The Property Taxes Should Be Tiny Too

Chinese with dreams of emigrating to the United States are being attracted by a U.S. company’s advertisements of postage stamp-sized plots of American land for sale.

“Own a piece of America,” say advertisements for the 1-square-inch specks. For $650--more than a year’s wages for most Chinese--a customer gets a certificate saying he owns 50 tiny plots, one in each U.S. state.

After three days, more than 300 people in Beijing had registered to buy the tiny plots, although no money has yet changed hands.

The ad by American Acres Marketing of New York says the venture is to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America.

The main interest of many Chinese is not Columbus, but a visa. “Buying a bit of this kind of land might make it easier to get an American visa,” the Beijing Youth News quoted one prospective customer as saying.

But U.S. Consul-General Arturo S. Macias said Friday that land ownership is irrelevant in obtaining a visa.