World's Fair Hotel on Sale in Pieces

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2089, 24 January 1896, Page 3

World's Fair Hotel on Sale in Pieces

Some of that class of structures in Chicago known as "World's Fair hotels." seem to have been destined to a peculiar fate. The better class of them are still in use. either as hotels, flat buildings or apartment houses. The cheapest of these structures have nearly all disappeared. With a few of th f, m final disposition is a more difficult problem. These are too good to tie sacrificed to make kindling wood, and not good enough, either in design or construction, to attract tenants. Since the grand rush of exposition days they are deserted. One of them, which stands on a busy south side thoroughfare, bears a big sign with this inscription:— : For sale—Doors, Windows, Window : : Sashes, with Weights, Jambs, Cas- : : ings, Laths and Planking, and other : : Portions of this Building. The building is still intact, but it will be sold piecemeal. If one wishes to buy a window the sign invites purchase. The man in charge of the building said he would rather sell the whole thing, but he couldn't, and therefore he would sell as much of it as he could. "If some one wanted to buy the front door, would you sell it?" he was asked. "Yep." "Would you leave the place open?" "No; board it up." "Supposing some one wanted to buy the weather boards, the outer portions of the walls, would you sell them?" "Sell anything." "The roof?" "Yks, or the foundations." "Have you sold any part of the building yet?" "No; just put he sign up." "Supposing one wanted to buy the roof and take it away immediately, would you sell it on that condition?" "If you want it just try me." "Why are you trying to sell the house at retail?" "Because it's for sale and there ain't no qualification on the word 'sale.' It's for sale at wholesale, retail, in job lots or on the instalment plan." "Would you make a discount if one would buy a good deal of it?" "Cert-a-i-n-l-y. Didn't you see the little sign out there?" The little sign read: Cheap in large amounts for cash. Then a man, seedy looking and rubicund, who had been reading the big sign, shuffled up to the salesman. "What'll you sell me a door knob for?" "Don't you want the lock that goes with it?" "No. I got th' rest." "Well, don't you w r ant the other knob? There's two knobs to a door," "I jus' want one." "Well, you're a little too retail for me." The chilly manner of the salesman repelled the rubicund man instantly and he went away. "You see," said the salesman, "it ain't no snap selling a hotel that's too good for kindling wood and ain't good enough for a hotel nowadays."—"Chicago Tribune."