The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-10-11

after thinking hurriedly fora few mo
mcnts, said:
cone thousand dollars an acre"
Both the men shook their heads ~ 6
very positive way. Smith said it wa.
the lowest he could take; and 80 he
conference ended.
Atthc next meeting of the city cUun-
ellis, report on The town lot was mo"c
and the extraordinary domand oI
Smith canva-,cd. 1t wa- unanimop-'y >
decided not TO mako The proposed I, p
-hasc.
When this decision reached the lald-
holdorhc was considerably disappoi '"d.
lie wanted money badly and woui,
have dumped ut" two Thousand dollars
for the five aero lot, If satistioG tht- il
would bring no more. Bat Nhr, the
city came forward a5 Il purchaser, his
cupidity was subjected to a very strong
temptation. lie believed that hc could
get five thousand dlOlars as easily as
two; and quirtcd his conscience by the
slavc-"An article is always worth
what it will bring"
\ week or two went by, and Smith
was calling upon one Of the members of
the cOnncils, to say that if the city
really wanted the lot, he would sell at
their price, lcaVingit with the council
to act justly and generously, when Il
friend said to him.
II hear that the council had the sub
joct ofa public square under considcra-
ton thi, morning."
"lndocd, Smith was vi,ibly excited,
though he tried to appear calm.
eyes; and also hear that they have
decided to pay the eXtravagant price
| you asked for lot of ground ut the
north end of the city"
"A thousand dollaas an acre."
"NCS."
ats real value, and not a cent more" "
said Smith.
"Peoplc diilcrabodt that. However,
you are lucky" said the friend 'thc
city is able to pay"
$50 think. And | mean they shall" ."
Before the Committee to whom the
matter was given in charge had time
to call upon smith and close With him
for the lot, that gentleman had conclud
en- in his own mind that it would be. Just
as easy TO get twelve hundred dollars an
acre A. Il thousand. 1t was plain that
the council were bent upon having the
ground, and would pay round sun
for il. 1t was irst the spot for Il public
square; and the city must become tht
owner. SO, when he was called upol
by the gentlemen, and they said to him
1--WE are authorized to pay you you
price" he promptly answered,
"Thc offer Is no longer open. Not
E declined 1t when it was made. VI.
price for that piece of property is nov
, twelve hundred dollars an acre"
The men offered rcmOnstrancc but
was of no avail. Smith believed tina
| he could get six thousand dollar, for til
ground IL easily as five thousand. Nh
t city must have the lot, and would pu
: almost amy price.
81 hardly think it right. Mr.. Smith,
> said one Of his visitors, "tor you to tai,
I such an advantage. This square j. Iu
the public good"
"lct the public pay, thcn,' wa, III
| unhc,itatng answer, "Thc public
able enough
| "Thc location Of this park at tn
north end of the city will improve tn
value Of your other property"
This Smith understood very wei!
l But he replied:
"l'm not 20 sure of that. have som
very strong doubts on that subject. IT.
l my opinion that the buildings | contcn
| plated erecting will be far more 10 m
advantage. BE that as ii may, howeN
: er, am decided in selling for nothin
less than six thousand dolIars.'
: ave were only authorized to pay fiv
| thou-and," replied the committee. 81
: you agree to that sum we will close III
o bargain on the spot"
X. Five thousand dollars was large SUI
u of money, and smith felt ,trongl
tempted to close in with the liberal o
: fer. But six thousand loomcd up bclol
1 his Imagination still more tcmptingll
/ ~ can get it," said he to HIMSELF; al
= the property is worth what it wi
bring
|. So he positively refused to sell it mt
Is thousand dollars per acre.
y at twelve you will?" remarked on
Il of the committee, a- they were abo,
e retiring,
Il "Ycs, / will take twelve hundred {
d acre. That i The lowest rate; am II
anxious, oven ut that price, 1 can {
2, quite ~ we'll by keeping it in my pc
lie session. But, as you seem so bent {
n having it, will not stand in your VA
n When will the council meet again ?"
70 "Not until next week"
every well. If they then accept n
h offer all will he right. Bat understdl
lc me; If they do not accept, the offer
yt longer remains open. 1t is Il matter
no moment to me which way the thil
ld goes" -,
1t was matter Of moment to Smit
IS for all this assertion--a matter of gre
re moment. lie had several thousand d
id lars to pay in the course ola few mont
TO on land purchases and no way to mt
IT. the payments except by mortgages
D. sales Of property; and it may natural
,n he concluded that he suffered consider
n, Bile uncasiucss during the time VIII
We passed until the next meeting Of
n council.
N. OF course the grasping dispositi
shown by smith hecamc the town tai
to and people said Il good many h'
| things of him. Little, however, did
care, so that he secured iX thOusa
dollars for a lot not worth more II
he two thousand,