The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-22
RECORD PRICE FOR
A SACK OF FLOUR
When Fifty Pound Sack
Brought Million Dollars
RESULT OF ELECTION BET
Great Rivalry Among Western Towns
In Bidding and Staple Was Sold
Over and Over Again, Real
izlng Large Sum.

lzlng Large Sum.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
The costilest flour that ST. Louis ever
baked into cakes brought $4,000 a pound,
and gingersnaps that it produced sold
for 81 each Even at that price people
bought them by the dozen. 1t was one
of the rare instances when the high price
of foodstuffs comes as a blessing, for
every cent Of the money went to swell
the fund of the sanitary commission
organized by DR.. Henry W. Bellows of
Boston during the civil war. which furn-
ished. to relieve suffering of federal
troops, more than 100000 in supplies
and 100000 in money.
The man whose act instigated a move
ment that caused a single fifty pound
sack of flour worth s15 to produce upward
of $1,0O0OOO is now living In Sycamore,
! Ill. At the age of 70 years he is the
county surveyor of De Kalb county, and
is one of the best known citizens of north
ern Illinois. The story that he tells
is full of human interest from start to
finish.
III loo4 the MINING LONu OF austin, 1NeN,
was about to vote on the question as to
whether it would incorporate and elect
full set of town officers On one side Of
the municipal contest was a man named
r. G. Gridley and on the other side
was a citizen of the name of Herrick
Gridley bet Herrick that his side would
win; If it didn't he would carry a sack Of
-four on his shoulder from his cabin to
lierrick's place at the opposite side of
town, a mile distant. Herrlek was to do
the same If he lost. There was a deal
of war time political feeling, and is was
agreed that If Gridley, who was born
| in Tennessee but was loyal northerner
should lose he would have to keep step
to the music of "Old John Brown" played
by brass band engaged for the oc-
casion. If Herrick had to carry the flour
he would do so to the enliving strains
of Dixie"
Herrlck Men Elected.
Gridley's side lost and all of the candi-
dates on Herricks side were elected.
When 1t came time for Gridley to make
good in his election wager there was a
tremendous outpouring of people to wit
ness the event. The crowd on the side
walks and in the street marched along
singing the words of the familiar song
until the words of the canons fairly re-
sounded with their efforts. The sack of
flour had been decorated with red, white
and blue ribbons, with a small flag at
each corner
Aftler Grldley had turned the sack over
to Herrick the former offered to pay him
$25 for the -four Herrick at once said
that he could have 1t and that he would
turn the money over to the fund of the
sanitary commission, which had been or
ganized to relieve suffering in battle
Aal1 nd toll ffaa ,arly
that only needed to be ignited to set
on fire a noble project. Mr. Armstrong,
who had gone from Milwaukee to the
far west before the war broke out, was a
witness of the affair and he said that he
wanted the -four too, and that he would
give $50 for 1t. In amoment the Idea
seemed to blaze into the greatest enthus-
iasm. Gridley Herrick and others kept
on bidding until the price reached s45.
when it was raised by $3.50 bids until it
got to $50.
At this juncture Mr. Armstrong pro
posed that the crowd march to Main and
Cedar Streets the principal corner of the
town: that the band should go along
and play Dixie" just to put the other
side In good humor. The situation was
announced to a still larger crowd, when
Gridley started the ball rolling by bidding
5000 fort the -four. 1t ran up by fives and
tens until a butcher bid $3.50. He fiunked
on his bid, but another citizen, named
NJ J. Noyes said that he would take the
butchers bid. and he paid the money for
the flour. Moves offered it to Gridley for
5000 and he took 1t. Then the latter put
IL up again and the budding continued
until at the close of the day the sack
brought $500.
Gridley then effored to take the sack
and sell 1t In all of the towns villages
and cities in Nevada and California, his
n
proceeds. He said he would give three
months of his time free of charge.
Bidding Reaches $4,000.
On this basis the enterprise was started
Most of the towns had got wind of what
was being done, and the information
spread to distant western localities. Wells
Fargo & Co., gave GTidley a pass that
carried him and his sack of flour over
their stage lines anywhere in that coun-
try, and the Overland Telegraph company
agreed to frank all the messages that he
cared to send to carry out his programme
One day, carrying the sack of -four on
his shoulder, he left Austin by the Over
land stage to arrive in Virginia City
by p. m. the next day. A band had
been engaged and prominent citizens
met him in Flowery Canon and escorted
him to Virginia City A platform had
been erected and Grid1ey carried his bur-
den up in plain sight of great con-
course of people. That evening the bid
ding reached $1,000
By that time a great rivalry had arisen
among the towns as to which should Guido
the others In boosting the fifty pounds Of
breadstuff to an unheard of price. From
Virginia City, with a brass band at his
heels Gridley marched over to Gold Hill,
where the -four brought a. total of SO, 200.
Silver City promptly raised this sum by
$500 and Dayton climbed up to $500.
Then Silver City tried to outbid Its neigh
bor but failed, Gold Hill raising its figure
to sS,027. Virginia City gave the scheme
another boost, reaching the sum of s10.-
9o0 Carson City bid $500, Esmeralda
raised $1,000, Ophir $1,000, Washoe City
s., 800.
The great American staple In this way
was sold over and over again until an