Article #412-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from John Jacob Astor, by Elbert Hubbard

He laid his plans before Congress, urging a line of army posts, forty
miles apart, from the western extremity of Lake Superior to the
Pacific. "These forts or army posts will evolve into cities," said
Astor, when he called on Thomas Jefferson, who was then President of
the United States. Jefferson was interested, but non-committal. Astor
exhibited maps of the Great Lakes, and the country beyond. He argued
with a prescience then not possessed by any living man that at the
western extremity of Lake Superior would grow up a great city. Yet in
Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-six, Duluth was ridiculed by the caustic
tongue of Proctor Knott, who asked, "What will become of Duluth when
the lumber crop is cut?" Astor proceeded to say that another great city
would grow up at the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. General
Dearborn. Secretary of War under Jefferson had just established Fort
Dearborn on the present site of Chicago. Astor commended this, and
said: "From a fort you get a trading post, and from a trading post you
will get a city."

He pointed out to Jefferson the site, on his map, of the Falls of St.
Anthony. "There you will have a fort some day, for wherever there is
water-power, there will grow up mills for grinding grain and sawmills,
as well. This place of power will have to be protected, and so you
will have there a post which will eventually be replaced by a city."
Yet Fort Snelling was nearly fifty years in the future and St. Paul and
Minneapolis were dreams undreamed.

Jefferson took time to think about it and then wrote Astor thus, "Your
beginning of a city on the Western Coast is a great acquisition, and I
look forward to a time when our population will spread itself up and
down along the whole Pacific frontage, unconnected with us, excepting
by ties of blood and common interest, and enjoying like us, the rights
of self-government."

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from John Jacob Astor by Elbert Hubbard**

This passage from Elbert Hubbard’s 1910 biographical sketch of John Jacob Astor (1763–1848)—a German-American fur trader, real estate mogul, and America’s first multi-millionaire—highlights Astor’s visionary foresight in predicting the westward expansion of the United States. The excerpt focuses on a meeting between Astor and President Thomas Jefferson in the early 19th century, where Astor outlines his grand scheme for American settlement, trade, and urban development in the then-wilderness of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

Hubbard, a writer and philosopher known for his hagiographic (idealized) biographies of great figures, portrays Astor as a prophetic entrepreneur whose business instincts anticipated the rise of major American cities long before they became realities. The passage is rich in historical irony, foreshadowing, and themes of manifest destiny, making it a fascinating study in both American expansionism and entrepreneurial vision.

Context of the Excerpt

John Jacob Astor’s Role in American Expansion
- Astor made his fortune in the fur trade, founding the American Fur Company (1808) and establishing a near-monopoly in the Northwest.
- He was a key figure in early American capitalism, using his wealth to invest in real estate (including much of Manhattan) and infrastructure.
- His Pacific Fur Company (1810) sought to dominate the Oregon Country, competing with British and Russian traders. Though the venture failed due to the War of 1812, Astor’s vision of a transcontinental America endured.
Thomas Jefferson’s Vision of the West
- Jefferson, who had just completed the Louisiana Purchase (1803), was deeply interested in westward expansion but was cautious about overreach.
- His Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was meant to explore and map the new territories, but Jefferson was still uncertain about how quickly settlement would occur.
- Astor’s proposals aligned with Jefferson’s long-term goals but were far more aggressive in their economic and military implications.
Elbert Hubbard’s Purpose in Writing
- Hubbard, writing in the early 20th century, was part of the "Great Man" school of history, which emphasized the role of extraordinary individuals in shaping events.
- His Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Business Men (1910) series (of which this is a part) sought to inspire readers with tales of ambition and foresight.
- The passage serves to mythologize Astor as a clairvoyant capitalist, reinforcing the idea that wealth and progress are intertwined.

Themes in the Excerpt

Manifest Destiny & American Expansion
- Astor’s plan reflects the inevitability of westward growth, a core idea of Manifest Destiny (the 19th-century belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent).
- His predictions about Duluth, Chicago, and Minneapolis frame urban development as a natural progression from military outposts to economic hubs.
- Jefferson’s response suggests a more gradual, organic expansion, but Astor’s vision is accelerated and commercially driven.
The Power of Foresight & Economic Determinism
- Astor’s ability to see potential where others saw wilderness is a central theme.
- His arguments are based on geographic and economic logic:
  - Waterways (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Mississippi River) = trade routes.
  - Water power (St. Anthony Falls) = industrial growth (mills, factories).
  - Military posts = seeds of civilization (trade → settlements → cities).
- Hubbard presents Astor as a practical prophet, whose wealth gave him the resources to shape the future.
Irony & Historical Hindsight
- The passage is dripping with irony because Astor’s predictions—ridiculed in his time—proved uncannily accurate.
  - Duluth (mocked by Proctor Knott in 1876) became a major port.
  - Chicago (then just Fort Dearborn) grew into a metropolis.
  - Minneapolis-St. Paul (then uninhabited) became the flour-milling capital of the world.
- Jefferson’s cautious optimism contrasts with Astor’s bold certainty, making the exchange a dramatic foreshadowing of American growth.
The Role of Government vs. Private Enterprise
- Astor urges government action (army posts) but envisions private profit (trading posts → cities).
- This reflects the tension between federal expansion and capitalist ambition that defined 19th-century America.
- Hubbard, writing in the Gilded Age, celebrates this public-private partnership as the engine of progress.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Foreshadowing & Prophecy
- Astor’s statements are framed as prophecies, giving the text a mythic quality.
- Phrases like:
  - "There you will have a fort some day..."
  - "From a fort you get a trading post, and from a trading post you will get a city."
- These create a sense of inevitability, reinforcing the idea that Astor saw the future.
Juxtaposition & Contrast
- Astor’s confidence vs. Jefferson’s skepticism:
  - Astor: "These forts or army posts will evolve into cities."
  - Jefferson: "non-committal" but later writes a vague, long-term endorsement.
- Past ridicule vs. future reality:
  - Proctor Knott’s 1876 mockery of Duluth contrasts with its later success.
Historical Allusion & Dramatic Irony
- The mention of Fort Snelling (built 1819–1825) and St. Paul/Minneapolis (not yet founded) creates dramatic irony—readers know these places became major cities, but the characters in the scene do not.
- The 1876 reference to Duluth (decades after Astor’s death) serves as a retrospective validation of his vision.
Repetition & Parallel Structure
- Hubbard uses parallel phrasing to emphasize Astor’s methodical thinking:
  - "From a fort you get a trading post, and from a trading post you will get a city."
  - "Wherever there is water-power, there will grow up mills..."
- This gives Astor’s arguments a logical, almost mathematical quality.
Hagiographic Tone (Hero Worship)
- Hubbard glorifies Astor, portraying him as a genius ahead of his time.
- Words like "prescience" and phrases like "not possessed by any living man" elevate Astor to near-mythic status.
- The omission of Astor’s failures (e.g., the collapse of his Pacific Fur Company) reinforces this idealized portrait.

Significance of the Passage

A Blueprint for American Capitalism
- Astor’s strategy—using military infrastructure to enable private commerce—became a model for U.S. expansion.
- His vision prefigured the railroad boom, the rise of Chicago as a transportation hub, and the industrialization of the Midwest.
A Reflection on Progress & Time
- The passage challenges the reader to consider how history unfolds:
  - What seems impossible in one era (e.g., cities in the wilderness) becomes inevitable in the next.
  - Hubbard suggests that great men like Astor accelerate this process.
A Critique of Short-Sightedness
- The mockery of Duluth in 1876 serves as a warning against dismissing visionary ideas.
- Hubbard implies that true progress requires bold thinkers, not just cautious leaders like Jefferson.
Relevance to Hubbard’s Era (Early 20th Century)
- Written during the height of American industrialization, the passage celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that built the nation.
- It also justifies capitalist expansion, a theme that would have resonated with Hubbard’s business-oriented audience.

Close Reading of Key Lines

"These forts or army posts will evolve into cities."
- Military → Economic Transition: Astor sees forts as temporary, with trade and settlement as the end goal.
- Manifest Destiny in Microcosm: The line encapsulates the frontier-to-city narrative of American expansion.
"From a fort you get a trading post, and from a trading post you will get a city."
- Stages of Civilization: This three-step progression (military → commerce → urbanization) became a template for Western settlement.
- Economic Determinism: Astor believes trade, not just conquest, drives growth.
"What will become of Duluth when the lumber crop is cut?" (Proctor Knott, 1876)
- Historical Irony: Knott’s scoffing at Duluth’s future contrasts with its later prosperity.
- Short-Term vs. Long-Term Thinking: Astor thinks in centuries; his critics think in decades.
"Your beginning of a city on the Western Coast is a great acquisition..." (Jefferson’s Letter)
- Jefferson’s Cautious Endorsement: He acknowledges the value but doesn’t commit to action.
- "Unconnected with us, excepting by ties of blood and common interest": Jefferson fears disunion, while Astor sees opportunity.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

Elbert Hubbard’s excerpt is more than just a historical anecdote—it’s a celebration of American ambition, a defense of capitalist vision, and a meditation on how the future is built. By framing Astor as a prophet of progress, Hubbard reinforces the idea that greatness comes from seeing what others cannot.

The passage also challenges the reader to consider:

How do visionaries shape history?
What role does government play in enabling private enterprise?
How does hindsight change our judgment of bold ideas?

In the end, the excerpt is a testament to the power of foresight—and a reminder that the cities we take for granted were once just dots on a map in the mind of a fur trader with a dream.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s portrayal of Jefferson’s response to Astor’s proposals is most effectively characterised by which of the following tensions?

A. The conflict between federalism and states’ rights in early American governance.
B. The disparity between theoretical idealism and the pragmatic constraints of executive leadership.
C. The juxtaposition of cautious, incremental progressivism with bold, speculative foresight.
D. The clash between agrarian republicanism and the burgeoning forces of industrial capitalism.
E. The struggle to reconcile territorial expansion with the ethical implications of displacement.

Question 2

When Hubbard describes Astor’s "prescience then not possessed by any living man," the rhetorical effect is primarily to:

A. underscore the isolation of genius in an era resistant to forward-thinking ideas.
B. elevate Astor to a near-mythological status by framing his insights as uniquely prophetic.
C. critique the intellectual limitations of Jefferson’s administration in recognising economic potential.
D. foreshadow the eventual decline of figures like Proctor Knott, who failed to anticipate change.
E. contrast the speculative nature of Astor’s predictions with the empirical rigor of later historians.

Question 3

The passage’s inclusion of Proctor Knott’s 1876 ridicule of Duluth serves chiefly to:

A. illustrate the cyclical nature of public skepticism toward ambitious urban projects.
B. provide a historical counterpoint to Jefferson’s earlier, more measured doubts.
C. highlight the role of political satire in shaping perceptions of frontier development.
D. demonstrate how regional economic dependencies (e.g., lumber) dictate civic viability.
E. amplify the dramatic irony of Astor’s vindicated predictions through a concrete example.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the function of the phrase "From a fort you get a trading post, and from a trading post you will get a city" in the passage?

A. It exemplifies Astor’s reductive view of urban development as a linear, economically deterministic process.
B. It reflects Hubbard’s didactic intent to educate readers on the logistical stages of frontier settlement.
C. It underscores the passive role of government in facilitating private enterprise’s expansionist goals.
D. It encapsulates Astor’s strategic vision by distilling a complex historical trajectory into a compelling narrative arc.
E. It reveals the inherent instability of military outposts as precursors to sustainable civilian communities.

Question 5

The passage’s overarching tone is most accurately described as:

A. wistful nostalgia for an era of unbridled entrepreneurial opportunity.
B. uncritical adulation of Astor’s achievements, eliding the ethical costs of his ambitions.
C. reverential awe for the transformative power of individual foresight in shaping history.
D. ironic detachment, inviting readers to question the inevitability of Astor’s predictions.
E. polemical advocacy for federal investment in infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: C

Why C is most correct: The passage explicitly contrasts Jefferson’s deliberative, non-committal stance ("interested, but non-committal") with Astor’s audacious, long-term predictions (e.g., cities emerging from forts). Jefferson’s letter to Astor further reflects a gradualist perspective ("look forward to a time"), while Astor’s vision is immediate and speculative. This tension—between incremental progressivism (Jefferson) and bold foresight (Astor)—is the central dynamic in their exchange.