Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-06-30


Wild River region was David Som
erby. He was quiet, well mean
ing man, content to live, upon the
results of honest toll, and anxious
TO render unto every man his due,
He bought his land when it was
cheap, in fact when the price was
merely nominal; and what with
hunting and fishing and cultiyating
such lands as he was inclined to
clear, he managed to live very com
fortably. Another of the early |
settlers was Jasper Gripper. But
Gripper was different sort of a
man from Somerby. He was close
and tricky and could bear down
hard upon his neighbor when pur-
suing his own interests. He boast
ed to his friends that no man should
over-reach him. Ay, Jasper Grip
per, but thou mayst over-reach
thysslf! We shall see. Time passed
on and il became known to the
lumbermen Of the Massaquoit that
the best pine in the country came
from the Wild River region. One
day in early Spring a gentleman
came up from the distant city and
looked up and down the river on
Jasper's land and the following day
he was joined by two other gentle
men. Gripper had often thought
what a splendid place that would
be for a dam and mill. With
firm dam, the power would be
enormous. There was only one
difficulty; the extreme freshets to
which the river was subject in the
Spring and Autumn would render
it difficult to fix the dam. But
there were engineers who could
overcome all such difficulties
Finally the gentleman who had
first visited the fall introduced him
self to Mr.. Gripper as Mr.. James
Bates and frankly stated that he
had been commissioned to examine
the fall and if he thought proper,
to purchase it. Jasper Gripper
was keenly and sharply alive. His
eve teeth were cut. He knew that
for several years the attention of
lumbermen had been directed to
the Wild River pines and that
lately the people had discovered
that the land was Of the very best
quality. And moreover, he knew
that the fall upon his land was the
only site upon the river anywhere
in that region, where the dam could
be safely erected. There was anoth-
er fal six miles below, upon David
Somerby's estate, but it was of a
wild, roaring, turbulent character,
locked in the jaws of towering
granite, where no mills could pos
sibly be built.
"Of course" said Mr.. Bates" we
cannot think Of paying much for
the water privilege, and but very
little for the land which would be
required for our buildings. The
expense Of erecting suitable dam
viii be very great, and at best we
run great risk. You viii be the
gamer in every way. Not only
win it open ready market for
your lumber, but the value of all
your surrounding land win be en-
HANGED"
Mr.. Gripper winked and then
nodded He had his own interests
to look after. II he did not look
after them he was sure nobody else
would. After a deal of thinking
he said he would sell the water
privilege, together with ten acres
Of land adjacent, for two thousand
dollars. The agent was astonished.
He considered the price ridiculous.
why" said he, "you did not pay
so much for your whole territory"
It made no odds what he Grip
peri had paid. His price had been
named, and the company could
take it or let it be. Mr.. Bates was
not authorized to accept such
terms. He must confer with his
principals. And ne went away.
In few days he came again, this
time in company with three others.
They went mp and examined the
water privilege, and then came
back to Mr.. Gripper's house, where
they informed that individual that
IL he would throw in ten more
acres of land, they would accept |
his offer. Gripper thought he had
them. He had thoroughly digest
al the matter. and had come to the |