The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-28

Aninsd He wished 70 Place lie coCy ora ie;ts, non
re seore@eI war am AA reply shere,', AID MAKE
AZ what time dd you nt add ,ess tss secre A,y Of
W.sf 4 think u was 10 April ! coutd aos give tho
psee % oa'e wrcss hastily and did keep s,ry o.
time me Territory Of H,npesota was organizes; bad
e0ee many irenfs and some rea ivcs In thas regain OF
sossuy and as natter Of course felt good zeal OF
1eress IN the Torritory; while IN Congress t,ok
Hsnbe part In fixing the lines Of the territory; In is4s
Asst vsed thai region Of couotxy, and having frsnds
NJ trt Srell Bg the Indian agent, Major Murphy, being
an OLD constituent Of mpe-I mined the country hasu
- CURING NY vRits there II was frequently semarked
-1ss The at Fort Smelling c.' INTO 1b s1s
Intercourse there hoard the subject ecuepty spoken
Of; Is Vas raid 70 ne by my aCqoaintAoces that Mr.
interest, would buy the property; my roply was
VA ! presumed not; THAI when tho propory !, was
::y ss would have W. ~ sS s Ss
u my letter was something like sh,: that ! bad
seen BY provision In Of the appropriation biils hI
10 knsW Of him the manner o. sale, whether would
sso ~ auction In forty trace, BY the legal land oca
Ia Is whole; that the properly was very valuable, and
nss there were many persons there Anxi rus TO ouy por
toes Of NJ that, Tor myseB would IKE to buy portion,
OF wouso make BID for the wnoie am frank 70 say
that old not believe able to buy the wbos o. that
property did expect hut wanted 70 provi TO TOT
and manner o. seling and that might advise very
many ehde aud who had made Inquiries OF me
y relation 70 the mater s,dressea .ns ,s.ses 1ns
Illinois; made many inquiries Of ioteigcnt gentlemen
vhrD supposed woud know in reference 70 the matter
Ia Il your opinion that the Secretary Of War exer
On SOUND and proper discretion, under the act o. Cjn
souls not Give sssssoo,y ana YER 20 the inquiry wtn
out little explanation; think the reserve might have
been reduced to thousand acres without any detrimen
whasever - the government; but must say tliok
6emey ipjuoicious 70 have sold the improvee tho
tsss and fufcient ground around FOR military depot
Dsaurely reflected on the subject aad say there what
believe you'd have been willing TO have conc to tho
extent " the money could raise IN buying that pro
perry Ut The price which stated In 10Y letter; woild
have sold property at cash prices 70 be appraised by dis
Interested persons have raised the money have par
chssse the property At four times the rate at whco
ssIa-that h at times Sli per acre. for waich
been informed s0d forI wil 10 the committee that
% sos know 70 DAY ne price the property was sold for
hg letter 70 the secretery Of War after had informed
hin hat, no one else dij should bring the matter oe
pi o." Western phrase, N have purchased a.
tsur times $50 600 not travelling out of the record
oak in my nfe thu think could ha sold that pro
Dery last spring, ~ woeu the act passed last March,
bas becn commissioned with or tao other good, DIS
eject sensible mem We could have cut up the property,
and sold for bali million dollars heard OF
N approaching ouaoo there Of any efforts
10 sheet THAI sale and bound 70 say thas did
poa beieve the tipe, do believe that toere
wooie bAve been any difficulty In selling that property
as 70 bsve he'd como into market n s full value when
I eak Of there being numoefs wanting TO puy, allude
u seultrs there, and not 70 persons from abroad
Zen. John G hasntr sworn and exsmined-Q. Havo
know edge the facts ADD circumstances attend
ne reofnt sale Of the military reserve At Fort sne
Aef A. have.
Please state TO the committee all the facts and cir
sunsAncss within your know edso conne,ted With said
salef The properly was par ,hssed by Mr.. Stoele Of
~ comm ssoners or agents appointed b. toe govern
ment, Major Ea.tman and Mr. Heskell. The owners Of
hat property Franklin STEELE, Archibald Graham,
= shaSd Schel and myself. Mr. Steele owns one third,
Dr. Graham, Mr. scheli and myself the balaoce
Had he nj nen Mt
ledge that the parties mentioned by you other than Mr.
see we're TO be Interested in the purchase Of the pro
per'yf A. am not assro that they had.
Had you any Interview NTH any Of the com mission
70 sell that property touching that subject prior TO
spss subject Of the rale At Fort Selling few
days, think, amer the sale vas consummated.
Were you In that nesnborhood prior TO the SAILOR A.
had passed through there my way 10 Fort Riplcy
wss the fac, thst the sale bad boon made kno at
The time you ut Fort Sneng After he sale bad been
O The price paid for ths, property wss 80 900 What
I'D you and those who Interested with you regard
vosh a The time ths purcn.ss w.s m.des soasss
VIVA Mr. seee, who had been upon the property for a
greet many years, and IN whose judgment bad full con
Q Was there any undertaking agreement, ex-
pressed implied BY which other parties were 70 be In
;h s 9s sSc 1oressss o. Mo ess
made The purchase, Intended - ocr 70 other parties in
New York interest, q aid not Ike TO shoulder 70
-, bat changed my mind. Messrs. Steele, Graham,
Sshe and mytsf are the cole owners other parties
b. previous updcrssndpe Or suosequcnt srrsneement
Told Dr. Graham In Minnesota that thought We should
We're there or mot sumber Of persons II Fort ssel
ns Sssirous Of purchasing This property A. Z DO not
tsenent, weud or nct in your Judgment have brought
q much larger sum than you paid for W A. think
q, have s,ss SSs ss S %
have sroushf' A. think poruon o Il would have
issSss portion wsuid have oroushi lss.
yrs.sn. anss 4. DO nos anl would bring near WHAT
q Would you be willing 70 surrender y 70 she govern
.ent and take the money you have p.id with Interest,"
O Would you be wiling 70 ate from outside parties
What you PAID for IN A. would NOT
nns~; have never though, tho subec. over; bought
O then you have not ased 10 your iudsmcn, what you
would be willing TO take for ~ A. have not
O You are however, satisfied that you paid for the
property more u an IL IN WORTH A. am not; saS
NOV now b.. .sIns bs D sS ysss VIII pay Us very
well; wIl however, require great deal OF money 70
Hsd you an understanding with Mr. Steele before he
made tho purchase that 700 were 70 be intercsedf A.
q when had you Thai understanding A Afscr ar.
Mr. Nsihsr projected TO say tina. be met nr Graham at
Bxowns Hotel, WAehDgton, about INC purchase OF me
property heard that 70 70 sold through the Law
cent him; Richard schcI and he talked Ne~
York while IN Warrington tho Secretary Of War; but
he'd conversation the subject be went W Minnesota
government agent " examine the Fort Ripley property
wNh reference 70 pre- emotion right claims, but had no
sushcty 10 sell Forts Ripley and Armstrong 10 Illinois he
made report in writing do rot know how be vas soccscd
agent hc did not solicit the appointment he received
shs regular fees Of - day. and more FOR his services
remember either the number Of days the ag
gregate amount no received steele paid third OF the
purchase money and be and schel the rest DIT Graham
70 make right with them did think the agents
Of the could have goa for py other
mode Of sale than they pad great deal Of money should
brdace before would pay several persons said they
had pAd enough for u, and others said they paid
mach Stephen A. DouGlae was Of those Who said they
PAID enough he (witness) vas not lawyer bat he
40 The contract Of sale 81 6scclcs request his
from Fort Ripley; be took pains 70 conceal from
that he was interested but he did not tell
them 80; the commissioner Afterwards changed The con
eysct, but be could not specify IN what particulars
q nd you not know that you were violating the law
the usage q the government N stpalsng that the pur