Arizona republican., 1909-02-12

terests to use it for one purpose or an other. Many schemes have been sug- gsted from time to time but none of them have borne any large national significance. Finally in 1905 it was ad- vertised that "on August 2S the Lin- coin farm was to be sold between the hours of 10 and from the court house steps at public outcrp and to the high est bidder"
 Robert J. Collier of New York City had been negotiating for the property, and upon the appearance of this notice he despatched Richard Lloyd Jones to Hodgenville with instructions to buy the place if possible.
 The day set for the bidding was Monday and as the laws Sunday rail- way operation in this neighborhood, EliZabethtown, twelve miles away, was as near as MT. Jones could come by rail before Monday noon. At the little hotel in Elizabethtown, MT. Jones met two individuals who he learned were sent on the same mission as himself. One represented a prominent eastern merchant, the other a distilling con- cern which recognized the commercial
 
 spring and the bottle label bearing the inscription Lincoln Birthplace Whis- key" Both had come with instruc- tions to Ibid it in," and the sentiment which they displayed about their mis- sion was intense. It eventually work ed their ruin, for before evening their patriotic enthusiasm had been stimu- lated to a high degree, and by mid night both were peaceably abed.
 MT. Jones came here by buggy early the next morning and sought out the commissioner who was to conduct the sale. With the thought of the two gentlemen who were still resting in E,lizabethtown he tried to persuade the sale promptly at 10 o'clock. But that official was for having it in the after noon. Finally 12:30 was agreed upon as a compromise. A horse auction the same day excited more interest among the citizens of the village and it was but a small crowd that gathered about the court house when Commissioner Handley announced that he was ready to sell the Rock Spring farm. The bidding started at $1,500 and was gradually worked up to $3600, at which price it was sold to Mir. Golfers rep resentative. After the papers had been properly drawn and recorded Mir. Jones started to drive back to EliZabethtown and encountered one of the belated bidders who was mercilessly hurrying his horse to reach the auction In time to bid. An indignant saluation greet ed MT. Jones announcement that the Lincoln farm was in his pocket.
 What am I to say when I get back?" the other shouted in dismay. "Ill give you s10,O00 for it right now" But MT. Collier had a better use for the place and it was not handed over. Instead he interested a group of representa- tive American, citizens in forming a national association for the preserva- ton of this ground. This group of citizens organized the Lincoln Farm association. which was promptly in coporated under the laws of the state of New York The title of the Lincoln birth place was transferred to this as- sociation and the program for enlarg- ing the membership of the society was at once begun. In order to make the memorial to Lincoln represent the tributes of all the people no contribu- tion of more than s25 has been ac- cepted and anyone contributing as small a sum as 25 cents is entitled to membership in the organization
 Since this time about 10000 have been received averaging a little less than s140 to a member. With these funds the trustees bought the cabin In which Lincoln was born and set 1t up on its original site; they have com menced the memorial building which is to cover the cabin, and they have made plans for developing the farm into a beautiful park.