Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-08-06
THE MAMMOTH CAvE,
Its Use, OWners, Historv-A Gu
Ti6us WtH.

Mammoth Cave was originally the prop
erty of - Yatewood, ('elieved 10 have
have been the progenitor of the family OF
that name now residing In the vicinity Of
r chmond, Madison county, who at SOME
time previous to the war Of 1872 -the pre-
else date not known-sold IL 10 Messrs
Gratz & wilkins OF Lexington. During the
war of 1912, these gentlemen used the cave
for the manufacture OF satpetre, and IL is
probable that It had been used for that pct.
pose previously, as Messrs. G. & W. entered
upon the work immediately upon securing
possession Of It. With the close of the war
the production Of willainous saltp-tre
ceasing TO he profitable, Grsiz aud Wilkins
disposed of the property to Mr.. Franklin
Gprin, now OF Bowling Green, who fr,l
opened IL TO the public ss place worthy
of resort, though with buL few visitors and
consequently limited pecuniary success.
CORN 10 turn sold ont to DR.. John CrOlhap
of Locust GroSe, near Louisville, who con.
tinued the btisin, IS inaugurated by Frank.
lin Germ, l. e, keeping il open for pniiic
VISITS ion as the greatest and most woIider-
fui natural curiosity in the known world
DR.. Croghan dying without children, and
having during bis European travels been
greatly prepOssessed with the op;s.hnent
laws which he there found in operation, he
devised this property to his nine nephews
and nieces by will eqaiAliy remarkable for
the suecinctness and lucidhy Of It's pro
visions aud its singnlarity. Uuder this will
three trustees we're named, cnly one Of
~h ,m, J. r. Underwood, accepted the trust,
and VINO has since managed the property
! BY the provisions of this remarkable trsiA-
fheptAry document, tbe trustee is required
To lease the hotel property for terms not
exceeding Ave years, ami to keep an agent
to receive "cAve fees" That is. fees
charged for exhibiting the cave) whose
duty Il should be to provide guides, lamps
oil dpd all things necessary tO the safe and
satisfactory exhibition Of tbe property, the
profits aecruing from an sources 10 bs vi
ded, after defraying all Expenses, In equal
proportions among the legatses during theiI
lives. After the doa'h of all the nine
nephews and nieces, the trustee was direc'
ted 10 sell the property aud divide the pro
ceeds among the children or said nephew
aud nieces. Some OF the devisees brins
much younger than the trustee, Il Is mon,
than probable that he viii de before som.
Of Ihsm.. III which csss he was authOriz %
10 sppOint = successor with like powers I,
carry into effect the wishes of the testator
Such bris fly 10 the nature Of this singula
will, the ptTipgsnt provisions OF which hav,
rendered II impossible 10 improve The prep
eriy, as would otherwise have bren dous
Propos ti0nA have hern made 10 erect
nagDiiic, n hotel, with all tae modern i'm
pIovemepts, eOsiiug sl00, 900, provided th.,
could obtain ase for 20 years, but nj
beiI 9 imp,s lblo under Il 9 will fell through
The requirements that tho income shah .
annuAliy divided between the deyisees hs
eqnally prevented improvement. But q
1 this doubt NOT that Mammoth Cave woul
be to day, ss II shOn'd ne, the most popul.
! and the most extensively patr0nized plas
of resort 10 the Uniled States or the Eorl,
. Giv,n for the Cave the facilities Of acoe
and the convenieneies OF Slrstog,,. aide
EDd assisted by iGdieie". Adr, rt,se,ns