The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-06-28

d. liz. NiillS as 10 lne real Value OF eHectS
which he sold at the college, he wished
to know whether he had got quid pro-
quo ? He had bed, " first-rate bed
and bedding, towels, washstand and ba
sin, and all the appurtenances for stu.
dents room we'll how much did you
sell them forl ga dozen watermelons
to treat my friends with )" you made a
good sale for the purchaser but don't
you report it to the old man." John
kept whist, no doubt. Those who have
dealt with "John" in after years when
all these lands came into his possession,
will not underrate his advancement in
the science of political economy, nor his
judgment in all matters relating to obusi.
uess affairs, and here we must relate
another story showing the nirvette of
the Backwoods. After "John" had
gone to Paris, where he now resides en-.
joying his fortune, his land affairs con-
tinued under the agency Of Mr.. John
Colegrove, who had always regarded
" John as sort of protege. No man
was more scrupulously exact than Mr..
Colegrove, and Johns" interest was
peculiar care. communications " were
necessarily frequent and usually dated
from his d" Hotel" Paris, Mr.. Colegrove
had often puzzled himself as to why
"John should stay SO long at Paris.
His communications " still continued,
dated as before mentioned, the idea that
"John" had retired from the active
business that his father had led was not
to be thought of. To the many inqui-
ries, as to when Mr.. Ridgway might
again be at Ridgway, Mr.. Colegrove
would reply; His communications "
from Mr.. Ridgway did not specify; he
supposed that as he was keeping Ho-
tel" its cares would render it difficult
for him to leave! How much more
exalted, does human nature appear
when viewed from this (uasophisticated
as we may say) stand point; the dia-
mond is not the less valuable because
of its outer rugged covering would
there were more such good and true
men as Jonathan Colegrove. But VIC
have been "off the track" of our I" his.
tory" in digressions, and We will now
return to about 1927, after Enos Gillis
had arrived with his family: The con-
struction of the "pike," was next to
personal affairs, the engrossing object Of
the settlers, and its value was never
over estimated. James L. Gillis was
untiring, and it was necessary: Every
winter must he appear at Harrisburg,
pressing for aid, the land owners scolI-
ing at his opportunities, declaring at
every subscription, " it should be the
last" don't you call again twas re.
peated at every application. To these
bursts of impatience he would argumcn.
tatively reply, you have already paid
something, which must be irretrievably
lost unless you add more TO its compile.
tion, otherwise the work must stop"
Thus these land owners must be impor
timed to their own interests. 1t was
like a beggary for some charitable OBJ
ject, those taking the lead "get more
kicks than coppers." As subscription:
were often made, conditional that the
same should be expended upon, aut
through the subscribers lands, detach
ed parts were made, by adding the STATE
appropriation per mile.
1t was necessary that five consecutive
miles should be finished, and a certif
cate to that effect made Oy the mana
gers before the money from the Stat
could be received. The settlers woult
take a contract to make mile, perhap
half mile, taking their own subscrip
tions, the State money, fifty cents pei
rod and draft upon the treasury fol
the balance. AS is always tie case
where treasury is to be supplied By
such contingencies as we have named
such drafts could not always be relic,
upon for remuneration. Many of thes
drafts were never paid at the treasury
and it bore hard upon the settlers an,
contractor, Many miles were construc
ted in superficial manner, SO as to an
swer the requirements of the law, to OBJ
tain the State subscription. Indeed,
was absolutely necessary, as there wa
4" no other ,oGy" under Heaven b.
which they could obtain provisions. L
such cases it was always designed to 6