The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-03-05

Just 90 years after this bout with Cupid Gen george
Washington commanderinch.ef Of the continental
army, occupied the Roger Morris mansion as heauqua
ers the occupants having fed 1t was washington VINO
formally confscated the property ana luiieu ~ 0 "
the of New York contraband OF war. ,
Morris of about 10000 acres was parceleu
out and sold by the state of New York TO set'elS'
1t seems however, that Roger Morris had only me
interest in the estate this legal point so me
entirely overlooked in the Joy OF conhscaoh
John Jacob Asor accidentally ascertained the facts
He convinced that the heirs could not be ROBBED OF
their rights through the acts OF leaseholder "hch
legally the status Of Roger Morris. Astor was a
good real estate 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 5000 600
He then totifed the parties who had purchased the
land and they in turn made claim upon the state for
protection.
After much legal pareyng the case was tried accord
ing to stipulation with the state of New York directly
as defendant and Astor and the occupants plaintiffs
Daniel Webster and Martin Van Buren, appeared for the
state and array of lesser legal lights for Aston The
case was narrowed down to the plain and simple point
that Roger Morris the legal of the estate
and that the rghul heirs could not be made to suffer
for the treason contumacy and contrayention" of
other. Astor and compromise the state issued
him 20year bonds bearing six cent interest for the
neat OF 100000.
Astor took a deep interest in the Lewis and Clark
expedition He to Washington Lewis and
questioned him great length about the northwest
Washington Irving has told the story Of Astoria at
length. 1t the one financial plunge taken by John
Jacob Aston
And in spite of the that it failed the whole affair
does credit to the prophetic brain of Asor.
This country will chain of growing and pros
porous cities straight from New York Astoria. Ore
gon" said this in reply to a doubling questioner
lie laid his plans before congress- urging line OF
army posts 40 miles apart, from the western extremity
OF Lake Superior the Pacific These forts or army
posts will evolve into cities said Aston when he called
Oh Thomas jefferson, Who was then president az the
U,ttod States jefferson interested but roncorl-
metal Astor exhibited maps Of the great lakes ana Tie
country beyond He urged With q prescience then not
possessed by any living that the western extre9.
ity OF Lake Superior would grow up a great city Vet
in 1876 Duluth diculed by the caustic toncue n,
Proctor Knott, who asked, What VIII become Of Dlrth
when the lumber crop is cute"
Then Astor proceeded say that another great ,f+
would grow up the southern extremity OF Taka ,ficbi
gan. Gen. Dearborn secretary of war under Tera.a
had just established Fort Dearborn on the -eser+ 49,
Of Chicago, Astor commended this and said .Fro,, 9
fort you get trading post and from trading most Won
will get a cfy 80
He pointed out to Jefferson on his man o, tbe sto
the rails OF 81 Anthony There you will have fort
day, for. wherever there is water ,or- -. ~,
grow up mills Tor grinding grain and sawnlirs as vn
This place Of power Will have to be nrotsctos go a
you VIII nave there post which will eyent,a1Iv ha
replaced hN city Yet Fort Smelling was naarir "a
ye,Is !" le 1@,e and s Paul and MINNEAPOLIS wsrs
dreams urGre5aed ''o''S were
's"t'oa 1eak t1e g think about ii and then wrote
aS'o you. 'esnunE Of city on the western coast i
ss"' acquisition and lock forward to a time Wien
- 1''s"o2n VI. spread itselt up and down along the