New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
HE PRESIDENTS FARM.
Oyster Bay Erpects Him There for
TOrn,s Celebration.

te- Bay and a rest, this is what happens when
Noah Seaman the Presidents farmer at Saga
more Eil walks along the main street of the
quaint little Long Island village
How do. Noah?" it begins from the first vii
lager he meets
g 'Lo Billr' answers the first farmer in the
land-"
"What'd you hear from the PRESIDENT"
"Nawthingr'
''When's he a-coming back TO US, Noah?"
q can't tell you Bill
Loosen UP, Noah, when's be a-coming?"
'.The folks are coming the Sth, I hear"
Seaman finally volunteers.
And the PRESIDENT"
Well, If you must know, he's coming back on
June 90" and Noah moves on, TO be questioned
by the next visitor and to evade answering just
as long as possible, for, like the other en-
ployes on the Presidents farm, he believes that
what people don't know don't hurt them"
On June % Oyster Bay is going to celebrate
her 250th anniversary and will preface it by q
rousing reception for the President when he
reaches the village. The Oyster Bay Board Of
Trade has taken charge Of the Presidential re-
turn celebration, and its plans are practically
complete, with due allowance made for possible
change of date. z. Morgan Griffin, president
Ct the Board Of Trade and committee Of
citizens viii meet the President on his arrival
and escort him TO his home. II is said that the
celebration viii surpass those previously given
IL honor Of the Chief Executives homecoming.
To realize how much Oyster Bay thinks OF
President Roosevelt one must have seen the
village at the head of one Of the most beautiful
Long Island indentations. It is sleepy little
place. dignified with age, self-satisied in the
beauty Of its surroundings, peculiar not alone
In lis octagonal hotel. The older villagers al
ways knew that something, they knew not
what was going to happen to Oyster Bay. It
started TO happen when Colonel Roosevelt be-
came Governor. but he was almost within the |
White House before oyster Bay awoke to the !
opportunity.
The town has grown wonderfully in the last |
two years Five business blocks OF brick have
gone UP, and one is building. The Independent
Order Of Odd Fellows have q new hall, with |
the three links done il red white and blue on
the front
Then there is the building which for two
months this summer will be the virtual capital
Of the United States For executive offices the
President has secured the entire second floor
and it is now being fitted up for him The bllhos
are already hung and the man who bought them
must have been color blind No sky ever
Showed q brighter, more noisy blue than those
blinds. The building is the Moore Block on one
OF the four corners about which Oyster Bay
life throbs. II is owned by the man who keeps
the grocery on the street floor.
There have been other improvements since
the boom began. There is a hundred feet OF
cement sidewalk in front of the City Han
Gravel and sand did well enough before. Hiram
Smith has painted his barn. The folk consider
this rather careless Of Hiram The photograph
gallery still keeps open just afternoon a
week
It is impossible to rent or buy house in
Oyster Bay at this time, unless one is burning
money and doesn't care what he pays It is
surprising how many people want to live in the
town the President calls home. Realty prices
have scared. Lots which would have been dear
two years ago al $500 are worth 81 900 now.
One piece Of property jumped from $4,000 to
$4,000 while q Nen-YOIker was thinking about
taking an option. The President is the best
thing that ever happened 10 oyster Bay" is the
general cry. i
Prices do be high" declared Deacon Jacob
Smith White, the dean Of the hack drivers who
fringe the station. Now there's Joe AprOy,
who lives over by the Mister Presidents. He's
been the only poor fellow out that way fur a II