Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-15
BILLINGS WILL SELL
CURLE's NECK ESTATE.
New York Broker Authorizes AM
nounccmcnt That Property
is I'm Market.
WILL MOVE TO Los ANGELES
Recently Sold Tryon Hall, His Twcn-
ty-F'ivc.Acrc Estate In New York
City-FamouS Race Horses Now
Stabbed at Curle'S Neck.


Stabbed at Curle's Neck.
Curlcs Neck Farm, the most famous
river estate in Virginia, since 1913 tho
property of c. *. c. Billings, million
airc capitalist of New York. has again
been thrown on the market. Joseph
r. Day. of New York, who acted as
Mr.. Billings agent in the purchase OF
the property from the Charles II. SEMI
estate three years ago. has authorized
the announcement, In New York. that
the farm is for sale, and that Mr.. Bill
in6s is looking for quick buyer.
Recently. MIR. Billings sold Tryon
Hall and ni= twcnty-hve-acre New
York City estate in upper Washington
Heights. II is understood that In the
future he will spend large part Of
each winter in Los Angeles. Cal, and
is disposnS of many OF his Eastern
holdings preparatory to carrying this
plan into effect.
~ far as can be learned here. Mr..
EiilinEss determination TO sell Curlc's
Neck Farm is not tho product of any
friction with either the state or local
taxing authorities. 1T is true that
protest was registered by his managers
against the high values placed on his
bloodcd horses by the Henrico County
assessors. hut the matter was later
adjusted TO the apparent satisfaction
Of both parties. Since Mr.. Billings was
never domesticatod in Virginia. he was
not subject to taxation in this State on
his intangible property or income.
HAS COST PRESENT
OWNER ABOUT St,0O0.o00
curlc's Neck Farm. it is estimated by
Mr.. Day, has cost Mr.. Billings about
sl,0I0,o00. which includes the purchase
price paid in October, 1918, to the es-
tate of Charles II. Senff and tho cost
OF the improvements made since that
time by Mr.. Billings.
Tho property is situated directly OH
tho James River. in Henrico County
1T the point where it turns west from
Shirley and Malvern Hill In Il location
where a large number OF battles were
fought before Richmond, during the
War Bctwecn the States. 1t is fifteen
miles southeast iron, Richmond, with
which il has direct connections by way
Of excellent ro3Cs. The nearest sta
,ion is that at Elko on the Chesapeake
ana Ohio Railway. The farm also can
he reached by way OF :hc Virginia. Nav
iEation Line and tho Furman Line OF
steamboats,.
curlcS's Neck is one Of the famous old
Colonial places Of Virginia. and once
was the homestead Of the Randolph
family. member Of which settled
there in 1885. Nathaniel Bacon, II
"Racons Rebellion fame. also ia re-
putcd to have occupied tho estate.
The entire property consists Of 5000
acres of land. 5000 OF which arc arabic
and in high state Of cultivation.
owing to their having been extensively
developed by Charles II. Scnff. who wa3
well known as a practical chemist and
who Was greatly interested in the
problems OF scientific agriculture Mr.
in
contained in the original Curlcs's Neck
Farm. tle later added the adjoining
properties known as Strawberry Plains
and Rremo. consisting together OF
about $500 acres. bringing his total
holding up to the 5000 acres now
owned and to be disposed OF by Mr..
Billings.
Mr.. SeEff was understood to have ex-
pended several hundred thousand dol
lars in completing on the estate
comprehensive system Of underdrain-
age. also in the building of eighteen
miles of excellent roads and in fetiliL-
ins the soil.
PRESENT HOUSE WAS
ERECTED IN 1896
The present dwelling house was
erected in 1895 II is situated upon
blum. which rises to a height OF
about thirty-iivc feet above tidewater
and directly oNcrlooks the river, and
architecture
Fully 1000 acres OF the estate are de.
voted to a wcllprntcctcd duck shoot
ing preserve. Another 900 acres con-
sist OF wood aud timber land. Mr..
Billings has erected on the estate a
colt barn. containing seventy box
stalls, which is S5N5oO feet in dincn-
sions This building contains an In
terror training track. having an eigh-
tcen-foot driveway, with six laps to
the mile; also largo stallion barn,
which 1T present stables fifty stations
headed by Tho Harvester
There also arc mill building and
pumphousc. new dock and hulkhcad
fronting in water. drcdGed TO provide
do"kage Tor boats drawing twenty five
I" thirty feet OF water: nine new cot
taEcs for the farmhands. and new
$4,000 bridge entrance 10 the estate.
which recently was presented by Mr..
Billings 10 Hcnrico County.
BY the use OF tractors Mr.. Billings
has succeeded in replacing the 100
mules formcly used in farming the
estate The two race tracks on the
estate arc patterned after tho courses
at Lexington. Ky. and Memphis. Tenn.
One IL laid out in sod and tho other
III clay Each is one mile in length.
About $50 acres of the estate have
been developed for the growing Of blue
- 1890 '''' 'i'd ~ IIdS D'tn MT. fSll-
iinEsS idea 10 increase 10 1000 acres
which neccssltatcS the abandonment OF
40 acres laid out in alfalfa.
NJ. Billings has devoted the place to
the raising of his many valuable horses
and has spared no expense To make the
property one of tn" best Of it's kind
east Of tho Mississippi River
At tho Office OF Mr.. Day IL was said
that Mr.. Billings in all proha bilty
would accept in the neiChborhood Of
100000 for the property but that even
that figure. which is said To represent
reduction of about 100000 from it's
actual might he