Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-13
work which the new court will have to

While some people have been, reach
ing condition of excitement over the
abandoned farms of New York which
is dangerous in hot weather, they have
apparently entirely overlooked the
farm of one LIE Vino, near Peekskill.
which far from being abandoned has
suddenly developed into what is prob
ably the most valuable farm in the
state, If not in the country. The civ
needing ten acres of this remarkable
farm is somewhat taken back to find
that the land is valued at the modest
price of $54.450 an acre. The owner is
evidently an agricultural Hartman. for
when he bought the farm in 1903 he did
not pay any such price for If nv q
considerable amount. But as soon as
the owner became aware of the fact
thar the city needed ten acres of the
land for the great aqueduct being con-
structed for the new water supply. the
land began to accumulate surprising
values. The owner suddenly discoy-
cred that he was the lucky possessor
of a quarry, hunting grounds. a health
resort and that what he had formerly
taken to be d mud hole was in reality
a miraculous spring, features which
made the land worth about a dollar
anG quarter square foot. or rather
the most valuable farm in the state.
City officials. however, incline to a diff
ferent view, Special Counsel Dyckman
characterizng the demand for s54,5OO
an acre for the land which the city
needs as the most barefaced attempt
4
thing would be farcical We're it not for
the fact that high officials have
learned beyond doubt that there is a
movement on foot which practically
amounts to conspiracy among GER
tain lawyers to hold up the city in it's
efforts to secure the right of way for
the new aqueduct.
According to Thomas Sharkey. for
merly of pugilistic fame, anyone who
would have the nerve to rob him would
steal the Brooklyn Bridge. Neverthe-
less he has just been robbed, not of
mere money for which he cares not,
but of possessions far dearer to his
esthetic nature-nOthing less indeed
than two ''old masters" Since his re-
tirement from the white light which
beats upon heavy weight champion,
Mr.. Sharkey spends his time at his
cafe in New York and his home at
Sheepshead Bay. He has gone in for
art, and was much disappointed last
year when in France to have his offer
of $3.50 for the Venus de Milo refused.
Mr.. Sharkey's artistic temperament
Immediately recognized the worth of
that work of art and he would have
been glad to have it in his cafe. On
top of this blow to his sensitive and
art-lOving nature comes the robbery
just committed. Two pictures We're
stolen from the dining-rOom of his
house which Mr.. Sharkey says were
genuine old masters. One was q pic
ture of the race horse, Domino, and
Mr. Sharkey doesn't remember what
the other was because he has so many
pictures He even has pictures on
his ceiling-hand painted ones at that
1t is not the money loss that former
prize fighter minds, although the two
pictures We're said to be worth over
eleven dollars. What causes him to
weep is the fact that anyone should
dare to rob him. He has a clue, how
ever. and says that if he catches the
thief he will make a parable out Of
him."