The Virginia enterprise., 1910-03-04

Just % years after this bout with Cupid Gen. George
Washington, commander.n-chief OF .ne con.nen.a' a
army occupied the Roger Morris mansion as headqua
ters the occupants having fed. 1t was washington VINO
formally conscated the property and turned over 70
the state of New York contraband OF war
The Morrssesate of about $4,000 acres was parceleo
sout and sold u the state of New YORK TO set'les'
1t seems however, that Roger Morris had only life
interest in the estate and this was Legal point SO nne
that entirely overlooked in the Joy OF conscat1on
John Jacob Astor accidentally ascertaned the facts
He 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 was
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 much legal parleying the tried accord
ing 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 and array of lesser legal lights for Astor The
narrowed down to the plain and simple point
that Roger Morris not the legal of the estate
and that the rghtfu heirs GOULD not be made to suffer
for the treason, contumacy and contraventon of
other Asor won and as compromise the state issued
him 2oyear bonds bearing six cent interest for the
neat sum Of $500,000
Astor took deep interest In the Lewis and 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 one 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 chain of growing and pros
porous cities straight from New York Astoria
gon." said this man in reply to doubling questoner
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 forts or army
posts will evolve into cities said Astor when
Thomas Jefferson who then president of the
United States Jefferson interested but non-com-
initial Astor exhibited Of the great lakes and
country beyond He urged with prescience then not
possessed by living that at the extrem
ity of Lake Superior would grow great city. Yet
in 1876 Duluth riculed by the caustic tongue of
Proctor Knott who asked What will become of Duluth
when the lumber crop is cut?"
Then Astor proceeded to that another great city
would up the southern extremity of Lake Micht
gan Gen. Dearborn, secretary of under Jefferson
had just established Fort Dearborn present site
of Chicago Astor commended this and said, From a
fort get trading post and from trading post you
will get city,"
He pointed out to Jefferson his map of the site
day. for wherever there is water power there will
This place Of power will have to be protected
replaced by city," Yet Fort Smelling was nearly so
in the future and st. Paul and Minneapolis were
dreams undreamed.
Jefferson took time to think about it and then wrote
Astor Your begnnag of city the western coast is
great acquisition aud look forward to time when
our population will spread itself and down along the