The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-08-05

atty the property not Of the few. but of the many
The very heart of the third city of the U. =. A.
belongs 10 the "hoi poiloi." There Ia no Bolshe-
vism about tho hfty fifty division Of property.
The only stipulation Is that your name is Baker
or that you can prove your connection with the
family tree OF II supposed Colonel jacob Baker,,
who roamed these parts In Revolutionary war
days
just Imagine this. Some morning soon com
muters stepping on trains ut Broad street station
swnrming mp out of the Market street subways
In We eitye OF Brotherly Love may ind lock and
chain on the whole OF Philadelphias busy center.
There viii be Hands on" and mo Trespass'
signs everywhere. Pretty soon the sheriff viii
appear. Upon stated day he win auction or
all this property at sherir's sale,
The proceeds nre TO pay OH the claims OF the
heirs Of Colonel Jacob Bakers" estate. A for
tune valued AT something like AN even billion
of dollars long withheld from Its rightfu owners.
il al last Ia come into legitimate ownership
Ever hear of the Baker estate beforcf A
quarter of century ago someone started the bali
rolling According To the story. Colonel Baker,
MI officer In the army VI George Washington,
leased n tract of land In the heart of Philadelphia
upon which now stand city hall, the big depart
ment stores, the skyscrapcrs aud whatnot OF the
central city The lease wns To run for u period of
10 years II appears that the lease was either
lost sight OF or wilifuly destroyed and the prop.
erty passed 10 others.
Al first the claims took In nearly all the terri
tory between The Delaware and the SchGylkill
rivers and from Poplar to South street.-The very
heart Of the city. As the years rolled on the
claims we're considerably modified. Lawyers
pointed out how, for slight consideration" they
could restore the ground to its "rghtfn owners"
and bring half the banks and trnst companies Of
Philadelphia To their knees,
As the story developed. IL seeucd that the fam.
ny OF Colonel Baker removed To somewhere up
In Canada, after his death In Philadelphia intcs
tate. Then the sauapers lived the land In
accordance with the famous myear lease made
during IN. ReNnutkn. Forty years ago the first
talk OF claim was aired, There was lapse
of some II years and then the bubble brought
forth again to glisteu In all It's rainbow colors,
Now there Is odfashioned renaissance Of
the Haker bubble scale not heretofore at
tanned All over the country there expectant
people Just aching FOR the money With which 70
doll themselves cut With llmoasines. trick clothes
aud flashing diamonds
And there's plenty Of whercwihal. so fnr as
the value et the district In question Is concerned
The map given herewith gives hint OF the
values.
The city hall cost Saaoaoro. the Adelphla
hotel % Is valued az S2.3eoeoo. the Rit.
Carlton CO.. at $4,000 aud the bellevue
Strauord cosv by. at $J.tsneo0 Their are sorrS
Of buildings with than a million each such
the Real Estate Trust. S3.75oooo: Widener
xJ.3oouo: Lincoln. S2,33Naa; Liberty $2,Slnnn. .
Union League. S3iuuo. Land Title. SJ.3oooIo /.
Morris. $4,000 aud Finance S2.3oonoo
Independence hall 60 i In the district; 50 Is
Franklin square and Franklin's grave (+9l. 9th.
er noteworthy structures In the district are:
=. yendlg.