Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-01-14

as well get a large sum as n small one.' Fo
what price will you SELF The question wa
repeated
'lmust have good price
We are willing TO pay what is fair an,
right.
'Ofcourse. No doubt you have fixed
limit to which you will go.'
Not exactly that said one Of the gentle
meu.
'Are you prepared to make an offer?
we are prepared to hear your price, snC
TO make report thereon was replied.
That's very valuable lot Of ground, sale
Smith
Name your price, returned one Of he
committee men, a little inpatiently'
Thus brought upto the point Smith, sf-
ter thinking buuiedly for few moments
said
'One thousand dollars an acre
Boh the men shook their heads in very
positive way. Smith said that il was the
lowest he would take; and so the conference
ended.
AT The next meeting of the City Council
a report on the town 10, was made, and The
extraordinary demand OF Smith canvassed.
IL was unanimously decided not to make The
proposed purchase.
When this decision reached lbe land hold
er he was considerably disappointed. He
wan'e3 money badly, and would have Jump
ed at two thousand dollars for the five acre
lot, if satisfied that it would bring no more.
But when the city came forward ss a pur-
chaser, his cupidiy was subjected To a very
strong temptation. He believed that he
could ge, five thousand dolas. as easily as
Two; and queted his conscience by the sal
vo--'An article is always worth what il will
: bring
! A week or two went by, and Smith was
about calling Upon one of the members Of
the Council, to say. that. if the city really
wanted the lot he would sell at their price.
leaving il with the Council to act Justly and
generously. when friend said TO him
Il hear that the Council had the subject ol
public square under consideration again
this mOr9Iog.'
Indeed 2 Smith was visibIy excited, tho
he tried to appear calm.
Yes; and | also hear that they have de-
cided to pay the exlrsvsgant price you ask
ed Tor lot Of ground at the north end of
the city
"A thousand dollars an acre =
Yes
Its real value, and not a cent more said |
Smith.
are lucky, The friend replied. The city is
able to pay
SO think. And mean they shall paw
Before The commiltee TO whom the mat
ter was given charge had time to call upon
Smith. aud close wi,h him Tor the loi. that
gendemen bad concluded in his own mind
that II would be just AS easy to get twelve
hundred dollars acre as n thousand It
was plain that the Council were bent uDon
having the ground. and would pay round
sum for il. IL was just the spot for public
square; and the city must become the owner
SO, when he was called upon by the gehte-
men, and they said to him
'We are aulhoriEedro TO pay you your price. =
le promptly answered.
The offer is no longer open. You de.
,lined il when il vas made. NV price for
hat property Is now twelve HUNDRED dollars I
Ia acre. i
The men offered remonstrauce bat il was
# no avail. Smith believed that he could "
get six thousand Tor the ground as easily AS
i've thousand The city must have The 10, e
nd would pay almost any price.
i hardly think 1t rgh;, Mr.. Smith, said
me Of has visitors, for ynu To take such an Il
dvantage. This square is (ur the public 3
.Ood'
Let the public pay them was the uuhes-
aIlng answer The public aie able enough
The locnIon OF tnls park at The north end G.
the city viii greatly Improve the value OF
our other properly it
Tins Smth understood very WELL But
e replied fC
Il am not sure of that. have some very
fong doub's on the subject. It's my opin.
~. hat The building contemplated erect
e viii be iAr more 30 my advantage. Be ie
Idt as II may, however am decided in sell
nc Tor nolhiug less than SIX thousand dol OF
RS te
We are only authorized TO pay five thou.
nd replied the committee. IL you agree
take that sum, we will close the targain on 10
le spot
Five Thousand dollars was a la,pe sum of ci
oney, and Smith felt strongly tempted TO th
ose IN with the hbera offer. BuI six thou. et
nd loomed up belure his itnignation, still
ore templingly. tel
i can get H.. SAID he TO himself. 'and The
opefty Is worth what 1t will bring pli
30 he positively declined TO sell il AT a
ousand per acre.
AT twelve hundred you will sell p lemalk- th
one OF The committee, as they were about Val
tITiug. th'
Yes. will iske Twelve hundred the acre. lar
hat is Jhe lowest tate. aud am not anxious th'
en- at thar price can do quite as well bu
Keeping TIN my own OssessiO0. But, as tO'
u seem beui on havlog II. ! will not stand mo
your way. When will the Council meet
ain y tai
Not until uext week Gu
Very well. If they then accept my offer. anC
will be right. But. understand me; if re-
ey do notaccept, the offer no longer re- pp
inns open. 1t is matter of no moment to wo
, which way the thing goes all
IL was matter of moment to Smith, for JoI
this assertion--a matter of very great mo ma
INT. lie had several thousand dollars to a d
y in the course of the next few months ON
ID purchases, aud no way to meet the pay ricl
mt, except by mortgages or sales of prop pro
y; and, it may naturally be concluded, acf
n he snlfernd nnnsidnrnhla nnnaainnsa dn L .