Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Founder's Own Story of the Founding of Vineland, New Jersy
Upon my return to Philadelphia I found that Mr. Wood was dis posed to be slow and cautious. His price was exorbitant, to begin with, at that time ten dollars per acre without the timber. I decided, however, to humor him in the negotiations; not to hurry but to call upon him every day. After I had been to see him every day for a week, he decided to visit Hammonton which he did in company with his son Richard. He was more than pleased, - in fact, astonished to see a beautiful place produced in so short a time out of the New Jersey wilderness. It convinced him that I possessed some capacity in that line. He then requested me to go over his tract of land with him again. This time I stopped at his house. His wife was there. In the evening she asked me to describe how one of the avenues in my pro posed colony would look after it was finished. I described it to her as faithfully as I could. The next morning, after I got into the buggy with Mr. Wood, he said he hada little matter to tell me. Said he, My wife awoke me about half past two o'clock this morning and said she wished to caution me against making any agreement with you, as she is afraid you are of unsound mind, owing to your description of the avenue last night. She said she had no doubt of your sincerity. But what I wish to say, Mr. Landis, is, that our people, inexperienced in business, have no conception of what can be done. When you talk to me of the grand possibilities of enterprise, it is all right, as I have seen a great deal myself, in my time, (he might have said, truthfully, that he had done a great deal.) and I would suggest to you that when my wife, or my partner, Wm. D: Wilson, asks you questions, you had better not give them any more than their minds are prepared for.
The trouble in Mr. Wilson's mind resulted from a question he asked me one day, When we were going up together in the cars. Along the line of the railroad there was at that time a great deal of swampy land, covered with water, and looking impassable. Turning to me he said, Mr. Landis, what do you propose to do with this land Drain it all, I replied, and reclaim it. Along the railroad, on both sides, where we are now going, I intend to make a good carriage road after the land is reclaimed. He said nothing in reply, but told Mr. Wood that I must be demented in thinking of such an impracticable under taking. It was afterwards done.
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