The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-06-01

dltalaF walsol solid granite, showing Al
some period ar remote iAe mountain
torrent hal literally out iis way through
iho adamAuuGe cdga Mcinl6sh exam.
iued ne ~ II DE laud below thc fall,
aud 81 poipi uoi far distant IN that al.
rceton Be i3una shallow swell or gully
oytgRtowu With grass or shrubbery, ba,
with o deposit 81 river sand npon its
bottom Tie appearance Of the place
attracted his attention.
Probably, ssij Mr Bates, Il is where
the melted snow aud heavy rain dad ils
course from the river
ltbink NOT, said Mr. Mcintosh, this
sand Il from tAe river, net from The bills,
and yoa VIII observe that It could not
have been backed up by an rise Of the
wbtcr below Let rs follow e. And
lhey struck on, into the water patch and
followed g up around The ledge by an
easy aud gradual ascent, until It Jed them
oul upon the rivers bank, nearly quar-.
ter Of mile from the fall
Eureka cried Mcintosh, clapping his
hands cxullingiy Here we have wat
cr course marked out aud graded by
nature herself which will yield a power
immensely superior 10 the one-a boye -
Aud, moreover, al the dangers from
floods are declared!
The others quickly comprehended the
value Of the discovery. They saw that
by cutting canal along the old water
couse--a course over which the river hae
poured a stream at its highest flood
they would be able TO control the waters
at will and use il over again for the con-
sumption Of mills, set one below The
other along the gracefully curved track.
And two things more: The sites were
more favorable for building here than
were those above, with better timber
land surrounding; and the furious cata.
ract would not be between their mills
aud the market. The next question was,
who owned The ewly-discovered priv
ilege? Ii belonged to David Somerby.
They visited him and carefully opened
their business.
Look here, gentlemen, be said after
they had beaten about the bush awhile
their experience with Gripper had made
them cautious-lct us understand each
other, Tell me plainly what il is you
want and will tell you just as plainly
what will do on my part,
Mr.. Bates made up his mind that he
had an honest, straightforward man to
deal With, and he stated bis case plainly
and frankly. He not only told how the
would develop tho water power
and erect their mills, but he went on to
point out the advantages which would
result to the adjoining land, both in en-
hancing the value Of the land in Itself.
and also Of the magnificent pine and
spruce timber with which it was covered.
Mr.. Somerby listened attenliyely, and at
length told them to call upon him the
the following morning. lie wanted TO
sleep upon it. That evening Jasper
Gripper called down TO sec his friend
H9 wanted to purchase five
hundred acres more or less, of the pine
and spruce upland adjoining
bis land. Gripper fought sly, and hung
on, aud Somerby only got rid of him by
assuring him that be was at present not
at liberty to SELL
Ahal chuckled Gripper, them mill
folks have been here They want the
land. Well, well, let 'en buy it. shall
own all the land between It and their
mills, aud they'll find it hard work to get
their logs up without my consent. And
Gripper returned to his home firmly per-
suaded that the company had resolved to
purchase his water water privilege. Oh
why had be not asked them five thousand
for IL? On the following morning Mr.
Bates and his friends were punotuaI, and
when Mr.. somerby had been asked what
conclusion be had arrived at, he spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen, have thought the matter
ali over, aud have made mp my mind. ]
have two propositions 10 make, and you
Cal accept which you choose. All told,
own about fifteen hundred acres of land
ia this section and the river cuts IL nearly
10 halves. Full half OF it Is rich inlervale
covered with pine, and the rest il upland
and hill, with spruce, hemIock aud oak.
First, will give you the land for your
course, and deed you the power and also
give all the land necessary for your mill
provided that you on your
part will set at once about developing
and improving the power and putting up
the mills. Or will turn ali my lands
into the hands Of the company, at fair
aud become one Of you.
Mr.. Bates was authorized 70 accept the
first offer on the spot, and to give bonds
II necessary, for the performance Of the
part Of the contract. But be
liked the second offer best, though before
il be must confer at hesd-quar-
tiers. Mr. Somerby informed him that
the offer was open to bin as long as be
desired. On their way back Mr.. Bates
aud his companions called upon Jasper
Clipper.
Gentlemen, said Mr. Gripper, as soon
as mutual sslulations bad been exchang-
cd, You viii understand that when |
offered lhe twenty acres Of land did not
intend, for tie price namej, 70 iDclude
the timber standing thereon.