Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter III
’Inascertainingthevalueofthelands,anyimprovementsthatasettleroranyotherpersonmayhaveonthelandswillnotbetakenintoconsideration,neitherwillthepricebeincreasedinconsequencethereof....Settlersarethusinsuredthatinadditiontobeingaccordedthefirstprivilegeofpurchase,atthegradedprice,theywillalsobeprotectedintheirimprovements.’Andhere,”hecommented,“inSectionIX.itreads,’Thelandsarenotuniforminprice,butareofferedatvariousfiguresfrom$2.50upwardperacre.Usuallylandcoveredwithtalltimberisheldat$5.00peracre,andthatwithpineat$10.00.Mostisforsaleat$2.50and$5.00.”
“Whenyoucometoreadthatcarefully,”hazardedoldBroderson,“it—it’snotsoVERYREASSURING.’MOSTisforsaleattwo-fiftyanacre,’itsays.Thatdon’tmean’ALL,’thatonlymeansSOME.IwishnowthatIhadsecuredamoreiron-cladagreementfromtheP.andS.W.whenItookupitssectionsonmyranch,and—andGenslingerisinapositiontoknowtheintentionsoftherailroad.Atleast,he—he—heisinTOUCHwiththem.Allnewspapermenare.Those,Imean,whoaresubsidisedbytheGeneralOffice.But,perhaps,Genslingerisn’tsubsidised,Idon’tknow.I—Iamnotsure.Maybe—perhaps”
“Oh,youdon’tknowandyoudoknow,andmaybeandperhaps,andyou’renotsosure,”vociferatedAnnixter.“Howaboutignoringthevalueofourimprovements?NothinghazyaboutTHATstatement,Iguess.
