Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1885 — Perpendicular Real Estate. [ARTICLE]

Perpendicular Real Estate.

Apropos of earth, they tell a good story of Judge Jackson. He went out to one of the new towns of the Far West, which is built on a side hill. Real estate was booming, and real estate speculators flocked around him. One of them conducted him to a lot about as desirable for a residence as a perpendicular wall and said: “There’s the place for you! Only $6,000! Ain’t it fine?” “Ah, but it’s so steep in topography and price.” “That’s just it,” said the real-estate man. “You see that lot below it? Well, the man who owns it will have to have dirt to fill it up, and he’ll give you $5,000 for the earth graded from your lot.” The next day another real-estate man said: “I’ll show you a piece of property. There’s a fortune in it. Look there!” and he pointed down toward the lot below the side-hill that the other speculator had offered him. “Yes, but look at that lot above it,” urged Judge Jackson. “That’s just it, ” replied the speculator. “The man who owns it will give you $5,000 for a place to dump the dirt when he grades down his lot. The Judge did not buy any perpen-

dicular real estate. —i

Cleveland Herald.