The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-03-04

% years after this bout Win Cuplo "ei 800,
Washington commanderin-chief or the coh'ilen'"i
army occupied the Roger Morris mansion as heaoquai
ters the occupants having fed 1t was washington wno
formally conscated the property and turned o'ei
the state of New York contraband Oh war. -
The Morris estate about $4,000 acres was parceeo
out and sold by the state of New York to settlers
1t seems however that Roger Morris had only Ire
interest this legal point SO he
entirely overlooked in the JOY OF conhscato
John Jacob Aston accidentally ascertained the tacts
convinced that the heirs could not be robbed OF
their rights through the acts of leaseholder, which,
legally was the status Roger Morris. Astor was a
good estate lawyer himself but he referred the point
to the counsel he could find. They agreed with
him. hunted the heirs and bought their quit
claims for 100000.
He then notified the parties who had purchased the
they in turn made claim upon the state for
protection.
After legal parleying the tried accord
ing stipulation with the state of New York directly
as defendant Astor and the occupants plaintiffs
Webster Martin Van Buren, appeared for the
array of lesser legal lights for Astor The
narrowed down to the plain and simple point
that Roger Morris the legal of the estate
that the rghtful heirs could not be made to suffer
for the treason, contumacy and conraventlon OF an
other Astor and compromise the state issued
20year bearing six cent interest for the
neat of 100000
expedition. He to Washington to 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 Astor.
spite the fact that it failed the whole affair
does credit the prophetic brain of Astor.
"This country will chain of growing and pros
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
posts 40 miles apart from the western extremity
of Lake Superior to the Pacific. These forts army
posts will cities said Asor when he called
Thomas Jefferson, who then president of the
United States Jefferson interested but non-com-
initial Astor exhibited of the great lakes and the
country beyond. He urged with prescence then not
ity of Superior would grow up great city Yet
in 1876 Duluth ridculed by the caustic tongue of
Proctor Knott asked What will become of Duluth
when the lumber crop is cut?"
Then Astor proceeded to say that another great city
would grow up at the southern extremity of Lake Mch
gan Gen. Dearborn, secretary of under Jefferson,
just established Fort Dearborn the present site
of Chicago Astor commended this and said, From a
you get trading post and from trading post
will get CITY,"
He pointed out to Jefferson his map Of the site
the Falls of ST. Anthony. There you will have fort
day. for wherever there is water there will
grow up mills grinding grain and sawmills we'll
This place power will have to be protected and
you will have there post, which will eventually be
replaced by city" Yet Fort Smelling was nearly SO
years the future ST. Paul and Minneapolis were
dreams undreamed
Jefferson took time to think about and then wrote
Astor Your beginning Of city the western coast is
great acquisition and look forward to time when
population spread itself and down along the