The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-08-15

own abe Land between e and their mills
ASIA theyl Gul it had work 10 gct their
logs mp without getting my consent
And Gripper returned 70 hi, homo lirm-
D. convinced that tie company had ic-
solved 10 purchase 81, water privilege.
Oht why lad be not asked them liye
Thousand dollars for ilt
On ihe following morning Mr. Bates
and bl, friends were punclual and when
Mr somctby had been asked what couclu-
sion be had arrived al, he spoke as fol-
lows
Gentlemen, have thought the matter
an over, aud have made up my mind. /
have two propositions to make, and you
can accept which you choose. An told 1
own about fifteen hundred acres Of land
10 this section, and the river cuts it nearly
In halves. Full halfof it is rich interval
covered with pine, and the rest is upland
and hin, with spruce, hcmlock and oak
First / will give Won the land for your
course, aud decd you the power, and also
give you al the land necessary for your
mill buildings provided that YOU, on your
part, will set about developing and inn
I proving the power and putting up the
mill. Or, will turn al my land into the
stock Of the company at far appraisal
and become one Of YOU,
+ Mr.. Bates was authorized TO accept the
/ first on the spot, and TO give bond If nee
essary, for the performance Of the COM
pany's part of the contract. But he liked
the second offer best. though before ac-
/ cepting it, he must confer at headquar-
ters.
Mr.. Somerby informed him hat the Of
fer was open to him as long as he desired,
On their way back, Mr.. Bates and bis
companions called on Jasper Gripper.
/ Gentlemen, said Mr.. Gripper, as soon
as mutual salutations had been exchang-
cd you will understand that when of
fered you the twenty acres of land, did
not intend, for the price named, to in.
clude the timber which is standing
thereon,
1t makes no difference, returned Mr.
Bates, with a smile, we have concluded
not TO purchase your water privilege.
How? Not purchase? gasped Gripper
No we don't want it.. Mr.. Bates did moi
think it necessary to tell him of the better
power which they had discovered.
But surely gentlemen there must be
some mistake.
They assured him there was no mistake
at all. Mr.. Gripper was in agony. Ht
would take $1,000; he would take 81 ooC
he would take whatever they were will
ing to pay. He would give them thc
water and the land ifthey would only pu
up their mills thereon.
But they would not do it. In seeking
to oyerreach them, he had overreacheC
himself. And they left him prey to re
morse and bitterness Of spirit.
The company before whom McIntosl
laid their report appointed commits
sioner, with full power to decide ana 10
gotiatc, and upon visiting David Somer
by's section, they concluded TO accept hi
second proposition; so he surrendered
his land into the stock Of the company
: and became one Of them; and we ma.
here remark that six months later he wa
not little surprised upon being appoint
ed superintendent of the numbering gangs
witha salarys uch as his widest dream
of wealth had never grasped.
The water privilege was developed un
der the engineering of Mcintosh, and
= proved greater than he had anticipated
The mills were erected-frst mills 70
. saving lumber and then mills for grind
ing grain, and in time other mills 70
= : making cloth and for fabrieating variou
other articles necessary for the use am
comfort Of man.
The land Of Jasper Gripper was, G
course raised in value, but it availed bin
not. The sight Of David Somerby
wealthy and respected, and honored wit
offices Of profit and trust, while he wa
stunned and shut out from the public con
. fidence, filed him with wrathful suffer
Z ing. Verify be had oyerreached himsel
= in his selfshness and narrowness ofspiriI
q 70 day a 1ourishing town is in sight q
, David Somerby's section, and the hum d
q thousands Of busy spindIes makes cheer
o ful music for the happy aud prosperou
! operatives; and from its tireless loom
Q and clanging forges flows out the wealt
/, Of the nation.