Ledger # 2 of Walter B. Gwyn

I intend to go again soon, and try to find all that I can and I mean also to find out, if possible, who was his cook, etc.

As a whole, the furniture that is there is well preserved, and I suppose, that, even allowing for actual losses, the increased rental you obtain from the furniture makes up for damage.

If the house was unfurnished, there would be less probability of getting strangers to take it, but on the other hand, more chance to rent to a person[?] resident tenant, a[t] a decidedly reduced rate. I suppose on the whole, that the better plan is to let it remain as it is, and I will do my best to see that future tenant do make away with the things. Mr. Rankin and some others went with me to the house and we found the screw holes where he had had the [?] [handwritten above ?]  door spring, the causa belli, the eye-opener, screwed on so the door between dining room and butler's pantry.

I found nine thousand eight hundred and seventy three empty beer and wine bottles in the cellar, but I hesitate to charge them all to Boni [?], as some of the other tenants must have left some. I forget how many were there when you left the house.

Dear Sir:

I herewith inclose [sic] bill for reporting Pack-Bollins wedding on 16th Inst., which I will thank you to refer to the proper officer.

I have never seen a copy of the paper, but your files will of course show article Ad.

Yours Truly,

W.B. Gwyn
May 30, 1895

"The Leader" in acct. with W.B. Gwyn - 1895, May 16th. To reporting Pack-Rollins wedding, .... Received payment,

May 30, 1895

A. M. Moore M.D.

The Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sir;

Since writing you a smaller house in my charge has become vacant, and is now for rent.  It is Hartshorne house on Montford Avenue, one block from car line- cars run every fifteen minutes.

It is a delightful house every way, and cannot fail to please.  It is furnished with standing furniture and quite a good deal  of other things, and the rent is only fifty dollars.  It is the best built houses I ever saw, nicely arranged.  One small bed room down stairs and three up stairs.  Bath room, two water closets, range, furnace, etc.-stylish parlor and dining room, and locality unexception [sic] able.  I forget whether or not your attention was called to it when you were here, but you will find it all that I have recommended. Please write me if you received my other letters, and when you now expect to come along.  There is excellent demand for houses now. Both of Mr. Woolsey's houses are rented, but Mr Lee's is still to be had(?).

Yours Truly, WBGwyn

June 1, 1895

A.A.Laney Esq.,

Hazel, N.C.

Dear Sir:

Some one told me you called at my office to see me about the unsettled balance of rent due for last year on the Pack lot No. 2 near Bingham schools.  I hope you will come again soon, as I am generally in my office, and is hardly likely you will miss me again unless you call out of business hours.  I am in the office by 9:30 sure in the morning, leave about 1:45 for dinner and get back about 3, remaining till about 7.

Yours truly

Geo. F. Pack, Esq.

City

Dear Mr. Pack,

I gave lots No. 9 in block I, numbers 1,2 & 6 in blk II to Coaton [Canton?] for sale until four months, or rather until Oct. 1st., to be exact. I also made him a map on a large scale, showing only the lots placed in his hands.

Annandale, S.C.

I herewith enclose contract with Mr. Phipps for the handling of the Boilston Mining property, which you will kindly forward go to him after reading it. I have not seen Rollins since I got the letter you wished me to hand to him. The letter was signed G.M. Roberts, which fact you seem to have overlooked.

I mailed the letter to him yesterday. I understand from Cal. Jones, who [have] been trying to find him and get back the option to Sowers, that Rollins is in Maddison Co.

I advised Jones to get the paper out of Rollin's hands., as I thought I saw by Robert's letter that they were trying to squeeze a little, though it is fair to Robert to state that he had not, at the time he wrote you, learned that you were in favor of asking fifty instead of thirty thousand dollars for the property. I have not heard a word from Allison, though I wrote him a week ago tomorrow. I expect to hear from or see him tomorrow.

Yours Truly

W.B.Gwyn

Enclosed please find specifications of repairs proposed to Pack House, (formerly Richard Pearson's residence) West Side French Broad River.

I write a like letter to Messrs, J.A.Tennent and J.A. Wagner.

Yours Truly,

W.B.Gwyn

J.A.Tennent Baq.
May 31, 1895
City.

Enclosed please find specifications of repairs proposed to Pack House, (formerly Richard Pearson's residence, west side French Broad River.

I write a like letter to this to Mesaras. J.M. Westall and J.A. Wagner.

Dear Friend;

I received your favor of a few days ago. First, in reference to the Boilston matter; we placed the property in the hands of Henry P. Phippes, who married Mr. Hazzard's daughter, for sale until the 30th day of September next, at fifty thousand dollars cash, we... to pay him 5%...I don't suppose anything will [?]. Regarding the sale of the little lot, I enclose an advertisement which you can send to the "Citizen" here, no later than Monday, so that  they can print it on Wednesday as stated.
It will be necessary for you to be present at the sale, and the matter is worth at least that much to [?] a chance to see you.
You cannot buy the property, but [?] anybody here can bid it off for him. The [?] can be made to him individually, or so to [?] the trustees, and he can afterwards convey it as trustee. Of course I would be very much pleased to see Jules again too.
You must come and stay with me. Perhaps you had better get J. to copy off the notice, and have it all in type-your name should be very plainly written or they might get it [?] instead of [?].

If any of these properties interest you sufficiently to make further inquiry, write me and I will give all information in my power.
Yours Truly,
W. B. Gwyn
June 1, 1895

C. H. Hartshorne Esq.,
the heat
New Jersey City
June 1, 1895
J-the heat did it! N.C.

Inclosed [sic] please find my check for thirteen dollars, which I hope you may be lucky enough to get cashed in spite of of the number of dollars called for by it. Today I paid for the repairs, painting and so on, and I herewith send you voucher of Mr. Tennent for the amt.
The thermometer stood at 86 degrees in the shade here yesterday and today (but I hope not "forever"). I  sup-pose that after Spring had at least succeeded in shoving Old Winter out of her lap she took a wild run out into the sun and thus [?] habit of young frogs. No! I don't mean young frogs, I mean young foks, fokes, or folks, in fact, just anything this peculiar type-writer and the wether (there it is again, I mean- weather, of course!) will let me say. It requires only a sharp, short and decisive effort of memory on our part, you know, to recall that tendency of last night- it was born and raised in Buncombe, and hangs on well. Young folks. They had a kind of wine at the press banquet.

Your favor of the 22nd. April 1895 was duly received, offering 1,400 tons of relaying 40 lb Steel rails at $21.75 per ton of 2240 lbs. delivered at Asheville. This is cheap, if the rails are all right, and still for sale at that price. I wish you would

Mr. Henry P. Phipps June 6, 1895

Orange, N.J.

Dear Sir,

I send by today express about twenty five pounds ore from Boilston mine for examination. Dr. Allison, who once owned a large part of the property and has been setting as caretaker for the company got the ore out, and says he can show just where it came from. Hoping assays will be satisfactory and lend to further examination of the mine, I remain Yours Truly,

W. B. Gwen

My Dear Friend June 6^th, 1895

I have just received your favor and you are right, so far as I know, in surmising that there is mullum perioulum in more.
It was my conviction in that theory that led me to defer writing about it. As for the expense, I think it is three dollars for advertisement, and about two dollar’s auctioneer’s fees, which latter you can save by trying this sale yourself. Poor as I am, I engage to pay you two dollars if you will yourself try the sale provided I am, be there to see and hear.
I never knew very long beforehand when I would go to  Hendersonville, and, anyhow, I was on business for an opinionated and exacting alert, and had to deal with shrewd attorneys on the other side, never staid over-night, and had my hands and mind full al day, so that we could not have had much satisfaction with each other.
All the day, I thank you for your indignation, and wish it was so often in this frigid world. It would seem that some people destined to warmer climate in the next world, would make as much as possible out of the low temperature in this, and try to supplement atmospheric conditions with inward blizzards.
Analogies never hold out when pressed to the “Ultima Thule”, so we must assume that the snow that covers the spiritual wastes is anything but white. I have heard of people seeing red snow at night, especially off in the woods where there is no contradicting witness- but I never yet heard of black snow.
 It is well for poor humanity that King David set the example of throwing himself upon the mercy of God rather than upon that of his fellow sinners; else what could be the hope of hot headed end hot hearted creatures that are cast out of places that are gladly recorded to chaste and heartless icebergs:
What fools we all be: a thought, an impulse, forgotten in a day and a comparative stranger a few hours afterwards to the very brain that that bred it, is thus by me consigned to cold type, and sent away off to Mills River to your critical eye. It might do for flippant comparative stranger between us two, but to write it: It is folly. Throw it into the fire, and write soon to Your Friend.

-W. B. Gwyn

J. G. Gaden Enq.
June 7^th, 1895
Vein Mountain, N.C.

Dear Sir,

            Your favor is just to hand, and in reply to your suggestion that the mine ought now to be in operation and making money, I must say that it is impossible to run anything without money or credit. It has been a very difficult matter even to raise money to pay taxes, and the property was in imminent danger of being sacrificed a few weeks ago. The county of Henderson had bought it at tax sale a year before, and the deed would have been made to the Co. or, more probably to a party who was watching his chance to get it, when a number of us chipped in and saved the property. I was, as usual the heaviest advancer, and the Co. now owes me something over ten dollars. We assessed ourselves at the rate of 2 and ½ cents per share- that is, a number paid that, as that assessment on all the shares was necessary to raise the amount of money required for the purpose would be 2 and ½ cts per share on 98 shares, say $1.45- Later, a number of us put in 50 ct each for the purpose of sending ore to Mr. Phipps- A like contribution from you would be right. I hope I may soon receive a P.O. money order from you for these amounts.
Yours Truly,
W.B. Gwyn
 

J.M. Westall Esq.
June 7^th, 1895
City.

Dear Sir;

We waited for you some time yesterday but you did not appear. Mr. Tennent was a few dollars below Mr. Wagner, and I suppose the contract will be awarded to him.
I have notified Messrs. Tennent and Wagner verbally, and take this manner of notifying you, that the bids for remodeling and repairing the Davidson-Pack house on College Street will be opened at my office tomorrow at 12’o’clock, all of you being present.
Yours Truly,
W.B.Gwyn
 

My Dear Mr. Pack:

I herewith inclose [sic] statement of account for May. If you have a copy of the tax lst [sic]  made out last year, kindly send it for guidance in making out list for this year.

I think I gave you a copy, or kept one myself -- if the latter it has been mislaid in moving.

Yours truly,

W.B. Gwyn

Mr. J.D. Grady
June 10, 1895
Dear Sir;

I inclose this to your father-in-law, Mr. G.G. Hill, as I do not know your present address. I want to know at once the lowest price for sale or rent of the house, that I must ask I have some customers both for rent and for sale. I must try to place them somewhere, or some one else will do it. One party wants to know as soon as possible the lowest price and the best terms, for the purchase of the house. He is going to see the house tomorrow. If you want to sell don’t put your price too high, as it is very hard to sell property in Asheville these days, as you know.

June 10^th, 1895
G.G. Hill Esq.
 Rutherford College, N.C.

Dear Sir;
            I have two or three customers for small houses, and like to know at once what is the least money I must take for the Grady house. I must have a communication direct from Grady himself, which you will please get him tow write me at once.
Also I would prefer when he writes, for him to set the lowest price for rental in case I fail to sell this property to any of the parties referred to. I want to strike while the iron is hot. It is harder to sell after the house is rented, as sometimes tenants hinder the sale of property by running it down to people who look at it, because they want to remain in the house themselves.
The friend Grady left in the house at ten dollars a month, did him harm, as the prices got out, and people are now saying that ten or 8 dollars a month is too high for a house that was formerly rented furnished at ten dollars. Let me hear from you at once and from Grady as soon as possible.

Dear Mr. Pack;

You asked me yesterday what I thought about the probable rental that might reasonably be expected from the Davidson house improved as proposed. I have been thinking about it considerably and comparing it with other houses -- the rental they have produced, etc..

The Edwards house, corner Chestnut and Charlotte, rented for several years furnished at $1500.00 a year, and when Edwards sold to graham, they divided the rent on a basis of $1200.00 for the house. Mr. Graham tells me that he is offered now $1200.00 a year for his house unfurnished, for boarding purposes. That house has only 12 bedrooms, including some small ones Mr. Edwards had made for servants, which I rather think are in the attic.

The Van Gilder house, having perhaps a few more rooms than y0ou would have, and some of them quite large, rented for several years to Mrs. Platt, furnished, (to what extent I know not), at $225.00 per mo..

I think the Maitland house, lately supplied with steam heating rents I think for $1200.00.

I think the Davidson house improved as proposed should bring considering the number of rooms, the situation and accessibility of the lot, the large dining room and other appointments fitting it for table boarders in dull times, $1500.00 a year unfurnished, or eighteen hundred ($1800.00) with say thousand dollars invested in hard furniture. And your petitioner will ever pray.

Yours truly,

W.B. Gwynn

Jan’y 27^th, 1896
Dear Bull;
 Your favor received, and such being the ease, please consider yourself absolved from all further liability to me on account of balance of the fee, through your friend certainly ought to pay the whole amount. I guess I can hardly tackle Spanish right now, having quite a sufficient amount of cussing to do in English.
 I know however, from what other friends have told me, that there is a great amount of stoic philosophy in the Spanish Literature, and I have no doubt much quaint and beautiful food for though.
With best wishes, and hoping you will be happy soon and long,
W. B. Gwyn

Jan’y 27^th, 1896
James M. Gwyn Esq.
Springsdale, N.C.

Dear Brother;
Your favor received, and I write to say there is no hurry about finding the certificate of stock in the A.& C.M.R’y Co. as there appears now to be but small chance of carrying through a project in which I had some hopes when I wrote you before. I have this moment thought of the other thing you mentioned, the rat trap at Dickerson’s store. I will go now and see about it.
I done been. I bought and paid for it, and also paid 25/express and addressed the tag to you at canton, and Bob Long promised to put it in the Express Office this P.M., so I suppose it will go along with this letter. Accept it as present from me.
Little Helen is getting along very well, and was out of doors today aon the back porch. Laura had not left her room yet, but is convalescent and I think will be around the house in a day or two. I am glad to hear your sick ones are again coming round all right.
With love to Sister Minnie and all the rest,
Yours Affection.
W.B. Gwyn

Dr. C.A. Schenok-

Jan’y 27, 1896
Dear Sir;
I receive yours of the 17^th, and have been expecting the load of wood you said in your postscript that you had ordered sent to me, a load (Cord) of scraps, at $2.50. I refer to the short wood wanted for the wood stove, concerning which on I wrote you on the 14^th, specifying that it must not exceed one foot in length nor ten inches in diameter. If some of it is over one foot in the length, it might fit at a round hole near the front end. Please send … and also one cord of good sound oak, which I will have cut at any house for a kitchen stove. This I notice by your price list, you deliver at $2.50 also making five dollars for the two loads.
  I could like these orders filled immediately, as I am running short of wood.
Yours Truly, W. B. Gwyn

Jan’y 28/96

Hickory, N.C.

Dear Sir;

Your favor 27^th [?] check $15.95 just received, and I have paid the token on the Bailey St. lot and herewith [?] receipt. Lots are beginning to sell right well again, when parties want them to build on. Write me what you are willing to take for the lot, and I will see if I can get a purchaser. Of I can get a purchased at your price are can their file a proceeding to seel the shares, of the minions at then proper indicate fast of said piece[?], and others make title.

H.C. Godfrey Enq.

Jan’y 30^th, 1896
Elizabeth City, N.C.

Dear Sir:
 I received from you a letter dated the 7^th Inst., acknowledging receipt of a letter from me to Walter A. Burnhem, from which I led to infer that you are a relative of Mr. Burnham, or else that you or the firm of H.C.Godrey & Co. have an interest in his lot here, the subject of my letter referred to.
 In the said letter you say: “We will take for the lot ($500.00) five hundred dollars cash. And in a postscript you say “In case you can sell, draw deed, send some to me, and I will send it to Mr. Burnham and have him sign some and return.”
 I presume that of course you are authorized to speak for Mr. Burnhem, or you would not have undertaken to do so. I thought the price named was a little too low, and I thought I would try and get more for it, and finally I have got a man to say he will give six hundred. There is only one other man that I know of who might buy in that particular locality, and I find his idea he is about the same or lower.
I presume Burnhem will be more than willing to allow me 10% commission instead of five, under the circumstances, in which case I will make no charge for writing the papers. I have been attending to the taxes &c. for a long time, several years, and had a great deal of correspondence about it.
Not knowing whether Burnhem is married or not, I inclose two powers of attorney to suit either case, as you will see on examination. Send him the one which suits the case, and tell him to execute and acknowledge before a Notary, or Clerk of Court of Record, as per certificates as attached. Tell him to be careful to fill all blanks. I have only a verbal understanding with purchaser, but hope to hold him to it if paper is executed promptly and retuned forthwith. Let me hear from you by return mail.
Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

[Geo. W. Pack in Afc. With W.B.Gwyn]

W.A. Smith, Esq.
Feb’y 1, 1896

Hendersonville, N.C.

 Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 28^th was duly received. My recollection is that we did not see anywhere that Lyman had listed the land. Regarding your suggestion of letting the lots go to tax sale again, and buying them at such sale, I must say I see nothing in that, as Lyman would have an equal chance to buy, and might claim a right to redeem after sale. Meantime, Mrs. Patton’s right to sue and annul the tax deed he holds might lapse. For full particulars as to the status of the lots, it seems rather to me that you should apply to Jones, who, as Mr. Farmer informed me, he considers Mrs. Patton’s local attorney. He has a partner, young and active, and there are[sic] only one of us getting somewhat old and infirm particularly when not regained as counsel. Of course I will aid in any way I can, but what information I might get from the record would, any way have to gotten again by Jones. As to the foreclosure proceeding, “White Egypt”, I have written B.L. Gralisan. Did Farmer speak to you about another letter, and shall I have an answer in a day or two?
Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

The Thompson Meter Co.,
Feb’y 1, 1896

79 Washington St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gentlemen:
I have been making considerable effort to get the Board of Aldermen to introduce water meters here, and to that end addressed a long communication, consisting of some eight pages of type written matter, making a copy for each member of the Board, some weeks ago. It made a deep impression on the members, and resulted in the adoption last night of a report by the water committee favorable to the purchase on one hundred meters. They will not however buy any until the Finance committee authorize them to make the expenditure and they will not buy them on credit I think.
They ware in trouble about how to commence, and in discussion last night some members proposed some impracticable plans as to selection of the persons who should be compelled to use the first meters. These suggestions would produce trouble on the ground of invidious distinctions being made, and I am afraid the board as at present constituted will have trouble in getting over this first snag.
 I think however it is reasonably sure that they will buy say twenty five or fifty meters in the near future, and I consider it highly important to your Co. to secure the first order. They asked me last night if there would be any discount on your published prices if they took a quantity, and I expressed the opinion that there would not be, and a member of the board remarked that your agent Mr. Snow had said the same thing. I noticed one of the members of the board with a folding blotter of the Kearsy meter Co. in his hand, and he said their prices were the same as yours. Now my fear is that that company have offered or will offer to make a discount on the first order in order to get their meters introduced here.
I thought best to write you immediately and put you in possession of the facts, so that you can determine your course and write me accordingly. If you are willing to make a discount, I can inform the board to that effect, without necessarily stating what it will be until they say just what they want.
Yours Truly,

W.B. Gwyn

R. L, Graham Esq., Feb’y 1, 1896

Dear Sir;

Parties owning the notes secured by the deed of trust to you write on “White Egypt”, the 13 acres below the Cemetery, towit, your brother Sir C.E. Graham, and Mrs. Annie E. Patton, want the deed foreclosed, and want me to attend to it, looking to getting my compensation out of the proceeds of the sale. Mr. Smith, the attorney of Mrs. Patton, suggested that, as you can authorize some one here to make the sale for you, under the late statute, and thus would not have to come your self, you would agree to turn over to me what commissions you might get if you made it yourself, and, if this is agreeable to you, I will write up the advertisement for you to sign, and also an authorization to some auctioneer here to make the sale in your place. Kindly answer at once, as they have been after me several times for not attending to it sooner.
Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

Mr. John N. Macomb.
Feb;’y 1, 1896
Lawrence, Kas.
Dear Sir:

I ought to have, ere this, answered your short letter of the 4^th Inst., but we have had measles in the family, which has interfered considerably with my business. My children are better now, and I hope out of danger. There have been many deaths from the disease, in other parts of the State, but none that I know of in Asheville.
 I inclose a letter from J.B. Cook, of Chetopa, Kas., which explains itself, and which please return to me. It is possible that you can strike a trade with this man for his place near Chetopa,, in exchange for say your village a property at Sylva and some part of your mountain lands near there. I think from the description that he has a right good piece of property. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remind.

Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

J.B. Cook Esq.,
Feb’y 1, 1896
Chetopa, Kas.

Dear Sir;

By the mail I write Mr. John N. Macomb, of Lawrence Kas., inclosing to him your letter to me of date the 2^nd January 96, and he may write you or come to see your client’s hand, though of course I am guessing at that. I asked him to return the letter hand if of no interest to him, and if he does not want to trade, or your man does not want his property, I will see if I can do anything with anybody else here, or near here.
Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

Fr, M. Allaton Esq.

Feb‘y 3^rd., 1896.

Tryon, N.C.

Dear Sir;

Your favor of the 30^th January was received, and in reply will say that all the cases are separate as they now stand, but it is probably that the Doubleday and Thomas cases will be consolidated, as they are so nearly alike. But the defendants are trying to make out that they have no relations whatever with you, and, will probably, almost certainly, insist that your case cannot be consolidated with the two other cases.
As to the plan of procedure when the cases come up for trial, it will be as other civil cases in case we do not succeed in having the trial referred to referees to be tried out of court. If we do, the referees will try them out of court, and will summon witnesses to testify before them the same as before the judge and jury.
There is no probability of a trial in the court for over a year, owing to the crowded condition of the docket.
Yours Truly, W.B.Gwyn

Chas. S Hartshorne Esq.

Feb’y 3^rd, 1896.

Jersey City.

Dear Sir:

Inclosed please find my check for $38.00, the rent for Jan’y, less 5% commissions.
Dr. Moore says he appreciates your desire to know somewhat in advance as to whether you will have him for a tenant for another year, but, while he thinks he will want the property, he cannot now certainly say so. In this connection, he says he has had an estimate made for a stable on the property, by Mr. Tenent, and that such as one as he will need will cost about $150.00. He wants to know whether you will have it built, and says that if he takes the property he will expect to pay an increased rental, say $20.00, to be paid the first month .This will make a round sum of five hundred dollars for the property, instead of four hundred and eighty as now.

We talked about his purchasing the property, and asked me he lowest price. I replied that the lowest figure I was authorized to offer it at was $6,500.00, but that I had instructions from you to report any offer of less. He said that of course, as he supposed, you would take a great deal less than that, which gave me an opportunity to bristle up and say that he was undoubtedly mistaken, and that I was by no means sure that you would reduce your price as much as five hundred. I then made some figures after he had said that he had ascertained what your house cost you, i.e., $3,600.00, and I had replied that my understanding from you was that there had been some extras raising that figure to $3,900.00.

I undertook to show him that a fair valuation of the land; and was $3,300, and that, if the house cost only $3,600, with ten percent off for depreciation, the value would still be $6,300.00.
He said that the house was unsuitable for most families, needing more rooms. That is true, Mr. Hartshorne, and might as well be recognized. There have been some good sales recently in that vicinity, particularly two lots near the Montford Avenue School house, one of which sold at $20.00 per foot, and I understand the lot is only about 150 deep. Two or three other lots in other parts of town have also sold at the same figures, to incomers. In fact, it is just about this way here, and I suppose elsewhere, that a person wanting a lot for improvement will pay a fair price, but will not pay half that price for another lot lying alongside, which he does not actually need. In other words, speculation is dead.

Now when it comes to buying a house, both the lot and the house must suit the purchaser, and you know that human fancy is quite capricious in the matter of houses, or we would not see so much variety in house building. Your house is uncommonly tasteful and well built, but has one quality that will impede its sale, and that is the fact that it was built for two people only, while most families have more than two people.
ERGO: I do not think that recent sales warrant you in raising your price, but should only encourage you to hope that the day is approaching when you can sell at or near the price you ask.

The last thing I asked Dr. Moore was whether he would object to my putting up a for sale sign, small and inconspicuous, on one corner of the property, and he said he would consider it and let me know.
As building the stable, or promising to do it, I suggest that you say that you want to sell the property this spring, but that, if you do not, you will give definite answer by April 1^st,. if he will be ready by that time to say whether he will renew the lease.

Asheville, N.C. February 4^th, 1896
W. B. Gwyn, assignee of Jas. W. Hallingsworth makes hereby his final report to the clerk of the Superior Court of Buncombe County…as follows. Referring to my report of date Feb; 26^th, 1895 on file in said Clerk’s office, it will be seen that the total amount of bills and accounts undisputed, and still in my hands uncollected, was two hundred and seventy one dollars. Other disputed accounts, as shown by said account or report of Feb. 26, 1895, were also still in my hands. I have turned over all the accounts (having collected nothing on them in the meantime) to the said Halligsworth in full settlement of balance of his personal property except in (?) the deed of assignment to me dated Dec. 4^th 1894- and taken his receipt therefore, dated January 30, 1895, and hereto attached – Of these ills, as will appear by reference to my said report of Feb. 26, 1895, the following named person deny that they owe Hallingsworth anything on settlement (?). J. W. Albright $6.95, J. W. Campbell $23.85, M. C. Nablitt $8.30, E. C. Starnes $6.85, R. R. Porter $54.54, Dr. Crawford $14.32. Of the undisputed account, a very small percentage, if indeed any at all, are calculable by law. Of the $1.33 (?) be in my hands at the date Feb. 26, 1895, of my former report, $1.00 was paid for filing said report, and the remaining thirty three cents will be (?) to pay for filing this report. I would have brought some of the bills, but had nothing on hand to pay costs, and Hallingworth declined to advance the money. I have also turned over to paid Hallingsworth, as appears by said receipt (?) attached, and asked to be taken as a part of this report. The law ledgers or account books, showing items of above bills and other sales of goods by him prior to the date of said assignment to one and also his (?) and bill file or case, containing various…(?). All of which is respectfully submitted, this Feb. 4^th, 1896.

W.B. Gwyn Assigned of Jas. W. Hallingsworth

O.E. Edwards Esq., Asheville, N.C., May 9^th, 1896
Blowing Rock, N.C.

My Dear Mr. Edwards;

This morning I had a call from the miller of one A.B.Shepherd, who has a little corn mill at the old Alexander homestead, ten miles below Asheville, the retreat of “Our Zeb”, you know.  They want only the small wheat mill- the one in the corner of the house that has sunk down with the said corner by the flood. They also want the smutter, and they want both for nothing on time. The miller did not exactly say that his boss could not pay for any of the price down, but the idea was to pay half the profits of the mill towards the debt until it should be paid. I told him to come back at one o’clock, and in the mean time I spun around and got all the information I could about such machinery. J. E. Dickerson said that he had used to deal in French Hurr mill machinery, but that, of late years that kind was being so completely supplanted by roller mills that he had not begot any for a long time, and had misplaced his catalogues; his best recollection was, however, that they cost from $175.00 to $400.00. He referred me to Henry Poland, who told me he had a mill, but had just taken out the stone and had put in rollers, and that the stones were for sale, but he had not decided what to ask for them. W. E. Breese was in the same fix. I then went to see Gen. Vance, and he said that the large stones had cost $300.00 new, but that they had bought them second hand at $200.00. The small ones, the ones these people want to buy, had been purchased by the General before the large ones, at a time when the tariff was high, and had cost him between $500 and $600. The smutter, he said, had cost either $150 or $160.

I then went to see T.S.Morrison about Shepherd, and he said he was a reliable man, who would do what he promised, if he could, but that he is involved, and nothing can be made out of him by law.
The miller came back to the office at one o’clock, and declared that new stones can be now bought for $60, and that some body of his acquaintance had recently purchased a smutter like this one for that.
I told him I wanted Shepherd to make an offer, but he did not tumble to that, and insisted on my prizing the property- I took Shepherd’s address, and said he might hear from me.

I will make further efforts to ascertain the ruling prices for new machinery of this kind. I can get it definitely by writing for it, but that would involve delay.

Yours Truly,

May 13/96

Mr. M.. Elvath
Orange St., City
May 13/96
Dear Sir;
I am sorry to say that Mr. Pack will not rent the Central Ave. Lot. He says he is preparing to build a cottage there. I will return you the two dollars any time.
Yours Truly

R. M. Ramsey, Esq.

City

May 15, 1896

Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack complains that your flour men have achieved the maple trees are as the need by and …Please see about it.
I advertise today for bids for that grading seated bids received ref. to noon of Tuesday next- see Lee for specifications.

Yours Truly,
W.B. Gwyn

W. E. Wolfe Esq.
City
Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack says something must be done right away about that lot matter. Please call. See me right away.
Yours Truly,

W.B. Gwyn

 

C. C. Cortland…

May 16, 1896

Mr. St. John-

Portsmouth, Va.

May 18^th, 1896

Dear Sir;

Replying to your inquiry about Dr. Karl Von Ruck, I have known him for some eight years, having located him on his arrival at Asheville.
The people of Asheville, as a general thing, hardly know Dr. Von Ruck, even by sight, as his practice is largely among visiting invalids who come to him for special treatment for lung troubles.
He goes out very seldom on call, but his neighbors speak well of him and I think it is quite generally admitted that, in his specialty, he stands second to no physician in the State.

He is a man of strong personality, and great intellectual force and, while somewhat blunt, has the reputation of coming bearer telling just what he thinks about a patient's prospects than some other physicians have.
On the whole, to the best of my knowledge, I would sooner go to him than to any other here for an intelligent and honest diagnosis.
Yours Truly,

Col. John W. Hinsdale
May 18, 1896
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Sir;
My friend Mr. W.W. Jones here, thinks you might sell me a set of N.C. Reports on long time, and advises me to write you. I am utterly insolvent, having over-bought myself in real estate in 1890, at which time I was very well off. I would really prefer to hire the books at a good rental per annum, with privilege of purchasing at a fixed price, within a fixed time, upon terms stated. Mr. P.H. Busbee and the Haywoods, particularly A.W., and Dr. Hubert, know me very well.
Yours Very Truly

H.B.[L] Esq.
Yadkin Valley, N.C.

May 21/96

Property of Starnes, Hargan and Heist
Asheville, N.C.
B.M.L.
Book 72- pge. 438

H.A.Heist Esq.,
East Germantown, Ind.
May 23, 1896
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 18^th received. As for reference, I can refer you to Mr. J.E. Rankin Cash’s, or J.P. Sawyer Prest Batter Park Bank, or W.W. Barnard Pres. National Bank, or any of our best citizens. I suppose I found the map you speak of, on record in Register’s office. I made a tracing of it which I inclose. There appears to be 37 numbered lots on West Side Pearson’s Drive, and three small on East Side that are not numbered. I would like to have your prices first on the lots fronting on Pearson’s Drive, as there is where to make a beginning. Hardly any one is buying on speculation- only for improvement, and it will be very difficult to sell all to one party. By selling as people want them, and getting improvement started, you will, in the end, get more for your property. There appears to be about enough land for one good lot on the East Side. Let me know your price for that piece and for the front lots on the West side, by numbers. My (?), is five per cent.

W.E.Wolfe Esq.,
May 26, 1896
City.
Dear Sir;
Mr. Pack is preparing to leave Asheville to be gone a good while, and he wants you to come and see me immediately about the lot matter. Mr. Pack thinks, in view of past transactions between you and him that your neglect of my requests as to this matter is unaccountable. If you desire to throw up the trade, you can at least say so, and I will see what Mr. Pack is willing to do about it. If you wish to carry out the trade, it may be it can be done on some better terms as to payments than originally proposed, though as to either proposition I am not authorized to speak for Mr. Pack- What I want, is to know what you want to do, not having complied with the agreement, and it ought not to be necessary for me to do more or say more than I have said, tog et you to come in and see me. So please come in, not later than tomorrow.
Yours Truly

S.C. Cortland Esq.,
City.
May 26, 1896
Dear Sir;
Lots Nos. 4, 5, and 6 of Block No. X of the Pack property are withdrawn from market for the present, pending improvements in the way of grading.
Yours Truly,

Lots 29, block 9 is also withdrawn until further notice.

Capt. T. W. Patton
May 26, 1896
City.
Dear Sir;

Mr. Pack is preparing to leave for Europe, to be gone a considerable time, and if you would like to sell him your land on the Richmond Hill road, please let me know at once what price you have set on it, whether you have been able to get McIntyre’s price or not.
You see it, takes a long time to get an answer from Europe, and then Mr. Pack might have to send me the money to pay you for the land, in case he should be willing to pay you what you ask.
It is probably that a knowledge of what McIntyre asks would enable Mr. Pack to make up his mind much quicker, as he would prefer to have both tracts if either.
Yours Truly.

J.A. Tennent Esq.,
City.
May 26, 1896.

Dear Sir;

I have seen Mr. Pack- he wants the posts boarded up to the tops. Any kind of old boards will do, he says. Yours Truly,
W. B. Gwyn
PS. I suppose cracks between might be as wide as 8 nickels, and I suppose the brands need to come nearer the ground their 2 feet. Yours, W. B. Gwyn.

Asheville, N.C. May 29, 1896
Dear Mr. Pack;

I have just heard from heist, he says he will not sell his lane except as a “hole.” He will not do that soon, in my opinion, at his price. May it not be pretty surely counted on that he or whoever he sells to will have sense enough to consider a proposition of exchange so that both you and he will have lots in good shape. I think it can be. I have just been put there. I think you need the Patton lot very much. From something that Lee said, I… need that it is from Patton that they are expecting to get the $1,000 to pay on the joint note, and also that Patton is hoping to get he money form you, for his lot, for that purpose. That house is a good deal larger than I thought it was. Of course it is quite roughly built, but it would not be such a powerful outrageous looking affair. What I want to suggest to you is that you will take the balance of Patton’s land at $500 if he will sell it for that, or offer him $1,300 or say $1,350. for the “hole” property. I think it would be better for you and for the neighborhood that you, rather than Patton should own the house, and it is just possible that you might regret not buying it even at $1,500. Mr. Cowley has agreed to take lot No:1, in block [F1?], and I have prepared the deed for Merrimon to sign as att’y.

Hope you will come over in the morning- would have come over to see you a while this P.M., but Mrs. C. is ailing some, and I ought to go hum(?).

Dear Sir;
Lot No. 18 and 17 of Block VI are sold- the price of lot No. 16 of…Block No. VI is raised to $600, by Mr. Pack.

Asheville, N.C., May 30^th, 1896

Messrs. J.G. Merrimon and W.B. Gwyn
City.

Gentlemen;

In case a purchaser should appear for the whole of my property bought of W.B. Gwyn Trustee, on both sides of the river, and some subsequent purchases I made of small lots adjoining it, for the purpose of getting it into better shape, I authorize Mr. Gwyn to sell and Mr. Merrimon to make title, at a discount of twenty five per cent on list prices as to the lands on this side of the river, and of thirty three and a third per cent on the lands west of the river, on the usual terms of one fourth cash down, and the balance in three equal annual installments at 6 per cent interest payable semiannually. Provision may be made for my release of any lot afterwards on the payment of the present list price of the lot, including 1^st. Payt. In case the purchaser should want only the lands on the other side of the river, I will deduct only twenty per cent off the price at which the lands are now listed. In case the purchaser should prefer to pay all cash down on either of the proposed trades, I will make a further discount of two per cent.
In estimating the price of the lands on this side of the river it will be necessary for Mr. Gwyn to put a first price on Block XII and the other small pieces named in the list as to be priced by him and adding such price to the sum of the prices of the lots and land priced by me in the said list, and then taking off the discount from the whole. Mr. Gwyn is also authorized in such case to price a lot recently bought by me from Menson McIntyre, and one I may buy from T.W.Patton, and may contract for my conveyance of it to the purchaser, if it should appear that Mr. Merrimon’s power of attorney does not cover those lots.
In case Messrs. Sawyer and Powell should accept a proposition for the opening of an alley along the south side of the Whitson lot from Pearson Drive to Montford Ave., I authorize Mr. Merrimon to convey in any manner decided upon for the purpose of dedication to public use, eight feet off the south side of the Whitson lot, when Mr. Sawyer shall have conveyed twelve feet off the North side of his lot and Messrs. Sawyer and Powell shall have worked out the alley or street to the satisfaction of Mr. Gwyn.
The case of either of the trades above referred to being made, Mr. Gwyn must accept a commission of less than five per cent to wit, three per cent.

Mr. W.B.Gwyn, City.
Asheville, N.C., May 30^th, 1896
Dear Sir:
I hereby authorize and empower you to release and discharge Mr. R.W.Girdwood from all liability against him, J. H. Lee, B.M. Lee and J.B. Cain, on the payment of one thousand dollars within thirty days from this date, provided that the other parties to the note are ere willing that I should release Girdwood as aforesaid.

S.C. Cortland Esq.
City.
May 30, 1896
Dear Sir;

Lot No. 1. in block No. 2 is sold. Mr. Pack requests me to say further that lots 12 and 13 in Block 1, and lots 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 in block No. V are withdrawn from market until l