THE TOWN LOT

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 26, 1 July 1909, Page 1007

THE TOWN LOT

Once upon a time, the men who governed in the municipal affairs of a certain growing town in the West resolved to purchase a five-acre lot at the north end of the city — recently incorporated — and have it improved for a park. All the saleable ground lying north of the city was owned by a man named Smith — a shrewd, wide-awake individual, whose motto was : ' Every man for himself/ with an occasional addition about a certain gentleman in black taking ' the hindmost.' Smith was secretly at the bottom of this scheme for a public square, and had himself suggested the matter to an influential member of the council ; not that he was moved by what is denominated public spirit; the spring of action in the case was merely ' private spirit,' or a regard for his own good. The park was decided upon, and a committee of two appointed, whose business it was to see Smith and arrange with him for the purchase of a suitable lot of ground. In due form the committee called upon tho landholder, who was fully prepared for the interview. 'You are the owner of those lots at the north end?' said the spokesman of the committee. ' I am,' replied Smith, with becoming gravity. ' Will you sell a portion of ground, say five acres, to the city?' ' For what purpose ?' Smith knew very well for what purpose the land was wanted. 'We have decided to set apart about five acres of ground, and improve it as a kind of park, or public promenade.' The interview resulted in an offer of five thousand dollars, while the owner held out for six thousand. Among other residents and property-holders in me town was a simple-minded, true-hearted, honest man, named Jones. His father had left him a large farm, a goodly portion of which, in- process of time, came to r-e included in the limits of the new city; and he found a much more profitable employment in selling building lots than in tilling the soil. The property of Mr. Jones lay at the Avest side of the town. Now, when Mr. Jones heard of the exorbitant demand mads by Smith for a fi/o-acre lot, his honest heart throbbed with a feeling of indignation. ' I couldn't have believed it of him,' said he. ' Six thousand dollars ! Preposterous ! Why, I would give the city a lot of twice the size, and do it with pleasure.'

' You would ?' said a member of the council, who happened to hear this remark. ' Certainly, I would.' 'You are really in earnest?' ' Undoubtedly. Go and select a public square from any of my unappropriated land on the west side of the city, and I will pass you the title, as a free gift, tomorrow, and feel pleasure in doing so.' ' That is public spirit,' said the councilman. ' Call it what you will. lam pleased in making the offer.' Now, let it not be supposed that Mr. Jones was shrewdly calculating the advantage which, would result In him from having a park at the west side of the cibv. No such thought had yet entered his mind. He spoko from the impulse of a generous feeling. The day that the council was to act passed, and not a whisper about the town lot had come to the ears of Mr. Smith. What could it mean? Had his offer to sell at six thousand been rejected? The very thought caused his heart to grow heavy in his bosom. Six, seven, eight o'clock came, and still it was all dark with Mr. Smith. He could bear the suspense no longer, and so determined to call upon his neighbor Wilson, who was a member of the council, and learn from him what had been done. So he called on Councilman Wilson. Smith opened the conversation. ' How about that ground of mine ? What did you do ?' ' Nothing/ replied Wilson, coldly. ' You refused to buy it at five thousand when it was offered,' said Smith. ' I know we did, because your demand was exorbitant." ' Oh, no, not at all,' returned Smith, quicklyl 'In that we only differ,' said Wilson. ' However, the council has decided not to pay you the price you ask.' ' Unanimously?' ' There was not a dissenting voice.' Smith began to feel more and more uncomfortable. ' I might take something less,' he ventured to saj in a low, hesitating voice. ' It is too late now,' was Mr. Wilson's prompt reply.* 'Too late I How so?' ' We have procured a lot.' 'Mr. Wilson!' Poor Smith started to his feet in chagrin and astonishment. ' Yes ; we have taken one of Jones's lots, on the west side of the city. A beautiful ten-acre lot. It was a gift to the city.' 'You have!' Smith was actually pale. 'We have ; and the title-deeds are now being made out. ' It was some time before Smith had sufficiently rocovered from the stunning effect of this unlooked-for intelligence, to make the inquiry : ' And, pray, how much did Jones ask for his ten-acre lot?' 'He presented it to the city as a gift,' replied the councilman. 'A gift! What folly!' ' No, not folly — but true worldly wisdom ; though I believe Jones did not think of advantage to himself when he generously made the offer. He is worth twenty thousand dollars more to-day than he was yesterday, in th« simple advanced sale of his land for building lots. And I knoAv of no man in this town whose good fortune affects me with more pleasure.' Smith stole back to his home with a mountain of disappointment on his heart. In his cupidity, he had entirely over-reached himself, and he saw that the consequences were to react upon all his future prosperity. Tho public square at the west end of the town would draw improvements in that direction, all the while increasing the wealth of Mr. Jones, while lots in the north end would remain at present prices, or, it might be, take downward range. And so it proved. In ten years, Jones was the richest man in the town,, while half of Smith's property had been sold for taxes. The five-acre lot passed frpm his hands, under the hammer, in the foreclosure of a mortgage, fo*.* one ..thousand dollars ! Thus it is fliat inordinate selfishness and cupidity over-reaph themselves, while the liberal man deviseth liberal things, - and is sustained thereby.