The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-29
A Loan of $3.50 in Campaign, Twelve or Fif-
teen Years Ago. That Was Paid Back in What
Was Supposed to Be Worthless Land
Lstter-Writing viii Not Make Either
Tanner or Dalzell a National Issue.
Effort to Vote Indians in the Interest Of Da-
kota Capital Site-Secretary Tracy Denies
Certain Rumors About Capt Kellogg.
A LOAN THAT BRouGHr WEALTH.

An Investment or $3.50 by General Nathan
Goff THAT Eventually Made Him Rich.
Special to the Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-"It is true that
nearly all investments in politics turn out
with a great loss to the INVESTOR said .
West Virginia Republican the other day,
but remember one little spec in this di-
rection, in my State, which developed very
handsomely. Our good General Gof, whom
every one loves in both of the Yirginias, on
account of his sterling manhood and in
tense mental brightness, in one of his CAM
paigns, twelve or fifteen years ago. was ap-
preached one day by an old citizen, who
said he had supported the Generals father
in the early campaigns, about war times,
and he intended to support the son In the
same manner. General Goff listened to the
old gentleman's clatter fer some moments,
and when he was finally asked to make q
loan of $3.50 the General concluded that he
would have to pay pretty highly for kind
words. However, he believed that his new
ly made friend was an honest man, and
purely as O recognition Of the service he
had evidently rendered the senior Golf q
quarter of century go. he wrote out his
check for $3.50 and handed it to his friend
81 intend to pay this back. General said
the old man. as he folded the check and put
il into his pocket-book. and although I
will not give you my note for the amount
you may rest assured that some day you
will get the money with the legal interest
back General Gof reminded his friend
that he need not worry himself about tie
money as he felt that it was only in paw
ment of a debt of gratitude. and there dis
missed the loan from his mind. The o. !
gentleman was bachelor. Weeks ran III, =
months and months into year. The cam
defeat for General Goff by the usual Demo-
cratic methods. One day letter came to
General Goff from the clerk Of the court in
an an adjoining .S county; The letter stated
befriended with $3.50, had that day entered
the court and acknowledged Judgment
for the amount of the loan together with
interest. The letter further stated that
of land somewhere In the State, but that
1t was unimproved and probably not worth
more than the amount of the loan. 1t add
ed that after the judgment was acknowl,
edged the old man had stated that ne could
not pay the money back to General GoH. but
he intended TO see that it was paid upon
his death. Three or four years elapsed.
Another letter came to General Cot from
old man had died and that the court want
ed to settle the estate 1t further an
napaSed pGas ha,da that aia aon y, ! sy s lard
sold at public auction for the purpose of
liquidating the Judgment then on the
records of the court in favor of Nathan
Goff. General Goff simply wrote back TO
the clerk and requested him TO have the
amount due him, as tie record showed, bid
for the land when it was offered for sale.
After, the sale the clerk wrote to Gen.
Golf notifying him that his bid had pur-
chased the land; that no one else would
Several years passed. The Black Dia-
mond railroad, which started from Youngs-
| town. o., and ran down into the heart OF
West Virginia. penetrated the region whore
| General Coils newly acquired land was To-
Gated. The General. however, did not sns-
| pect that the property he had taken in ON
| the judgment was worth very much, and
| paid no attention TO the newspaper reports
| always been worthless lands into very val
liable possessions. One day. soon after the
railroad was finished, q letter was received
| by General Golf from large lumber firm
his 1000 acres of land. The General wrote
| back that he had never seen the land and
did not know what it was worth. Pres
| emily another letter came from the lumber
would be given for the 1000 acres. Gen.
| Goff IS eyes opened. He had no idea that
his land was worth anything like that
amount. He argued to himself. however.
4 tnat Tue lauo was WOTtu TO the
people who desired to acquire it it was
| worth that much to him. and so he refuse q
| to accept the bid. Presently he received
another bid, raising the proposition to Sl5.-
| 600. The land began to attract tho atten-
| tion of other lumber-dealers. and rivalry
| sprung up which resulted in the General
| securing a number of bids within a few
days. The result of it all was that he
| finally told one Of the firms that he would
| take Sos, 600 for the lumber on the land
| The proposition was accepted, and a draft
came the next mail for the full amount. IL
| proved to be very valuable tract of wal
nut timber, and after 1t vas cut off the
land was found to be of the most valuable
| character for agricultural purposes He
was soon offered $1,000 for it by those who
wanted TO cultivate the ground. He re-
fused to accept this proposition. and in 4
short time he began to receive offers from
| those who were interested in mining. This
| led General Golf 10 visit the land for the
! first time. He soon discovered that there
were valuable coal and iron deposits on the
| place. and he refused. within q short time.
/ proposition of 5000 cash for the place'
| This. in all. would make $4,000 for his orr ..
inal Investment of $3.50. which he supposed
was thrown away to q hanger-on poll.
tician.o