The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-15
THE CENrENNIAL AUCTION.

Sale at the Exhibition BuiIdings- Two xns
Half Millions. Worth Of Property SOLE
for Less than Three Hundred Thous.n
| s-Destination and Use of thu
Principal Structures.
| philadelphia Cor. New York Times.l
The announcement that the buildings
erected and owned by the Centennial
Exhibition Board of Finance would be
sold by auction to-day at the grounds,
in Paramount Park, drew together q
large audience, the major portion OF
whom came from curiosity rather than
to purchase. The fact that the sale had
not been extensively advertised probably
prevented the attendance of many
moneyed men from the neighboring cit
les, who might have come here. As it
was, there were few capitalists present,
and these belonged to Philadelphia or
it's immediate vicinity. AS will be seen
below, the prices realized were ridicu-
lousy small, and, when compared with
the original cost, will show the great
bargains which were obtained, and the
loss sustained by being compelled to
dispose of the buildings at this time.
They are valuable as relics, if nothing
more, and the most of them are well con-
structed, as they now stand, or they
would have been Frustrated In the severe
storms which have swept over the
grounds at times. The terms of the sale
were % per cent. of the price to be paid
Immediately, and the balance within
thirty days. The buildings are to be re-
moved within thirty days.
The Main Exhibition building was
first announced, and, as every one Is IA
miliar with the structure, it is not
necessary to give. the dimensions, etc.
"Well, gentlemen" said Mr.. Thomas
S. Ellis, the auctioneer, "what is bid
for the Main Exhibition building
Have L one milliona Seven hundred
and fifty thousand2" There was no
response, and the spectators stood mute,
looking at one another, expecting to
hear some one speak. The auctioneer
continued Give hundred thousand 2"
Still no response. -Four hundred
thousands three hundred thousand 2"
Then, rather impatiently, "Well, what
is bid for it?" Mr.. Richard j. Dobbins,
the contractor who erected it, sung out,
"Two hundred thousand dollars" After
naming the price over couple of times,
Mr.. John S. Morton, in very quiet
manner, said "Two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars" Mr.. Ellis endeav-
ored to run it up higher, and In his des-
peration turned to Mr.. John Welsh, the
President of the Finance Board, and in
quired if the building was to be slaugh-
tered ut that price. 81 do not see that
we can do any BETTER" replied Mr..
Welsh, and the building was knocked
down to Mr.. Morton for $500 He
stepped up to the desk, drew his check
for So, 800, and in a minute Mr.. Ellis
announced that the building had been
bought for the Permanent International
Exhibition Company, of this city. The
cost of the Main building was 81, 600,-
600, and the Directors of tho Perma-
nent Exhibition, of which Mr.. Morton
is one, had based their estimates on
paying at least half million of dollars
for it.
The next buildings disposed of COM
prised the Mineral annexes, on the south
side of the Main building. These cost
$4,000. The largest, $50 feet in length
by 25 feet wide, was started at 800, and
finally sold to Mr.. William King, of No.
LOT Arch street, Philadelphia, for $500.
He obtained the smaller annex, 312 feet
long, for $500. The Carriage building,
of corrugated iron, which cost $55, 900,
was sold at $1,100, to Mr.. James @.
Adams, who purchased it for Richard J.
Dobbins, the builder. The Photographic
Exhibition building, situated near the
Art gallery, next fell under the hammer.
The bidding on it was very lively, start
ing at 500, and finally falling to the lot
of Mr.. @. Grouse, of Reading, Pa, re-
tired merchant, for the sum of 81 900.
The original cost was $23, 900. The Art
Gallery annex, the one-story structure Of
brick, plastered in imitation of marble,
and connected with the Memorial hall,
being 395 feet by 222 feet, was sold for
$1,000. II. p. Bilyou, of Philadelphia,
was the purchaser. The cost of the
building was $4,000.
After disposing of several minor build
ings, Agricultural hall was reached, and
it was matter of considerable specula-
ton as to who would be the purchaser.
The building was started at 81, 900 and
slipped gradually up to S12, 900, when
Mr.. Dobbins and w. G. Alllson con-
tested for the final purchase. After q
number of 1875 and $50 bids, Mr.. Dob
bins secured it for S13, 100. The original
cost of this building was $270,000. 1t
was purchased on speculation, the
buyer not having any fixed ideas in re-
gard to its final destination.
Below will be found comparison of
the prices which some of the prominent
buildings cost, and what they were sold
for:
Original Selling
Buildings. cost. price.
Main building. ...............$l,6O Co., 600 x2SO,OCO
Mineral annexes. ............. 10000 1000
Carriage building ............. 5000 400