The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-03-12

% years after this bout with Cupid Gen. George
Washington, commander-in-chief of the continental
army occupied the Roger Morris mansion headquar
ters the occupants having fed It Washington who
formally conhscated the property and turned 1t over to
the state of New York contraband of war
The Morris estate about $4,000 parceled
out and sold by the state of New York to settlers
1t seems however that Roger Morris had only life
interest in the estate and this legal point so ne
that It was entirely overlooked In the Joy Of conscaon
John Jacob Aston accidentally ascertained the facts
convinced that the heirs could not be robbed OF
their rights through the acts of leaseholder, which,
legally, was the status of Roger Morris. Astor
good lawyer 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 who had purchased the
land and they in turn made claim upon the state for
protection.
After legal parleying the tried accord
ing to stipulation. with the state Of New York directly
defendant and Astor and the occupants plaintiffs
Daniel Webster and Martin Van Buren, appeared for the
state array of lesser legal lights for Aston The
narrowed down to the plain and simple point
that Morris not the legal Of the estate
and that the rghful heirs could not be made TO suffer
for the treason contumacy and contravention" Of
other Astor and compromise the state issued
him 2year bonds bearing six per cent interest for the
neat sum of 100000.
Astor took deep interest in the Lewis and Clark
expedition He went to Washington to see Lewis and
questioned him at great length about the northwest
Washington Irving has told the story of Astoria at
length. It the financial plunge taken by John
Jacob Aston
And in spite Of the fact that 1t failed the whole affair
does credit to the prophetic brain of Aston.
This country will chain of growing and pros
porous cities straight from New York to Astoria. Ore
gon" said this In reply to doubling questioner.
He laid his plans before congress- urging line of
army posts 40 miles apart from the western extremity
of Lake Superior to the Pacific These forts army
posts will evolve into cities said Asor when he called
Thomas Jefferson. who then president of the
United States. Jefferson interested but
initial Aston exhibited Of the great lakes and the
country beyond. He urged with precedence then not
by any living that at the extrem
ity of Lake Superior would grow up great city Yet
In 1876 Duluth rdiculed BY the tongue Of
Proctor Knott, who asked. what will become of Duluth
when the lumber crop 10 cutf"
Then Aston proceeded to that another great city
would at the southern extremity Of Lake Michi
gan Gen. Dearborn, secretary Of under Jefferson,
had Just established Fort Dearborn the present site
Of Chicago Astor commended this and said. From
fort you get trading post and from trading post you
viii get city"
He pointed out to Jefferson his map Of the site
tho Falls Of st. Anthony There you viii have fort
day. for wherever there power there win
grow up mills for grinding grain and sawmls well
This place of will have to be protected and
you will have there post which will eventually be
replaced BY city" Yet Fort Smelling nearly 80
years in the future and st. Paul and Minneapolis
dreams undreamsd.
Jefferson took time to think about and then wrote
Astor your beginning Of city the western coast 10
great acquisition and look forward 70 time when
our population WIN rsad itself up and down along the