ing George A. Armes in making such purchases and securing such options; now, therefore,

It is agreed that the compensation of said George A. Armes shall be determined by and dependent upon the success of the enterprise, and that he shall receive as his full compensation 10 per cent. upon the net profits realized from the sales of the property, the purchase of which they shall consummate, such 10 per cent. to be paid as the sales are made. For and in consideration of such compensation said Armes binds himself to attend to all the transactions relating to the purchase and marketing of said property and to hold himself at all times ready to perform such service. This agreement not to affect or interfere with such commissions as may be received by said Armes from the sellers or their agents, such commissions to be retained by said Armes. GEO. A. ARMES, ISAAC FROHAM, CHARLES J. KAPPLER.

Witness:

GEO. B. CLARK.

In order to be correct in carrying out this large transaction I called on a young lawyer, Mr. J. H. Ralston, who was associated with Judge Hillyer, one of the leading and successful real-estate. lawyers of the city. Mr. Ralston having carried through a very important real-estate transaction for Mr. McCrarey and Col. R. G. Ingersoll some time before, instilled confidence in me, and I decided that he was the man who could promptly help me in this large enterprise. I also employed another young lawyer, Mr. Edward H. Thomas, at twenty dollars a day to go with me to see the owners of property I had selected to purchase. Upon the closing of each transaction an iron-clad agreement was made, and afterwards proved in several tests where they tried to back out that I was justified in taking the steps I did to make the transactions binding at the time of negotiating.

Soon after these transactions were closed more than five times what the land had cost had been offered for several pieces of property, a company was soon formed called the Chevy Chase Land Co., the Bradley farm was laid out into lots and beautified and quite a large number of houses built. This spot is now Chevy Chase.

As soon as the matter was settled and the secrecy dispensed with the newspapers came out all over the country announcing the enterprise, and the following is an extract from the Washington Post of March 2, 1890, headed:

THE KING IN REAL ESTATE.

Col. George A. Armes Takes the Lead in the Business-Some of His Large Sales-His Early Military History and Retirement from the Army-Immense Transactions Negotiated by Him and Handsome Sums Realized Therefrom.

"It has been generally conceded that George A. Armes, U. S. A., retired, has come to the front as one of the leading real-estate brokers of the city, if not justly entitled by his business dealings and heavy transactions to enjoy the title of the Napoleon of his calling. It is known that his operations have been enormous, and his transactions, especially of late, are the heaviest ever reported in the District. Colonel Armes is well known here, although a native of the State of Virginia, where he was born in the year 1844."

*

January 7, 1890.

Mr. Herman K. Viele, the surveyor, called with me last evening on Senator Stewart and went over the lands purchased, which he is employed to survey. After he had gone the Senator authorized me to close for the 64-acre tract on Pierce Mill road. He also authorized me to pay $2750 cash to Judge S. R. Bond for his

ten acres.

January 8, 1890.

Spent most of last evening with Senator Stewart, who authorized me to purchase the Payne tract of forty-seven acres, corner of Grant road and Connecticut avenue extended for $500 per acre.

January 9, 1890.

Last evening Senator Stewart and I closed the transaction with Rev. Dr. Sterett at $700 per acre for his tract near Pierce Mill road. Mr. Frank Earl, my old clerk of Company E, Second New York Artillery, is my guest. He is interested with Senator Jones and Colonel Ingersoll near Mexico, N. Y., in a large transaction.

January 11, 1890.

Senator Stewart drove over the different tracts of land with me today, and is very much pleased with the whole section I have. selected to purchase.

January 12, 1890.

Spent over three hours at the Shoreham with the Senator on real-estate matters last evening, and he has decided to take the Bradley place of about 300 hundred acres.

January 13, 1890. Senator Stewart gave me $2500 today to close the Shoemaker trade.

January 15, 1890.

Did not leave Senator Stewart until 1 o'clock this A. M. Called on him today at the Capitol, and he authorized me to close for the Noonan tract at $40,000.

January 20, 1890.

I was authorized to telegraph Colonel Ryan $100,000 for sixty acres adjoining the Pierce Mill road property on Connecticut avenue extended.

January 24, 1890.

Spent most of last evening with Senator Stewart, and did not leave him until after I this A. M., when he authorized me to close the transaction with Mr. Walbridge. I did so at $500,000 for his tract on Pierce Mill road and Rock creek near Ingleside. Have also been trying to make a deal with Mr. Gates and Mr. Morgan for their property near Grant road.

January 25, 1890.

Senator Stewart kept me in his room at the Shoreham until 3 o'clock this morning going through business matters, and finally authorized me to take fifty acres of the Ryan tract for $100,000. January 6, 1890.

Senator Stewart and I drove over the ground we have mapped out to purchase. He is very much pleased with the Walbridge and Ingleside tracts, and we partly decided to bring our railroad up Seventeenth street until we can have Washington Heights property condemned in order to make a straight line for the extension of Connecticut avenue.

I made an offer of $100,000 to Capt. J. F. Rogers for his property, sending him a certified check for $5000. To the offer he replied:

War Department, Quartermaster-General's Office,
Washington, January 27, 1890.

Mr. Geo. A. Armes,

No. 1339 F Street, N. W.,

Washington, D. C.:

My Dear Sir-After a conference with Mr. Bullitt, I wish to say that your offer for "Chevy Chase" is declined, and I herewith return you your check for $5000.

Yours truly,

JOHN F. ROGERS.

January 29, 1890. Was with Senator Stewart until after 12 o'clock last evening, and he gave me instructions to close the Ingleside trade for $300,ooo, also to purchase the Green and French property. I closed the transaction with Miss French for forty-five acres.

January 30, 1890.

Was with Senator Stewart last evening, and he kept me until after 1 o'clock, authorizing me to purchase the Barr tract on Piney Branch road for $7000 cash; also the Klingle property on Rock Creek and Klingle roads for $129,000.

February 3, 1890.

Spent all of last evening with Senator Stewart, Senator Kellogg and Mr. Francis G. Newlands. The latter drove out with me over the ground we have selected, and he authorized me to take the forty acres from Austin Herr at $66,500.

February 4, 1890.

Last evening met Senator Stewart and Mr. Newlands at the Shoreham, and it was after 2 o'clock this A. M. before we parted. We all decided on carrying the railroad up Seventeenth street and through the Walbridge tract if it will be possible to get the charter. I was also authorized to pay Mr. Eslin $75,000 for his ten acres on Columbia road, and I closed the transaction with him today. Mr. Viele met Senator Stewart and myself last evening at the Shoreham with his maps and plan of the railroad, which appeared satisfactory.

February 7, 1890.

While with Senator Stewart last evening Stellwagen was represented as having made a statement that Ryan had offered to sell his land for $600 per acre. I very promptly contradicted the statement, saying that it was not true, and after a thorough investigation I proved that I had been misrepresented and placed in a false light by said Stellwagen, who seemed to be trying to run me out of the enterprise I am trying to carry out.

February 10, 1890.
Senator Stewart and

Mr. Newlands and Mr. R. Dulany met myself at the Shoreham last evening and decided on having a bill of incorporation drafted, in which Mr. Bullitt was also interested, but was not present.

I wrote a letter to Mr. Bullitt asking him to become one of the incorporators of the railroad, to which I received the following:

Philadelphia, February 4, 1890. Dear Sir-I have yours of the 3d. I have no objection to the use of my name as an incorporator in the bill to establish a cable road running out Seventeenth street and by Klingle road and the line of Connecticut avenue. I am very glad to hear that such a proposition is made, and if we retain Chevy Chase it will be agreeable to me to assist in the enterprise.

Yours truly,

JOHN C. BULLitt.
February 15, 1890.

Mr. Newlands, Senator Kellogg, Rosier Dulany and myself spent most of the evening with Senator Stewart, and we have decided to have a bill introduced in regard to the railroad.

February 19, 1890.

Mr. Morton and I went out to look at property yesterday, and he is becoming very much interested in this city. Mrs. General Hazen (now Mrs. Admiral Dewey) called at my office today and placed her Sixteenth and K street house in my hands for sale or