Blount's land speculations were similar to those in which almost every other prominent American, in public or private life, was engaged.
Neither Congress nor the States had as yet seen the wisdom of allowing the laud to be sold only in small parcels to actual occupants, and the favorite kind of speculation was the organization of land companies.

Of course there were other kinds of business in which prominent men took part.

Sevier was interested not only in land, but in various mercantile ventures of a more or less speculative kind; he acted as an intermediary with the big importers, who were willing to furnish some of the stores with six months' credit if they could be guaranteed a settlement at the end of that time.

[Footnote: _Do_., David Allison to Blount, Oct.

16, 1791.] Business Versatility of the Frontiersman One of the characteristics of all the leading frontiersmen was not only the way in which they combined business enterprises with their work as Government officials and as Indian fighters, but the readiness with which they turned from one business enterprise to another.