724 [Assembly 



by the State. The emigrant, when he arrived, selected his lot 

 without perfecting a title, or even securing a pre-emption, relying 

 upon his right and ability to do so at his' convenience. This de- 

 lay eventually defeated their occupation of the farms, and blasted 

 all the anticipated rewards of the toil and privations of the pio- 

 neers. 



In the language of a citizen of the town, " a great landholder 

 heard of this territory of State lands, came and inspected it, re- 

 turned to Albany and made a purchase at the land office of the 

 entire tract,"* The settlers, soon apprised of this event, so fraught 

 with evil and calamity to themselves, sought to purchase of him 

 their possessions. He announced to them that the lands were. not, 

 at that time, in market. TJiey too well understood the purport 

 of this intimation. They were not, however, disturbed in their 

 occupation, but unwilling to continue a coui'se of improvement, 

 which might enure only to the benefit of a stranger, little further 

 progress was made in the cultivation of their farms, and the land 

 was gradually abandoned with the exception of a few lots. 



The calamitous season of 1816, visited that elevated region 

 with augmented severity and suffering. The Elba company 

 relinquished their works about the year 1820. This event was the 

 final catastrophe in the affairs of the orighial settlement of the 

 town. When the country was generally abandoned under these 

 circumstances by the inhabitants, their improvements had extend- 

 ed over a large tract of meadow, arable, and pasture land. The 

 few occupants who remained, enjoyed the unmolested use of these 

 cultivated fields, and neglected the appropriate care and tillage of 

 their own premises. The enclosures rapidly decayed, and the 

 territory soon became an extensive common. The scattered in- 

 habitants reverted to the Beaver meadows for fodder, and hunt- 

 ing and fishing again became their chief occupation. The roads 

 fell into decay, schools were discontinued, religious ordinances 



* T. S. Nash. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Nash for elaborate notes on the history, &o., of 

 North Elba, prepared at my solicitation. They evince unusual sagacity and discrimiration. I 

 regret that my limited space will not permit an introduction of these notes, as they furnish 

 evidence that the *' Backwoodsmen of America can wield the pen with almost as much vigor 

 »s the axe." 



