Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
A DISCOURSE ON LUCK.

A
Isometimes wander through that Massa-
chusetts city and look over my greatgrand-
fathers former estate. And then lean
against lamp post and swear, and valnly
ask of the unsympathizing night why, why
it was that ali those town lots got away
from me, while the old mans talent for
getting the wrong end of bargain came
down to me as good as new, through three
generationsl
But to return to Stubs Landing. The
town boasts of very broad, deep harbor
which dosnI freeze over in the coolest
winter, so that vessels of the largest size
could come in at any time if there were any
thing to bring or take away. But there
isn't The West India trade is dead, leav-
ing no signs but the half obliterated letter.
ing on few old stores, and an inherited
liking for Jamaica rum in the inhabitants.
If ANYBODY supposes, however, that ther. is
no progressivs spirit in Stubbs' Landing he
is much mistaken. The question of build
ing a railroad has been discussed there for
over 30 wears; and will be discussed for 30
years more, so far as 1 can see.
WANTED A TERMINUS,
1 really think that branch line had one
chance in ten thousand of being built there
about 20 years ago, but the people wouldn't
! have it that way. They wanted to be a
! terminus They were quick to see the re-
markable terminal facilities of Stubbs'
Landing. A railroad would simply have to
terminate there unless the company should
decide to bridge the Atlantic Ocean.
| The first time ever landed in the place
| where the immortal Stubs grounded his
bark and the hopes of his posterity, was in
the summer of 1880. Everybody felt so
sure Of the railroad, then, that any unusual
l. .b.,rv a.,
on Winch Mountain, would give rise to
the inquiry: "Wonder if that's the keers
comm imp Such questionings, of course.
were confined to the very old people who
had never seen a railroad, and had rather
queer notions of what it would be like. The
Younger men were not so green by any
means. They saw opportunities OF profit in
| the railroad scheme. Whenever a new sur
yev was made-and this was done OF
rumored pretty otten-everYbody VINO could
do it would hasten to plant a potato patch
across the line selected Tor the road, ano
then wait with calm confidence for indem
nifty from the company.
SUCCESSFUL FRAUD.
Enterprise of this sort even went so fal
that some men merely pretended to plan
potatoes, believing that the railroad woulC
come SO soon that the fraud could not b,
| discovered.
been, for the land chosen by these specula
tive husbaudmen was so bad that it didn'
make much difference what seed was planted
in it, The crop was always wiry grass an'
"pussley."
No rails were laid in 1880, nor in 1885
when / visited Stubs Landing again, bu
in each Of these years considerable railroa
excitement had been stirred up by q youn
man named Blake, who was born in tn
town, but escaped from it at an early age
Blake's exact place of residenc
is unknown to the townspeopls
though they have the advantage of
visit from him every few years. These ar
the times when, in his remote indefnit
abiding place, visions of his dear old HON
! steal upon the sensitive soul of Blake, an
show him the great possibilities of the tow
and the advantages it would derive fror
, a railroad. Then he talks it over with hi
intimate friends, all of whom are capita
lists, and, having interested them in tn
: project, he comes down to the landing an
: stirs things up. His arrival never fails
make talk. When he drives up in the stag
Imaginative people fancy that they hes
! locomotive whistles blowing back in th
+ woods.
, LORD OF A VILLAGE.
Then Blake, who is familiarly calle
"Arth." because mis- front name is Arthu
: | throws out a few hints about the railroad
including the mention of vast sums I
D money, and thus acquires an Importance
$ the eyes of the people, which seems to max
him feel good. 1 can't find that he has an
other object in his railroad talk. He usual
f spends his time pleasantly in boating an
E fishing, and then goes away again taklu
the railroad with him. have heard IL sal
by malicious PERSONS that "Arth. has o