Westchester suggestions were also made. E. S. Peterson offered his land in Montrose. Bengt Nelson appeared at a board meeting with an offer of a stone mansion plus sixteen 25-by-100 feet lots, all for $16,500, $5,000 down and the remainder on a three-year mortgage. The lots would be sold at $100 apiece, but the Bronx Manor Association, with which Nelson was connected, would get 20 percent from any such sales. The board would accept the offer only if Nelson would gather $5,000 from Bronxville inhabitants. Apparently the Bronx Manor Association balked at the "if." In 1895 the conference confined the choice of a site to Kings and Westchester counties, but the following year this geographical limitation was refused. Serious consideration was given to White Plains. The conference even agreed to purchase from Mr. Dikeman eighty-five acres for $40,000 if this gentleman would guarantee a subscription of $10,000 from the local inhabitants within ninety days. From neighboring Connecticut came three offers. Both Middletown and Stamford sent in architect's plans. Rev. Ohman suggested New Britain.

From the start, New Jersey had its advocates. One of the earliest offers came from Arlington. The board appointed a committee to consult with the "rich realtors" and report the result to the conference. Apparently the "rich realtors" made no satisfactory suggestion. In 1895 it looked as though a suitable location had been found in Jersey City. There was a consultation with Lawyer Jewell over a thirteen-acre property between Jersey City and Bayonne. At its March meeting, the board decided to buy this property if the locality contributed $1,000. The land committee was to determine the value of the lots. The decision to purchase was announced in the April 11 edition of the Swedish language newspaper Augustana. At its May meeting, the board modified its decision: Twenty thousand dollars was to be offered on a guarantee of a local subscription of $10,000 within ninety days. Then in October, Business Manager Johnson saw Washburn and Jewell. Westerlund, appointed general agent, was to sell fifteen lots in fifteen days for $200 each in order to acquire the $3,000 necessary as a down payment. The sale was to be advertised in Värt Land and Framäd. By February 1896, however, the entire arrangement had fallen through. Westerlund refused to act as agent. A neighbor refused his consent to the opening of streets. At