The president of the Commercial and Industrial Association of Montgomery, Ala., in his last monthly report, says: “The real-estate market of Montgomery shows some evidences of improvement. From returns compiled of this city for the month of January it is shown that the increase of sales is more than 20 per cent. over the corresponding month of last year. The values of desirable business and residence property and also of well situated and improved agricultural lands have remained steady and are firmly held. It is also believed the spring and summer will show still greater activity, with perhaps an increase in values. There are comparatively few vacant houses for a city of Montgomery’s size, but the prospects and building operations will show some falling off the coming year.” * * * * * A tract of 1575 acres near Velasco, Texas, has been sold to J. B. Wagoner and J. T. Gould, of Eureka, Ill., for $19,687. * * * * * The late S. S. Houghton, a millionaire, and head of the noted Boston dry-goods house of Houghton & Dutton, built a few years ago a magnificent winter residence at Homosassa on the gulf coast of Florida. Mr. Houghton died last spring, and his widow has sold the Homosassa estate to Mr. J. A. Rowell, vice-president of the Merchants’ National Bank, Ocala. The building and grounds are said to have cost $100,000. * * * * * The building occupied for nearly thirty years by the People’s Bank in Louisville, Ky., has been sold to the Bank of Commerce, and will in a few weeks be occupied by the last-named institution. The price paid was $27,000. * * * * * A delegation of Northern lumbermen, under the charge of E. C. Randall, a real estate operator of Chicago, recently spent some time inspecting timber lands in South Arkansas. * * * * * The Little Rock (Ark.) Gazette publishes lists of recent land transfers in that city and in the county, from which it appears that the real-estate business of that locality is not suffering much from the hard times. * * * * * The governor of Arkansas and the State Commissioner of mines, manufactures and agriculture have invited the real-estate dealers of the State to file with them descriptions of properties for sale in order that they may have definite information to furnish people who are seeking homes in Arkansas and write to them for information about prices and location of lands. * * * * * It is said at Fort Worth, Texas, that there has not been for years such demand and inquiry for property as there is now. The influx of immigration has been unprecedented, especially in North and West Texas, many of the newcomers having located in Tarrant county, in which Fort Worth is situated. Renting agents report that the demand for houses largely exceeds the supply.