Pilots of the Republic: The Romance of the Pioneer Promoter in the Middle West — John Shaqi
Pilots of the Republic: The Romance of the Pioneer Promoter in the Middle WestHulbert, Archer Butler
History
Pilots of the Republic: The Romance of the Pioneer Promoter in the Middle West
Hulbert, Archer Butler
Canals -- United States; Mississippi River Valley -- History; Northwestern States -- History; Pioneers -- United States
Washington might have boasted, a
score of years earlier, that he had found his millstones right in the
Alleghanies, and they were "equal to English burr," according to his
millwright. The mill which is still in operation on Washington's Run
is on the original site of the one built by him in 1775. Portions of
the original structure remain in the present mill, and it is known far
and wide by the old name. The water-power, which is no longer relied
upon except during wet seasons, still follows the same mill-race used
in Revolutionary days, and the reconstructed dam is on the old site.
The improvements on Washington's plantation here, overseer's house,
slave quarters, etc., were situated near Plant No. 2 of the Washington
Coal and Coke Company. It is known that Washington became interested
in the coal outcropping here, but it is safe to say that he little
dreamed that the land he purchased with that lying contiguous to it
would within a century be valued at twenty million dollars. In view of
the enormous value of this territory, it is exceedingly interesting to
know that Washington was its first owner, and that he found coal there
nearly a century and a half ago.
In 1784 Washington issued a circular offering his Western lands to rent:
"These lands may be had on three tenures: First, until January,
1790, and no longer. Second, until January, 1795, renewable every
ten years for ever. Third, for nine hundred and ninety-nine years."
The conditions included clearing five new acres every year for each
hundred leased and the erection of buildings within the time of
lease. The staple commodity was to be medium of exchange. The seventh
condition is interesting:
"These conditions &c. being common to the leases of three
different tenures, the rent of the first, will be Four Pounds
per annum, for every hundred acres contained in the lease, and
proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity; of the second,
One Shilling for every acre contained in the lease until the year
1795, One Shilling and Sixpence for the like quantity afterwards
till the year 1815, and the like increase per acre for every ten
years, until the rent amounts to and shall have remained at Five
Shillings for the ten years next ensuing, after which it is to
increase Threepence per acre every ten years for ever; of the
Third, Two Shillings for every acre therein contained, at which it
will stand for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, the term for
which it is granted."
Five years before his death Washington resolved to dispose of his
Western lands. The investments had not been so profitable as he had
hoped. As early as June 16, 1794, he wrote Presley Neville:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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