Evening journal., 1922-02-27
THRONG At
AUCTION OF
5O3 HOUSES
(Continued From First Page.)
Company Of Washington. ID. C.. a
Sfs.6OO. after spirited bidding.


Writing OF new chapter OF the
history OF real estate was begun In
the Auditorium this afternoon when
Gerth's Realty Experts began SELL
ing for the account OF the 4. s.
shipping Board Emergency Fleet
Corporation sos houses. four stores
one store with apartment overhead.
one-six family apartment and two
vacant tracts OF land which have
been cut into lots. at auction. The
Auditorium was crowded to capacity.
More than 1000 persons ebing pres
ent when the sale was opened.
Mayor Harvey was present when the
sale started
Bids for the entire housing project
were called for first, then individual
bids are to be asked.
SO anxious were thousands OF
persons to obtain the properties Of
fered that lines were formed in front
OF the Auditorium IN the darkness
OF the early morning hours. In the
lines were not only tenants. local
residents. but prospective bidders
from other cities. Among the visit
ors were men representing large
syndicates and many spectators
who make II a point TO attend an
such sales. Secret Service opera
tives and number OF policemen
were in the gathering.
As one entered the Auditorium
one noticed information booths
where five members Of the Gerth or
/ ganization were answering all sorts
OF questions, being asked by, anxious
inquirers Before one reached ones
seat a large curtain In colors show.
/ ing every house In Union pari
. Gardens In detail and which Writ
ually brought the property into th'
] Auditorium. caught the eye. II wal
a masterpiece so far as bird's-ey'
views are concerned. II hung behind
a platform 20 feet long and fee
wide. which was especially built FOL
the occasion. decorated with re,
and white silk. on an sides Of th'
han were large palms which set of
the white interior Of the place.
To the left OF the platform wer'
tables especially provided for news
paper men and 90 the right NOR
tables for members Of the u. $. Ship
ping Board Emergency Fleet Cor
poration who had motored from
Washington for the auction. In tn
center Of the Auditorium 500 chair
had been roped off for tenants an
wives. These had been pre-empte'
early.
Promptly at 1 o'clock Charles
Gerth. head OF Gerth's Realty Ex
perts. and chief of staff Of the auc
tioneers Of this organization, bega
reading the terms OF sale, explain
, ing every paragraph. He then CAV
brief history Of the Union Par
Gardens project, saying In part tina
the l.. S. Shipping Board Emersen
ICY Elect Corporation had spare
neither time nor expense In deve
, oping this Government housin
project. He called attention TO N
fact that Union Park Gardens ha
. cost Uncle Sam more than $4,000
1 and he said while he realized thi
, Wilmington had taken great prid
in the community. there was
doubt in his mind whether or nc
the true value OF II was fully an
, prociated.
Mr.. Gerth said he would be keen
2 ly disappointed OF the tenants di
not take every advantage OF tn
. opportunity offered them TO bu
their own homes. He added that
they and citizens OF Wilmingto
other than tenants did not gras
the opportunity 1t would be no fau
Of his or the L. S. Shipping Boar
% Emergency Fleet Corporation, a
everything possible had been done
enable them to bid and acquil
homes.
In the course OF his remarks NJ
Gerth explained what It meant,
his opinion. to own a home in q
city Of Wilmington instead OF payir
rent In straightforward languag
he pointed out why renters in Wi
mington should seizez the chance
buy the property offered. He pie
tured the man with the rent receil
in his pocket and compared him wit
, one who had a deed there.
The man whs. sings My COUNT
- Tis OF Thee with n rent receipt
:, his pocket" said Mr.. Gerth. "is on
r kidding himself and serenading n
I landlord"
MreGerth said that from his wild