BROWNSVILLE, [PA.], August 25th, 1855.
DEAR HUNTER: I
received your letter of the 20th instant this morning and have just shipped the
box containing the map of "Superior" to the care of Gallaher Young
& Co., Fredericksburg Va. I sent it from here to Pitts[burg]h to G. W. Cass
who will forward it to you by Adams Express. The numbering of the Lots begins
on Robertson Avenue: Odd numbers on the right, even numbers on the left. This
reference will enable you to ascertain without difficulty the Nos. of your
lots.
There was no map
prepared, showing the general division. I had one coloured for you and one for
myself by which I could distinguish your lots and my own. Gov[ernor] Bright had
one also prepared, showing his lots. I consider your lots as of equal value
with our division. The most valuable lots at the present time are these on
Second Street, for the reason that nearly all of the improvements are on that
street. The value of the lots will depend upon many future contingencies which
no man can foresee, but at present I am of opinion that the most valuable
improvements will be upon Left Hand river and between said river and
Hollinshead Avenue. The Piers have not yet been divided. Quebec Pier is the
only one improved and is in a good position. The next two piers below Quebec,
and between it and Left Hand, will be still more valuable. The most of the lots
and blocks will be ready for a final division this fall. The Superior City to
which you refer as mentioned in Newtons advertisement is the Town site for
which we are contending. It embraces 320 a[cres] and is very valuable. It is
important that we establish our right to the same. Newton has taken a good many
releases from the pre-emptors and will persevere, until he gets all. Bright
seemed to think this of no consequence, but I urged him to procure all if
possible. I sent you a "Superior Chronicle" containing a letter
written by a Mr. Mitchell from St. Louis descriptive of the Town and its
advantages, which I presume you have received. Mitchell bought a considerable
interest and secured a pre-emption to 160 a[cres] in the vicinity of the town.
His statements are to be relied upon. I repeat that is the prettiest site for a
large City that I have ever seen. Its position geographical, commercial and
political is great, and it is destined to be a great place, and no mistake. The
pier will not cost more than 20 or 25 thousand dollars, and but little dredging
will be necessary to make the harbor a good one.
What say you to the
Canadian or British project of a ship canal directly to connect Lakes Huron and
Ontario via Lake Semcoe and the Georgian Bay avoiding the circuit of Erie,
Detroit River and St Clair and Flats and a great portion of Lake Huron,
curtailing about 900 miles of Distance.
In politics I fear
there is trouble ahead. The Southern Statesmen must act with great discretion
and aid the democracy of the North in heading the Common enemy, headed by Chase[,]
Seward and Co. The free soilers and abolitionists will not unite with the
K[now] N[othings] and I therefore believe that we can elect our President. It
is of the greatest important to you as well as to the party and the country
that you take good care to have your friends from Virginia and elsewhere in the
Cincinnati Convention. If the nomination should go South, the vote of Virginia
will go far in giving it the proper direction. In a word it is an important
movement and requiring our whole attention.
SOURCE: Charles
Henry Ambler, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1916, in Two Volumes, Vol. II, Correspondence of
Robert M. T. Hunter (1826-1876), p. 169-70
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