The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-01-31
UNIQUE REAL
ESTATE DEALS
Some Unusual Reasons Have Been
Given for Selling Pieces Of
Property Which Have Little
= Histories Attached.

| The Buffalo New York Times tells
an interesting story of some unique
real estate transfers which have come
under its observation at different
times. Perhaps Keokuh has nothing
to equal them, but there are lots Of
golden opportunities around here
waiting to be picked UP. The paper
says:
Sometime ago we recorded the
diverting circumstance of a gentleman
In New York whose property hold
ings' in the Brooklyn bridge took so
much of his time. and were such a
burden. that he Just felt compelled"
to part with this valuable posses
sion" to the up-country gentleman for
the trifling sum of s250OOO-s5,O00
down. With an "unselfshness" as
rare as 1t was conspicuous, the
owner" did not come back for the
remaining s245.000
Sometime later another resident of
New York City disposed Of mis- IAN
cestral mansion" in Riverside park
for $4,500-S1, 400 down! He ex-.
planned to the "agriculturist" who
thus became possessed" of Grants
tomb, that the reason the sale was
made for SO modest a sum was that
the grandfather of the seller" had
peculiar notions in architecture, and
had constructed the mansion" with
out any windows
Sometime following this interesting
real estate transaction" three gentle
men from Peoria, ILL.,. on a visit to
Chicago, were made acquainted with
the astounding fact that the Masonic
temple there was capable of "revolv-
Ing" on huge turn-stile which
formed its foundation" and that Tor
the modest sum of $50 the engineer
would make 1t to revolver 'rhe OPP
portunity for the beholding of so
unique a spectacle was not 20 be ig-
aored, and they confided the $50 to
heir informant, who told them to
wait right there" until he saw the
engineer and completed all formali-
les. 1t is not recorded whether Peo-
ia has yet welcomed back her three |
fAlecks in Wonderland; but their |
trustfulness has, at all |
events, resulted in added distinction"
o that metropolitan center.
OF course it may be very, very !
wrong, but the original sin in us sim
,ly renders it impossible to refrain !
rom enjoying the story of how some:
.ody. sold property rights" in the
Lorth pole to farmer for the very
easonable sum of $4,000. The aurora
orealis was thrown in. Tossing away
heir property" seems to be the reck-
ess fashion of these real estaters."
he details of this transfer" are in
One of them is alleged to
ave consisted of a unique descrip-
ion of the north pole, which was
more or less than rod of
teel projecting from the center of
ne earth" This pole was the dis
agency of electricity
the earth" A dredging
coop attached to this bar of steel
-ould dip up thousands Of tons of
:e. and rotating, as such scoops do,
ould by the force of wireless gravi-
.tion," deposit the cooling treasure in 1
he designated place.
It needs no mathematician to calcu-
tie the profits" The party of the {
her part" knew a chance when he z
wv it, and then and there purchased
/ rights" for $4,000. 1t seemed /
heap at the price.
What next? Niagara Falls Is lying
.ound loose; then, too, the natural
.idge in Virginia is available; also a
e Mammoth cave in Kentucky. Why l
e these promising parcels" thus s
ighted? Is enterprise" dead in this
ir land Of ours?