The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-21
CURL s NECK FARM
SOLD TO BILLINGS
New York Millionaire Closes
Deal and Takes Immediate
Possession of Property.
HORSES AT FAIR GROUNDS
Though Price Was Not Given, 1t
Is Said to Have Been Up
ward of $35O,OOO.

Curtis Neck Farm. the magnificent
property OF the Semi estate on James
River. Henrico County. passed ycster-
day into the hands OF G. *. q. Billings.
OF New York. The deeds will be re
corded within the next few days, and.
while the purchase price was not made
public 1t is said to be upward OF
S35o.000.
Soon after his arrival in the city
yesterday morning, MIR. Billings went
10 the real estate office OF y. w. Bowe
& son, the Semi agents, and closed
the deal An hour later no was at tho
State Fair Grounds, where he rented
stables for his horses until proper ao-
commodations have been made for
them at the farm. 1t is expected that
Uhlan, holder of the worlds trotting
record, will be shipped to Richmond.
from Lexington, Ky, along with other
horses that have won fame on the
turf
First known on Friday.
The fact that Mr.. Billings had vir-
tually closed negotiations for Curtis
Neck was first printed In The Times
Dispatch on Saturday. and attracted a
great deal of favorable interest. The
deal is by far tho largest ever mado
in this state and men who are fa..il-
IL would mean much to Virginia to
have him here as n citizen. 1t Is ac-
cepted az certain that all of his horses
VIII remain at the farm during the
winter months. One of the first things
Mr.. Billings did yesterday after visit
Ing the Fair Grounds, was to buy n
new motor ear from Il local agency,
and early in the afternoon he returned
to Curls Neck with his wife and n
tx.t,
aboard his yacht. the Vanadis.
Iie told Mr.. Bowe that he liked the
property; that he would take it, and
10 nave the deeds drawn at once
Spent Si.000OOO on Farm.
MI Bowe has been representing the
Senff estate for some time in the effort
TO find purchaser. Mr. Senff spent
more than S1.000,000 NJ Curtis Neck.
and he made 1t the most famous plan
tation i'm the South. After his death il
was put on the market. rs Mrs Senff
ala not especially desire TO live there
ror year 1t was held AT a mu larger
nBurc than was paid by Mr.. Billings
ana 1t appeared to be Il difficult matter
10 hnd II buyer who wanted that kind
OF place. When asked about the ne
gotiations on Friday night. Mr. Bowe
very naturally declined to talk though
IL was learned then from other sources
that Mr.. Billings would be here this
week TO take possession
Thc Currs Neck estate embraces more
than 5000 acres on the river front
Scientific methods OF farming made it
n show place, while the display of live
stock, brought every year to the State
FAR, was the finest in Virginia
To nrced Fast Ib,rSes.
While Mr.. Semi was interested in
cattle raising. Mr.. Billings will take
up the breeding of fine horses. and will
bring back 10 Virginia n great indus
try that disappeared years ago. Con
trary to the local theory. however. they
will not be shown at the State Fair
certainly not on tho track for they
take down rich stakes at the biggest
trotting meets in the country, Uhlan.
the king of the Billings stable, holds
the record for trotting the fastest milo
in the history OF tho turf. Mr.. Billings
intends to retire uhlan and use him
hereafter as saddle horse. although
New York reports Indicate that he will
he taken to. thatrcity for an exhibition
performance on the Speedway.