Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-25
rooMBs' LAND sPECULATIoNs.
How His Texas Investments Brought
Large Returns.
From tic Ne,c York Tribune.


From the Netr York Tyi5pqs.
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 21.-The death OF
Gen. Toombs continues to be the main
topic of conversation in Georgia, and
many stories about him are coming out
in the daily press. 1t was supposed that
Gen. Toombs left large fortune, estimated
at about 100000. Just how he accumu-
lated this money will interest many peo-
pie, and the story has never been IuIiY
published. Most Of his money was maze
In land speculations in Texas, and notn-
ing can better Illustrate the old man
wit than the following story: he was IN
Paris, living like a fighting cock. Just ar
ter the war, Some one who knew HIM well
met him in the street. and stopping him,
asked brusquely: "Wcll, General, what
do you live on, now that your slaves are
gomez ,.-,..
the old man exclaimed: "Damme, sir!
eat an acre OF dirt a day sir; an acre OF
dirt a dayw and with this remark he
passed on. His friend atterward learned
that be was in receipt of magnificent
income derived from the sale of his Texas
lands.
The original compact through which
Gen. Toombs became so heavily inter-
ested in Texas property is now in the pos
session Of Col. j. z. Smith, Mayor of Fort
Worth, Texas. The following is an exact
copy; o
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.
COUNTY OF WASHINGrON.\
This memorandum witneseeth that George
". Crawford and Robert ToOmbs, of Georgia,
and H. q. Catlett, of Texas. have this day en-
tered into a contract and agreement. Tor the
purchase Of lands in the State Of Texas, the
terms of which contract are, that said George
W. Crawford and Robert TOombs are 10 puf-
chase Texas landscrlpt to sucn an amount as
they may deem eNpedirnt and pay the Whuie
purchase money equally for SAID script, ana
the said II. q. Catett agrees and undertakes
To select locate and have surveyed, lands TO
which the said script may be entitled, ana at
tend to procuring patents from the state OF
Texas therefor, the said Crawford and
Toombs paying all expenses for survey ing and
patenting the same, and the said III. q. Cat
lett is to receive for mis- fun compensation for
his said personal trOub e, skill ana services
the third part of all the lands which he
may thus locate and patent, the remaining
tWo-thirds shall belong equally TO salu Craw.
ford and Ioombs, anC 1T Is further agreed
that all the land or land script which may be
purchased in pursuance of this agreement
shall be patented 10 the SAID George w.
Crawford, Robert TOOmbe and H. q. Catlett
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Sth day OF Dec,
1850. II. G.. CATLETT,
K. TONES,
GEORGE w. CRAWFORD.
10 is further understood that the lands
patented to said Crawford and To0mbs and
Catett in pursuance of within agreement
shall not be governed by the laws Of Joint
tenancy in the event Of the death Of either
party, but the portion of each shall descend
70 his next OF kin or personal representatives,
or as shall be otherwise directed by each.
GEoRGF v. CRAWFORD,
il. q. CArLETT.
This Feb. IS. 1850.
The II. G. Catlett mentioned in the doc
dment was a Virginian who went to Texas
in 1886 and was interested in land matters
there until the outbreak of the Mexican
war, when he became quarteTmaster in
the United States army. While in Wash
ingtOn, in 1850. to audit his accounts as
Quartermaster,C atlett met Gen. TOOmbs-
then a member OF Congress-and sue
ceeded in interesting him in proposed
speculation in Texas lands. George W.
Crawford, then Secretary OF the Treasury,
was a warm personal friend Of T0ombs,
and upon the Generals solicitation he,
too, went into the scheme. Under the
foregoing agreement Catlett returned to
Texas at once and purchased 1901 600
acres of land in the Robertson and Fan
min land districts. One-half the land was
in Tarrant county and the rest in John
son, Parker, Cooke, Wise and Montague
counties.
While locating the lands Catlett con-
tracted illness from exposure and died IN
1854, in Memphis. Mr.. Crawford con.
veyed his interest in the lands to his son.
who sold out to Toombs. This sale took
place in 1867. Gen. TOombs then began
selling his lands at prices ranging from
81 to IS an acre; the original cost in 1850
had been twenty-five cents an acre. He
sold in all about $4,000 acres.
Five years ago Gen. Toombs paid a
visit to Fort Worth. Texas, and spent a
week there. The Gazette OF that city,
commenting on the Generals death, said
that he had alienated his Texas landed
properties, until it is doubtful whether
there is now a single acre in the State be-
longing to his estate. The average price
that Gen. TOOmbs obtained from his lands
was about 81 80 an acre, so it will be
seen that he realized from the specula-
ton a little over 100000, allowing
100000 for taxes paid, commissions to
agents, etc.