The Elbert County tribune., 1910-03-04

Just 22 years after this with Cupid Gen George
Washington. commander-inchief of the continental
army occupied the Roger Morris mansion headquar-
ters the occupants having fed 1t Washington who
formally confscated the property ana turned II over
the state of New York contraband OF war
The Morris estate of about $4,000 acres was parceled
out and sold by the state OF New York to settlers
1t seems however that Roger Morris had only life
interest in the and this legal point fine
that it entirely overlooked in the Joy Of conscation
John Jacob Astor accidentally ascertaned the facts
He the heirs could not be robbed Of
their rights through the acts of easehoder. which.
good real estate himself but he referred the point
to the best counsel he could find They agreed with
him. He next hunted the heirs and bought their quit
claims for 100000
He then notified the parties purchased the
land and they In made claim upon the state for
protection.
After legal parleying tried accord
ing to stipulation with the OF New York directly
defendant and Astor the occupants plaintiffs
Daniel Webster and Martin Van Buren, for the
s.ate and of lesser legal lights for Astor The
case narrowed down to the plain and simple point
that Roger Morris the legal of
and that the rfghtfu heirs could not be made to suffer
for the treason, contumacy and contravenon of
other. Astor and a compromise the issued
him 20year bonds bearing per interest
neat of 100000.
Astor took deep interest in the Lewis Clark
expedition. He went to Washington to Lewis and
questioned him at great length about the northwest.
Washington Irving has told the story of Astoria at
length. 1t the financial plunge taken by John
Jacob Astor.
And in spite of the fact that it failed the whole AFFAIR
does credit TO the prophetic brain of Astor.
This country will a chain of growing pros
porous cities straight from New York Astoria Ore
gon." said this in reply doubling questioner
He laid his plans before congress- urging a line of
army posts 40 miles apart from the western extremity
of Lake Superior to the Pacific. These army
posts will evolve Cities said Asto- he called
Thomas Jefferson who was then president OF the
United States Jefferson interested but
initial Astor exhibited of the great lakes and the
country beyond. He urged with prescence then not
possessed by living that at the extrem-
ty of Lake Superior would grow up great city Yet
in 1876 Duluth ridculed by the caustic tongue of
Proctor Knott who asked What will become O Duluth
when the lumber crop is cut?"
would at the southern extremity
gan Gen Dearborn, secretary of under Jefferson,
had just established Fort Dearborn the present
of Chicago. Astor commended this and said. From
fort get trading and from a trading post you
will get city
He pointed out to Jefferson his map the
the Falls of St Anthony. There you will have fort
some day. for wherever there is power
grow mills for grinding grain sawmills as we'll
This place of power will have to be protected
you will have there "a post which will eventually be
replaced by city" Yet Fort Smelling nearly so
years in the future ST Paul Minneapolis were
dreams undreamed.
Jefferson took time to think about it
Astor: Your beginning of city the
great acquisition and look forward to time when
our population will spread itself up and along