The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-07-13

| fooaoty, saiu NIX. Dates, 1T Is where the
melted snow and heavy rain find their course
from the hills"
IL think not" said Mcintosh. "This sand i.
from the river-not from the hil,s-aui YOU will
observe that 1t could not have backed up by an
rise frorE the water below. Let us follow it."
90 tney struck into the water path, and fol.
lowed 1t up around the ledge, by an easy and
sraduai ascent, sntii 1t led them upon the rivers
oanK' nearly quarter of mile from the fall
EuTeka " cried Mcintosh. olappins his hands,
exultantly. "Hese We have water course.
married out and graded by Nature herself which
Will yield power UNNECESSARILY superior to the
one above. And, moreover. all DANCE. from flood
| is debarred."
Inc others quickly comprehended the value Of
The discovery. They saw that by cutting canal
along the old water course over which the river
had poured stream at Its highest food, they
would be able to control the water at will and
use 1t over and over again for mills, setting one
below the other along the gracefully curved
track. And two things more--the sites were
more favorable for building than were those
above, with better timber land surrounding and
the furious cataract would not be between their
mills and the market.
The next question was; Who owned the aew.
~ discovered privilege? 1t belonged to David
Somerby. They visited him and carefully open.
ed their business.
Look here, gentlemen" he said, after they
had beaten about the bush awhile-their experi.
ence with Gripper had made them cautions
"let us understand each other Tell me plaisly
what you want, and will tell you as plainly
what will do with you
Mr. Bates made up his mind that he had an
honest man--a straightforward man-to deal
with, and he stated his case plainly and frankly.
lie not only told how the company would deve!.
oope the water power and erect their mills, but
he went on to point out the advantages which
would result to the owner of the adjoining land,
both IN enhancing the value of the land in itself,
and also Of the magnificent pine and spruce tim.
Der with which it was covered
Mr.. Somsrby Listened attentively, and at length
told them to call upon him on the following
morning. He wanted TO sleep upon it.
That evening Jasper Clipper called down to
see his friend Some,oy lie wanted to purchase
five hundred acres, more or less, of the pine ip.
terval spruce uplar7 adjoining his land. Grip.
per fought shy, and hung on, and somerby only
got rid OF him by assuring him that he was not
at present at liberty to sell.
Aha" chuckled Gripper. "Them ere mill
solks have been here. They want the "a :.
Well, let them buy it, l shall own the land :.
tween it and their mills, and they II find it bard
work to get theig logs up without getting my |
consent"
WINGED that the company had resolved to pur.
chase his water privilege. Oh why had he |,
not asked them five thousand dollars for it?
On the following morning NJ Bates and his |
friends were punctual, and when Mr.. Some1by |
had been asked what conclusion q had arrived |!
at, he spoke as follows:
"Gentemen, l have thought The matte, all |,
over, aad have made up my H. J. have two |
proportions 20 make, ant ~ Can accept which
VOW choose. AL told,! "A abo-t fifteen Aun.
dred acrea of land in tins sectc. and the liver
cuts it nearly IL halves. Fall rs of it is .ich
interval covered with pine, and the rest is up
land and bill, witt spruce, L.,NJock and oak.
First, will give yea t land ssr your course
and deed you the powG. and also give yoa all
the land necessary Cor IT mill huildngs, pro-
vided that You, on your art, viii set about de-
Velopin2 aud improving 10 pow2, and putting
up the mill. Or, viii turn all M land into
the s'ock OF the company, at fai- appraisal, and
become one of yog."
Mr., Bates WAS authorized to accept the first
on the spot, and to give bond, is necessary, for
the performance Of the comp. IS part Of the
contract. But 40 liked the =, md offer best,
though before accepting it. he must confer at
headquarters.
Mr.. Somerby informed him that the offer was
open to him as long rs he desired
On their way back, Mr.. Bates and his compan-
ions called on Jasper Gripper
"Gentlemen," said Mr.. Gripper, as soon as mu--
tual solutions had been exchanged, "you will
understand that when offered you the twenty
acres OF land, / did not intend, for the prizes
named, to include the timber which is standing
thereon"
ut makes no difference returned Mr.. Bates,
with smile, i've have concluded not to pug.
chase your water privilege"
blow Not purchase ~ ppsppd Gripner
Mo. We do not want it," Mr.. Bates dda't
think IL necessary to tell him Of the better power
which they had discovered.
But, surely gentlemen, there must be scne
mistake"
They assured him there was no mistake 1t
all Mr. Gripper was in agony. He would take
S9OoO; he would take 81 800; he would take
whatever they were willing to pay. He would
give them the w.,er and the land if they would
only put up their mills thereon.
But they would not do it. In seeking to over.
retch them, he had oyerreached himself. And
they left him ~ prey to remorse and bitterness of
spirit.
The company before whom Mcintosh laid their
report appointed IA commissioner, with full DOW.
or to decide and negotiate; and upon visiting
David Somerby's section, they concluded to &C.
cept his second proposition. So be surrendered
his land into the stock Of the company, and be.
came one OF them and We may here remark
that six months later he was not little surpris-
ed upon being appointed superintendent of the
numbering gangs, with a salary such as his wild.
est dreams of wealth had never grasped.
The water power was developed under the en-
gineerng ofOBeneto Mcintosh, and it proved
greater than Ee had anticipated. The mills were
ereeted--first mills for saving lumber, and then
mills Tor grinding grain, and in time other mills
for making cloth and for fabricating various