Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-13

ana Two IRON tne cOotsho'S "s~P
as public outcry and to the highest
/ bidder"
Mr.. Robert J. Collier. Of New YORK
! City, had been negotiating Tor tne
property and upon the appearance
OF Tits notice he despatched M
Richard Lloyd Jones to Hodgenyiiie
with instructions to buy the place
II possible. 81
The day set for tbs bidding was
Monday and AS the laws forbade Sun
dav railway operation in this neigh
borhood. EIizabeth town. twelve miles
away was as near as Mr. Jones could
come by rail. before Monday noon.
Al the little hotel at Elizabethtowh
Mr., Jones met two individuals who
he learned were sent on the same
mission as himself. One represe NJ
ed prominent Eastern merchaht'
the other a distilling concern which
recognized the commercial value u
the pure water from the rock spring
and the bottle label bearing the In
scriptiop "LincOln Birthplace Wits
KEY" Both had come with instruc-
lions to bid It In" and the sentiment
which they displayed about their
mission was intense. 1t eventually
worked their ruin. for before even
ing their patriotic enthusiasm had
been stimulated to a high degree.
and BY midnight both were peaceabiy
abed
Mr. Jones came here ealiy by pug
gv the next morning and sought OUT
the commissioner who was to con
due, the sale. With the thought OF
tho two gentlemen who were still
resting in Elizabethtown. he tried
to persuade the commissioner 10
start the sale promptly at ten O'Clock.
But that official was for having |"
in the afternoon. Finally tweiVe-
thirty was agreed upon az a compro-
mise. A horse auction the same day
excited more interest among the CIT
liens of the village, and 1t was pu'
a small crowd that gathered ABOUT
the courthouse when Commissioners
Handley announced that he was
ready to sell the Rock Spring Farm.
The bidding started at Sl,5oo anu
was gradually worked up to $3,6oo'
at which price 1t was sold 10 MI
Golfers representative. After the
papers had been properly drawn ana
recorded Mr.. Jones started to drive
back to Elizabethtown and enconn-
tered one Of the belated bidders VINO
was mercilessly hurrying his morse
to reach the auction in time TO DID:
An indignant salutaticn greeted Mr..
Jones' announcement that the Lin
coin Farm was in his pocket. ,
What am l to say when l get
back" the other shouted in dismay.
I'm give you $4,000 for 1t right
now" But Mr.. Collier had better
use for the place and 1t was not
handed over. Instead hS interested
a group Of representative American
citizens in forming national asso'
citation for the preservation Of this
ground This group OF citizens or
ganized the Lincoln Farm Associa-
ton. which was promptly incorpor'
ated under the laws OF the State OF
New York. The title Of the Lincoln
birthplace was transferred to this
association and the program for en-
larging the membership OF the so
ciety was at once began. In order
to make the memorial to Lincoln
represent the tributes of all the peo
pie no contribution Of more than $50
has been accepted and snyonce con-
tributing as small a sum as % cents
Is entitled to membership In the or
ganization.
Since this time about twenty thous-
sand subscriptions have been re-
ceived. averaging a little less than
a dollar and forty cents to a member.
With these funds the trustees bought
the cabin In which Lincoln was bern
and set Il upon It's original site: they
have commenced the memorial build
ing which Is to cover the cabin and
they have made plans for developing
the farm into a beautiful park.