease it, and instead of
taking good American dollars for his rent
ne demanded pig iron. AT the time pig
IRON was valued product and no doubt
ne mad the better of the deal at the time
SO sure was he that pig iron would not
lose It's value that he tied his corner up
with lease that. it is said, will not ex-
plre for several hundred years to come
ZIG iron Is no longer the higf1-priced ma
terial 1T was then. 1t is getting cheaper
every day and eventually the lessee of the
corner may find his lease great bar
gain.
Clover as Consideration.
A clover each year is all that school
In Flint. Mich, pays for the land 1t
stands on. This school Is the Flint Union
School and was built about three years
ago. The school board wanted site for
a new school. One Of the wealthy men
of the place heard of the desire and
agreed to lease the board site for
clover year, to be paid in June. For
such consideration the school may have
the ground for ninety nine years and as
long after as it is willing to pay a clover
a year. The site was accepted and each
year since a clover has been plucked
from garden set aside for the purpose
and carried by the school trustees to the
owner, who duly gives a receipt for the
rent. The payment of the rent is mat
ter of great ceremony in the town.