The Alaska daily empire., 1915-12-30
REAL ESTATE MAN REVIEWS
 LOCAL OUTLOOK


 Juneau real estate has not yet reached its high water mark in the opinion of A. D. Austin, general mOn- ager of the Alaaka Abstract com. pany He believes that there win al- ways be a steady demand for business and residence proporty here, with in- creasing values for many years Go come. lie thinks next year will show decided improvement over the pres ent one. which has been good.
 Speaking on this subject and giving causes upon which he bases his con- clusions, Mr. Austin yesterday said:
 "l think we are on the verge of a very active year ] might say two or three or more years. There has been some activity th.s fall and early win. ter and look for it to continue and increase in volume.
 Real estate IS the foundation of all community wealth, but every city must have a good substantial basis, in other words. something back of it, to warrant investment in real estate. In some cases the city Is backed by agriculture. in others it is commerce. some are manufacturing cities and SO on. but 1t must be substantial. We have the greatest of an, gold. lt Is an around us. the mountains are full Of .t, and while 1t is low grade ore that one fact makes 1t more valuable in itself and to the City of Juneau for the reason that it Is almost mex haustible in extent and to be made available 1t must be mined In large quanSties, We now have several large mining companies operating and there is room for many more.
 Some years ago 1t was brought to my notice that in nearly every in- stance city grows northward, and that the best property values were in that direction in the city. Juneau is no exception to the rule. While we are so situated that we cannot spread or expand equally on all sides. am of the opinion that the best values in real estate lie to the north and west of the city. Lots south and east. while equally as good property will be used more for commercial pur- poses and manufacturing sites
 ''It is the history of every city that as soon as 1t IS demonstrated that there is something back of 1t to in- sure It's permanency it has what is called real estate boom. Juneau is likely to experience great adtivity along that line
 "The bridge across Gast.neau Chan uel I believe. Is practically assured land that will be one more spoke in the hub. every one of which strengthens
 'r wheel
 We have had. like an mining towns. a floating population. and a great many single men. ] have been here since the spring of 1913 and there have been many changes since that time # one win stop and look back First, let us take the Casey Shaltuck Addition. the ball grounds were located there at that time. and were reached by tran down through the brush by the power house and across Gold Creek on a log bridge. Another way was around by way of Calhoun road. and across the creek at the old bridge What have we now? Some of the finest little homes in Alaska. owned by men with fami- les Another bridg is on Ninth and one on Wiiloughby avenue. There are so many homes now in the Casey Shattuck Addition that the boys can hardly find a vacant lot on which to play scrub" It is the same way in the Nelson Park Addition. What was then a brush covered hillside is today covered with homes. The Pa cific Coast addition, while 1t has not SO many houses. has several large rooming houses and apartments. Only three years ago there were but a few cabins on the hillside
 I've. have some homes in the Gold Belt adit.on that cannot be surpassed In any community in the Territory for attractiveness and beauty.
 'In the downtown district we have several large fine buildings. the Gold stein building. built of concrete. is as fine a building as can be found any where The B, M. Behrends Bank building. also a concrete structure is another, and there are several more. We have some hotels that are a ere dit to the city. and one of them. the 'Gastineau hotel, is building an addition that will make 1t the largest. as well as one of the finest in the Territory.
 "Al this has been a steady natural growth, in keeping with the city and It's surrounding resources. and these resources are continually being de- yeloped and the city will necessarily keep apace. People are now coming here with their families to make per manent homes. to embark in various lines of industry, to fnl responsible positions with the various companies. These men are permanent residents and are the men that are building up our city.
 During the past year there have been several families SO out near Eagle river and locate homesteads. These people are permanent. They will improve their land. and In a very short time will supply the cities of Gastineau Channel with garden and farm products fresh from the soil. Mary things can be grown here to as near perfection as at any place There are several of the small fruits that