When he got back to New York, he at once struck out
through the wilderness to buy furs of the Indians, or better
still, to interest them in bringing furs to him.

He knew the value of friendship in trade as no man of the time
did.

He went clear through to Lake Erie, down to Niagara Falls,
along Lake Ontario, across to Lake Champlain and then down
the Hudson. He foresaw the great city of Buffalo, and
Rochester as well, only he said that Rochester would
probably be situated directly on the Lake. But the water-
power of the Genesee Falls proved a stronger drawing power
than the Lake Front. He prophesied that along the banks of
the Niagara Falls would be built the greatest manufacturing
city in the world. There were flour-mills and sawmills there
then. The lumber first used in building the city of Buffalo
was brought from the sawmills at ``The Falls.''

Electric power, of course, was then a thing unguessed, but
Astor prophesied the Erie Canal, and made good guesses as
to where prosperous cities would appear along its line.

In Seventeen Hundred and Ninety, John Jacob Astor married
Sarah Todd. Her mother was a Brevoort, and it was
brought about by her coming to Astor to buy furs with which
to make herself a coat. Her ability to judge furs and make
them up won the heart of the dealer. The marriage brought
young Astor into ``the best Dutch New York society,'' a
combination that was quite as exclusive then as now.