The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-07-22

anty the property not OF the few but OF the many
The very heart of the third city of the U. s. A
belongs the 'hoi poloi." There is Bo'she-
vism about it-no fifty-ffty division of property.
The only stipulation is that your name is Baker
or that you can prove your connection with the
family tree of supposed Colonel Jacob Baker,,
who roamed these parts in Revolutionary war
days.
Just imagine thisl Some morning COM
muters stepping off trains at Broad street station
swarming up out of the Market street subways
in We citye of Brotherly Love may find lock and
chain the whole of Philadelphia's busy center
There will be Hands OFF, and mo Trespass
signs everywhere. Pretty soon the sheriff will
appear. Upon stated day he will auction off
all this property at sheriff's sale.
The proceeds to pay off the claims of the
heirs of Colonel Jacob Bakers" estate. A for
tune valued at something like billion
Of dollars, long withheld from its rightfu owners
Is at last to come into legitimate ownership.
Ever hear of the Baker estate" before? A
quarter of a century ago someone started the ball
rolling. According to the story, Colonel Baker,
an officer in the army of George Washington
leased tract of land in the heart of PHILADELPHIA
upon which now stand city hall, the big depart
ment stores, the skyscrapers and whatnot of the
central city. The lease was to for period of
~ years 1t appears that the lease was either
lost sight of wfuy destroyed and the prop-
erty passed to others.
At first the claims took in nearly all the terri-
tory between the Delaware and the Schuylkill
rivers and from Poplar to South street.-the very
heart of the city. As the years rolled on the
claims were considerably modified LAWYERS
pointed out how, for slight consideration" tbev
could restore the ground to its "rghtful owners
and bring half the banks and trust companies of
Philadelphia to their knees
As the story developed, it seemed that the fam
lily of Colonel Baker, removed to somewhere up
In Canada, after his death in Philadelphia intes-
tate. Then the squatters lived on the land In
accordance with the famous 99-year lease made
during the Revolution Forty years ago the first
talk of "claim" was aired. There was lapse
OF some 10 years and then the bubble was brought
forth again to glisten in all its rainbow colors
Now there Is od-fashoned renaissance of
the Baker bubble scale not heretofore at
tanned. All over the country there expectant
people just aching for the money with which to
doll themselves out with limousines trick clothes
and flashing diamonds.
And there's plenty of wherewithal so far as
the value of the district In question is concerned
The map given herewith gives a hint of tbe
values.
The city hall cost s26,OO0OOO; the Adelnbia
hotel (1) is valued at $500 900: the R,tz
Carlton (9) at s2,20O,o00, and the Bellevue.
Stratford close by, at S50O0oOO. There are scores
of buildings with than million each sucb
the Real Estate Trust. S3,750OOO; WIdener
$63OOOOO Lincoln, S2350,00O Liberty 50 $50 OOo
Union League, $3,100000; Land Title, $73oo.o 600:
Morris, $2,7000O0, and Finance, 50, 100000.
Independence hall ~ is in the district: so ia
Franklin square and Franklin's grave (49) Oth
noteworthy structures In the district are:
2. Vendig.