New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
A REWARD OF AVAILABILITY.
A VALUABLE MINING TIP FOR VA
eating a CAR SEAT

They were telling stories on a hotel piazza
up in the Adirondacks the other day about fort
urate and unfortunate investments in mineral
lands when a man who for present purposes
may be known Wilson related the following
experience, his prime object being to illustrate
the value of a little good nature and oblisins
disposition.
Wilson lived in Albany thirty forty years
ago, and became interested in iron mine up
on Lake Champlain. At that time there was
no railroad along the west Shore and passen-
gers were obliged to take the Vermont Central
in order to get up into Canada. one day Will
son a train that road, carrying a big
piece of ore: the latter rested the seat be
side him. AS the filled up and a stranger
came along, Wilson amiably lifted the rock up
onto his knee, to accommodate him, although
there We're many other seats which could have
been made available by removing lighter OBJ
jects.
The stranger after commenting the hog;
gishness so abundantly displayed railway
cars, and acknowledging the courtesy of VIII
son, inquired about the nature of the chunk Of
ore in the latters lap. On learning this lie
said:
Down in Columbia County, N Y, where I
live, there is said be iron mine It is
on my land and l am not interested in it IL
netGhbo l would advise you to investi
gate. 1t is scarcely more than mile from
the Hudson River the farm of Tom"
Jones'"
Wilson did investigate a few months later,
although his first encounter with Jones
exceedingly discouraging. Jones's house having
been discovered. the occupant was summoned
to the door by a vigorous rap. Jones
something over six feet tall and looked like
I.h SrIIli hill -
gentle manner.
Jones opened the door only about six inches.
stood with his foot against ii on the inside, and
asked in 4 surly tone: Well. what do you
"ant?" He then added: DO l owe you any
thing? Ia like to you collect it"
" I.son Uade his business known and asked
Tor the privilege Of looking the iron mine.
lie learned that nothing had been done with
the latter for years and ne given
gracious permission to so and look at it. tn 1uGh
verbal instructions to its location ana per
sonal guidance tn the spot refused. At
length however the farmer rclrntci and led
the way to an impcrfectly developed mine. N ~
this hard been inspected he unbent still further.
ii" invited Wilson into his house. which was
a sort of hermitage, treated him WhisIley AID
cigars. and listened to offer for the land. II
soon turned out that another man, Johnson, iiy
ing in Hudson had leased the property years
before and had sunk a lot OF money there, Ii on
abandoning work. he eXactcd a pledge from
Jones that ne should be informed II buS mess
overtureS We're made 10y anybody else Jones
now sent Wilson over to Hudson in his OVID
buggy to see Johnson, whose consent was Oh
tanned to a sale by a private offer OF $1,000 au9
a pleig" subsequently redeemed to perSu- d =
Jones to give him equal amount
The Jones mine finally came into the poss-s-
sion of Wilson. who organized a c"mpan> to
work 1t. The purchase was one OF the most
proftabl" ventures in which he ever engaged
The ore itself. according to Wilson. contained L
great deal of limestone which leSsehei ttie
amount of nuX needed TO reduce 1t in blast
furnace, and contained an iron Of exceptional
purity. Certain Pennsylvania ironmas.eIs whp
lp,a ted ~ he 4