The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-02
THE WASHINGTON UNION.


delusion Its situation at the junction of the Minnesota
aud Mississippi rivers the impression for many
ttaned that such would he its future destDys beau
tfui location, its picturesque and striking scenery the
government buildings presenting TO the eye city in
byo, we'll calculated 10 dazzle the imagination and
blind them to the irreversibe realities around it,
IL will thus be seem by inspection Of the accoma
nyug evidence that whatever substantial diverstes
TO be in the testimony of the witnesses bearing upon
the value of the property results mainly from the i'm
preston which they have respectively received TO its
eligibility site for city, and believing such to be its
future destiny, they think that element in its speculative
value not sufficiently considered by the commission
in the price asked and obtained for the property
The undersigned being without the benefit of any per
sona knowledge OF the locality in question: and being
gifted with the prophets wand to remove the curtain
which conceals the future, will not venture to express
personal judgment TO what may be the future destiny
of this point at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mis-
sisspp rivers But IT, upon an occasion like the present
they to be controlled In their opinions by the testi
mony laid before them, they have difficulty in saying
that both the weight of opinion and the weight of facts
largely preponderae against the idea that the Fort Smell
ling reserve can ever be the site of city.
The witnesses who have expressed the opinion that the
value of the enhanced by the advantages of i
position us a town site Hon. Robert Smith, M G.
Smith, Adam d. Stuart, T. c. Hail. T. B. S. Todd, Cyrus
Aldrich, Captain George Thorn, Capt T. H. simpson, and
Matthew Johnson.
The witnesses who think that difficulties of insuper-
able character exist to its becoming the site Of city
the Hon. S. A. Douglas, Hon. H. M Rice, Hon. Charles
II.
u. s. A. Col Francis Lee U. s. A. Hezekiah Cullum,
Madison Sweetzer, Alex. G. Jones' g. b. Cthera Thos.
Moncure, Francis j. Hosser, Capt j. A. Whthall, u S.
A.. VIM. J. Cullen, II. L. Dousman, J. w, Iynde, S. A.
Medary, A. NJ Frdley, b. w. Brisbois Chas. H. Oaks,
VIM H. Forbes, and Geo Culver The grounds for their
opinions set forth by these last named witnesses strike
conclusive
The Fort Smelling is situated about six miles
north of st Paul. agrowng and ourshng city of l5 900
Inhabitants and about eight miles south of ST. Anthony
and Minneapolis, two prosperous manufacturing towns,
each with population ut this time Of from eight to ten
thousand inhabitants Whatever may have been the ad
vantages of Fort Smelling site for city, concur
with the Hon Stephen A. Douglass " that it is too
late to start town TO those with hope of
fairly competing with them The reservation is too
those other towns to become their rival and too far off
to be laid out an addition to either of them
Many of the other witnesses exhibit facts which, to
great extent destroy the idea that its natural position
ever adapted it for q town.
Hon, Henry M Rice states
In the early days of the settlement of that region only
which the Upper Mississippi were the smallest class When
the Gaena packets commenced running IN connection With Tho rail
very value OF Smelling property the pub
lie estimation more thanaD thing else. =
Again he says
of 1919 lift there Then had my depot me
Of ss steamboats, were unable get up there They could
short distance above s. Paul. but they could not get that
They landed freight three four miles below the fort and had
highest practicable point OF ,gao~ for eeclass boats They
the upper landing Of s. Paul the highest point Of navigation
Tor large cass boats in low water and though had buildings at
at 81 Paul bought portion OF what IL 81 Paul and
paid think twooars an acre for it, and pa up my store houses
'
Let us now examine and compare The evidence bearing
upon the question Of the value of tas property.
Major Eustmoa who made asurvey of il. fixes the guam
tty in tho ut 500 acres, of which 900
be states ia and irreclanable marsh such as
der he -Iunl act would paRs Inv donation from
the government to the State leaving but $500 fit
for cultivation of any kind This, at $50 00O the
price for which it Sold WAS equal to- or within few
cents of, $l4 per
Hon. Robert Smith states that he would have given four
times the price for which IL sold The honorable
gentleman admits that he has rather mania for land,
aud think his friends after reading the accompanying
evidence, will find reason to congratulate him that he
prevented by circumstances from going the 'extent
OF his pile and of investing all his Illinois property in
the purchase upon such terms. t
M O. Smith thinks it was worth S25 per for agri
cultural purposes but, considering its advantages as
town site, he estimates its value at S400. 900.
Cgy,s 317ch thinks il worth $50 for asri-
cultural purposes but, considering its advantages
site, he estimates its value at from forty to fifty
dollars a9
Ctoa George Thorn says the property could have been
sold TO have brought $3.50 900, and perhaps
Hitny u, Hancock estimates its value at $500, 900.
Captain James H. Simpson thinks that portions of it would
have sold at 5000 acre and of it less than $40
an
j. 9. Hal supposes, average, the land worth $l5
or $50 n
These ARE oil the witnesses who testify to value
exceeding that for which it sold by the commits
sioners
Hezeh'oh s. Cuiiom supposes IL worth something
than Sill per
j. @. McTogh, "From my knowledge Of the land
think it sold for full much it worth. do
not think it will bring that now
Madison S,ooefzer II do not think IL was worth
than 800 600 The question has been frequently asked
and have always said would give 500, 900 for
it, would not give that to day. If had the money
would not purchase IL ior 500, 000.'
Ale1apder c. Jones % Take the whole tract together
would not think it worth than Sc OF 81 an acre.
Andrao EYyson The land sold for more than
would pay for it.
g. B. Caheou fixes the .value of the tract, after a
careful estimate Of its different soils and capabilities at
1855, 900
Thomas Mercme 81 think the price paid for it, its full
value If / Ind been the purchaser would not have
paid that much for it,"
Francis r. Rosser q would not like to give even for
purposes of speculation, than 81 SO acre
Hon George l.. Becker: 81 should think IL would
hardly be considered worth than 49, So SI2 an
acre
Ca,snp j. A. Whi,aH: al do not consider the land
worth the price given for H. said at the time it was
the best sale of government lind had heard Of
g. r. Caliea i expressed my opinion 10 Mr.. Steele
at the time the sale made that thought il sold for
all il worth, and that he would get his money
back and / have not changed that opinion in the
least "
Colonel Francs Lee, y. s. A.: 81 think they paid
plenty for it,
H. H. Dousman I'll thought they got fair price
told Steele at the time that he gave about what it
WORTH
III y,.J, tho,o,t ,,ae ,yo,th fr,,,, 40 Srn 40,