Omaha daily bee., 1920-06-20
GOOD HUNCH.
AVAILS' NOT.
when HORSE
BUCKS RIDER
Gate City Materia|izes Widest
Dreams of Wealth of Ex-
rIorer Who Sought Seven
Cities.

Coronado was Spanish gentle
man who had hunch.
He had a hunch he'd find gold If
he found the Seven Cities of
Cbola," so he started out to find
them in l540.
His hunch carried him and his
expedition north to the southern
boundary of Nebraska, historians
say.
Then his horse hucked and threw
him.
When he came to" his hu3ch
told him to turn back.
Had he followed it days march
farther north he would have reached
the future site of city which was
to outshine his widest dreams of
wealth and prosperity.
And Staked Some Lots.
49, And lad he reached the site of
this city his hunch would doubtless
have been to stake out few choice
lots for future disposition.
Today Coronados descendants
might be riding about Omaha in
gold lined RollsRoyces.
They might even afford to occupy
a suite in one of our more moderate
priced apartments, so great has been
the advance in value of Omaha real
estate since Coronado's time.
Pat To- 1,u,cL fa;1aI b;,,,
and his unfortunate posterity, wher-
ever and whoever they are, are
probably worrying along in the COM
muter class.
Coronado's golden dreams were
shattered, but they have now mate
riaized in all their splendor.
Sordid business, you say, when
spectacular advances in Omaha
property values are mentioned.
But no-romance still lives. lmagi-
nation, and daring and the spectacu-
business of the twentieth century as
they did in the hazy time when Coro
nado made his search for the myth
cal cities of Cibola.
Seventy odd years ago Omaha
was chiefly a trading post with
main street extending not more than
five blocks west from the banks of
the Missouri river. ...
Strange Realty Firms
A real estate firm, the first in the
state, was offering the following in
Gucements for unwary pioneers:
Lots will be given to persons who
will improve them. A newspaper,
The Omaha Arrow, is published
weekly at this place. A brick build
ing suitable for the territorial legis-
lature is in process of construction,
as is steam mill and brick
iotel."
This bit of "come on" literature
was circulated in September, 1854,
with map which showed a steam
Jerry at the base OF Davenport
street. The map also showed "Emi-
grant road" leading to the west
ward. Farnam street was simply a
trail
But pioneers responded The
trading post became a village, the
village town aud the town city.
And the golden dreams of Coro-
nado began to materialize-to the
benefit of those who did respond.
One Responded With $50.
Fifteen years ago Harry A. Wolf
arrived in Omaha. He had $50 With
The $50 he rented an office and pur-
chased desk. When he had done
this h1had approximately so cents
left.
With this capital he entered the
real estate business.
Today he controls Omaha prop
erty with an estimated value of
$5,200,000, na,t tely, the Hotel Fon-
tenelle building, the Hotel Conant
building, the Brandeis theater and
Saunders-Kennedy building, the
Electric building and the Baird
building.
Romanceless? No, we deceive
ourselves when we think OF the pres
cnt being entirely devoid of senti-
ment
CroesuS, a poor boy, started with
nothing and at the age of 40 was
wealthy beyond count
But He Was a Piker.
But the total resources of Croesus
were but a fraction, of the profit of
single deal made BY some of Oma-
has poor boys.
Two years ago A. w. Gordon
bought quarter block at Ninth and
Dodge streets for $4,000. He re-
Gently leased the quarter block for
80 years on 100000 valuation
Last August w. T, Graham pur-
chased lot at Thirty-third and Far
nam streets for $1,000. The same
month he sold it for $4,000.
Several years ago c. w. Martin
B. R. Hastings, E. NJ. Slater. H. A.
Wolf and Ernest Sweet leased the
Bee building for 90 years. They re-
Gently sold the lease at profit Of
$4,000 apiece.
Coronado's golden dreams have
Indeed materialized!