Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-20
slider beyond question.

slider beyond question.
A. H. Beedle, who is rich in Fort
Payne experiences, having taken the full
course and been graduated from that hard
school of finance conducted 20 years ago
BY Mr.. Rice, ventured to inquire why the
capitalists of the South, especially OF
nearby Chattanooga, did not snap up such
tempting chance of investment and not
let it go begging clear into Vermont.
Mr.. Jcuvenat explained that Mr.. Drew
felt such great compassion for the 1880
stockholders who did not have square
deal in 1890 that in the goodness of his
heart he decided to wave of all the eager
capitalists waiting to snatch at this gold
en- opportunity, and to offer it instead to
the previously swindled. Should they be
guilty OF the folly of turning down such
proposition, Mr.. Drew can, of course,
get all the money he wants in either
Chattanooga or Boston. He has been
offered $3.50, 900 for the property by Wis
consin party, but as that would only
leave him $4,000 as his share, he de-
clined, having fixed on million as the
sum he should clear out of the venture.
Mr.. Jouvenat stated that out Of 1880
over 500 of the old stockholders have
signified desire to go into the new COM
pany and their assessment will make
about one-third OF the sum wanted
Fort Payne. he declared, has popuIa-
ton of over 1000, but Mr.. Beedle, who
was down there two years and half ago,
failed to see them. Said he was the only
person at the hotel and felt lonesome.
Mr.. Jouvenat said the population was so
per cent white and Mr.. Beedle, who is no
doubt coloT blind, thought they were
nearly all negroes. Mr.. Jouvenat said
every house was rented at a fair rental
and there were number of small indus
tries. Mr.. Beedle said that when he was
There good many of the houses were
tenanted by goats, were without doors or
windows and the streets without side
walks or lights. A house that cost 50, 900
be sold for $3.50; another that cost $500
went for $500. Mr.. Jouvenat acknowl-
eyed that there had been some such sacri-
fees in real estate but claimed they were
unnecessary and that a certain real estate
man, Colonel Sawyer by name. had pro-
flied greatly in such transactions.
Mr.. Beedle was bantered a little for Civ
ing away houses and lands, for which he
could have found anxious purchasers. had
he only looked around little. He con-
tended, however, that in his survey of the
ers lowering near and it was concluded
that Fort Payne must have changed a
good deal in the last two and a halt
years.
Mr.. Jouvenat dilsted some on the
building lots in the control of the ccm-
pany- 1000 Of them to be sold at $3.50 a.
piece; but, when questioned as to their
exact location, he said they ran back on
the mountain. This eminence Mr.. Beedle
remembered as so steep that, if the law of
gravitstion is in force at Fort Payne, any
houses built on those valuable town lots
would inevitably slide OF.
The meeting. was altogether harmon
ious, as well as amusing, and undoubted-
ly Mr.. Jouvenat's appeal found a degree
of favor with some OF his hearers, but the
average New EngIander is cautious about
warming the same serpent twice in his
bosom.