Improver. 



Inks btrsus fillaps. 



DITOR. " And so, my worthy friend, you bave turned 

 rural improver, and are planning not only for your own 

 . homestead, but actually laying out a village ?" 



Improver. " Ay, am I ! The railroad from the city 

 ^^ passes through these farms, which I have purchased 

 cheap, and I am enacting the character of afounder.^^ 

 Editor. " Yery good ; every citizen who becomes 

 a purchaser will have cause to thank you in the im- 

 proved health of his family, and their increased enjoy- 

 ments. What is the size of your lots ?" 

 " Single lots, twenty feet by one hundred ; double lots, just twice 

 that size. In the alleys you see here on the plan, the plots are fifteen by sixty. 

 It cuts up beautifully !" 



Editor. " And, pray, why do you follow so exactly the plan of all rectangular 

 cities ?" 



Improver. " Because it cuts up the land to so much greater profit. I mean to 

 clear a hundred thousand 1" 



Editor. " That prospective profit is not so clear to me. I can see no advan- 

 tage you offer ; no inducement to leave one closely-packed city to come and found 

 another." 



Improver. " Why, my dear sir ! look at the prices here and at those in town ! 

 I sell now for a dollar a foot on ground rent, while, in the city suburbs, prices 

 vary from six to ten dollars." 



Editor. "That may be very true ; but, to beginners, you offer neither good 

 schools, paved walks, water, nor gas ; and as for space for a garden, except one 

 purchases a dozen of your 'single lots,' and that would be expensive, I shall be 

 greatly surprised if you have any customers." 



Improver. "Really, you are not very flattering! I go upon the notion that 

 there is a fool born every day, and if I can get but one year's crop into my net, 

 the hundred thousand is secure. They won't find out that it is to be a crowded 

 town till it is pretty well built, and then /needn't care." 



Editor. " I came to see your lots, induced by your flaming advertisement ; you 

 did not know I thought of becoming a purchaser I A glance at your map was 

 discouragement enough ; your unblushing avowal of your selfish purposes is appa- 

 rent on the face of your plan ; so, taking no advantage of your declarations, let 

 me point out to you where you are wrong. In the first place, this broad continent 

 is large enough to give every householder at least room and verge enough for a 

 kitchen garden, and a place, besides, for his children to play in, without always 

 resorting to the streets. I can see no reason why you should pocket an hundred 

 thousand dollars from the earnings of others, when they can as readily make their 

 own purchases on the line of the same railroad." 



Vol. YI.— April, 1856. 



11 



