Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-04
ONLY ONE BID FOR THE
BIG PROPERTY.
THERE WAS NO CONTEST.
The Reorganization COmmittoe'S OfIer
the Only One Made-A Crowd About
the Freight Depot ObsCures the
Notsbles-The Proceedings
Knocked Down for
Over S53,6OO,OOO.

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 1.-The Union
Pacific railroad proper, including the
buildings and all that goes to operate
the system, was sold this morning at
the freight depot to the reorgan-
ization committee of the road
for $50, 52s, 539. 70. This amount does
not include the sinking fund in the
hands of the government, and taking
this to be S4,O36, 400, the amount stated
in the government decree covering the
sale of the road, the total paid for the
property was So, 564, g32.76. There
were no other bidders, and the road
went to the reorganization committee
without any opposition.
The sale of the road was in itself
one of the tamest and least exciting
performances possible to imagine. 1t
was advertised to take place in front
of the Union Pacific depot at the juno
tion of Ninth and Jones streets at IL
o'clock, and it was just one minute
after that time when Master-in-
Chancery Cornish, who was to act as
auctioneer, took his place on the low
stone step in front of the Ninth street
enterance to begin the sale. For over
half an hour crowd had been gath
ering to witness the sale, and it was
only with great difficulty that Mr..
Cornish was able to get sufficient
room to enable him to work He
finally stood into the corner of the
doorway, with one shoulder against
the door and the other against the
brick wall and prepared for business.
around the doorway and up in front
of the center of the building that the
members of the reorganization COM
mittee, the men who came out to buy
the road, were unable to see anything
or hear word of what was going on.
They were compelled to stand back in
the hallway, from which one of them
would occasionally poke out his face,
just to see that all was we'll. Packed
into the hall, leaning against the ban
nisters, sitting upon the stairs or
standing in the center of the floor
were all the members of the commit
tee Receiver Mink was in an upper
window, watching the proceedings
below.
Mr.. Cornish carried under his arm a
large portfolio bound with the regula-
ton red tape, and as soon as the crowd
gave him room to extend his arms, he
united the strings and drew forth a
number of papers. Selecting one of
these he replaced the others and hold
ing it out, he said: "Gentlemen, am
here to sell certain railroad properties
in pursuance of decree of the United
States circuit court L will now read
the description of the property to be
sold, and when 1 have finished the
reading will be prepared to receive
bids"
Mr.. Cornish then unfolded the mo-
tice Of sale, which occupid about four
columns of agate type. Then, saying
"This notice is so long, gentlemen,
that will not attempt to read it so
that all of you can hear it," he read
as rapidly as possible. His voice grew
weaker as he read, and finally it be-
came nothing but an unintelligi6le
humble that was not distinguishable
three feet distant Close to his left
hand stood Lawrence Greer with a
copy Of the notice in his hand, and ne
followed the reading of the master-in-
chancery very closely.