The morning call., 1893-08-25
SALE OF THE SAND.

Colonel A. Andrews was introduced
after the bands had played stirring ma
tonal airs. he referred feelingly to the
pride the directors felt in the substantial
approval of the people. and personally
thanked the many donors to the fund and
advocates OF The great undertaking. After
a characteristic speech upon fair matters
in general. he tapped the stand with the
beribhoned gavel and said:
Here is the casket that is to contain the
irst shoveliul OF earth from The grading
of the grounds for the Midwinter Fair"
and the box was shown 10 the people.
Mr.. de Young then passed to the central
front Of the grand stand and descended to
the sands. The glittering shovel was
handed to him, and in a trice he had filed
the box aud returned 1t TO the speaker.
| The actual lifting of the soil was devoid
of formal ceremony, owing j to the density
of the human mass.
Having received the box of earth Colonel
Andrews PLACED in 1t the souvenir coins
and a vial ard nugget Of gold from the
dIggings OF 40. II. Kramer gave Russian
81 DIN of the year 100. and 1t was added to
| the collection In the box.
At this stage the United States Light
Battery fired the initial gun of its salute,
the orchestra sounded the grand old ymn,
! y d.
voices Joined in the triumphant hymn.
| The glorious strains rose and swelled, un-
| I'll it seemed the very heavens took up the
refrain and sent its lasting gifts upos the
/ people of liDerty's land. AS the guns
| doomed and the mighty song arose an
other scene was shifted in the great
drama. Around the hills came a long
train of wagons and scrapers. men with
shovels for the sands. axes for the brush
and picks for the roots. In through the
| valley they swung. and then they paused
and prepared to continue the important
work so auspiciously begun. 1t was the
vanguard OF the graders, and the people
| then knew the progress of the fair was an
assurance. The speakers had announced
it. and the promise materlallzed as they
waited.
When the salute and hymn had ended
! Colonel Andrews resumed:
Now. gentlemen, L hold in my hand
| one of the most precious of all jewels-the
| first shovelful of earth just taken out by
| the director-general and placed In this
casket to be sold at public auction. This
! Is an event which has never taken place
before since the beginning OF the world
| Think of shovelful of earth that would
] be sold for large sum of money. But
whoever may be the lucky possessor of
! this casket will be rewarded a thousand
fold what it may cost him. | remember,
after the Mexican war, in 1913. when [
was in New York. Jenny Lind. the
great prima donna. came to this
country, and the first ticket sold at
auction for her fist concert was pur-
chased by an obscure halter. named
Jenin. 1t took all the little money he
had and all he could borrow from his
friends to purchase the first ticket, Tor
which he paid the enormous sum of $500.
This made Mr.. Jenin's fortune. He
became knowa far and near. His name
was known the world over. Thousands
| and thousands of people Hooked TO his
establishment TO patroniZe him. How
much greater this shovelfui of earth will
| perpetuate the memory Of the man who
purchases it. His name will be flashed
with lightning speed throughout the
world. 1t will be as well known in twenty
four hours as the name OF our great wash
ington. Such thing has never happened
in the world before. What will the people
| of Europe say? Great hpavens! what a
country this must where
they can sell a shovelful OF dirt for so
large sum of money.
''How much am / offered?" he asked,
as he prepared to accept bids for the
precious EARTH babel Of voices arose,
out of which could be distinguished i.
| Baclgalupi saying:
Three hundred and fifty dollars"
-Four hundred" answered Adolph
Ro0s. and his figure was at once raised.
Ii fingered a moment and then reached
the $500 point.
Five hundred. I'm bid" said the
colonel; make 1t six"
'Five-G.ty." came from the far end of
the stand. and Mr.. Roos went him SIS
better.
six hundred!'
''SiX-twenty-fivew
Then tho sand-flled casket hung mo-
ment and the colonel turned to Mr. Roos
for a raise. He obtained it-S650-and
then he began 20 punctuate his sale with
the gavel. saving:
"Six-ffty / have: make 1t seven; make
1t six-seventy-five; $3.50 Pm offered. Six
hfty once, six fifty twice, sx-ftty third
AID last time, aud-a-n-d-SOLD-
Mr.. Roos. Mr.. Roos. your name will &c