ing east and west; and
three north and south, checkerboard fashion, which comprised the
contemplated town.

The bell was rung. Business got under way. John West was crier and
announced that the lots put up would be sold within five minutes. The
hot crowd pressed in to hear and see all that took place. The disturbed
dust blanketed man and beast.

Bidding was brisk; and twenty-four lots were sold in short order. Among
the first day's purchasers, besides those mentioned above, were William
Fitzhugh, the Honorable William Fairfax, and Colonel George Fairfax.

The trustees met again the next day, July 14, and wasted no time. At
once seventeen lots were sold. The trustees agreed to adjourn "till 20th
of September next,"[17] at which time the "deeds are to be executed for
the above lots and the remaining lots to be sold, and that the Clerk
prepare blank deeds for the same."[18]

As for the prices paid for the lots--it is surprising to find a foreign
coin, the Spanish _pistole_, as the basic unit of currency. This was due
to a situation where hard money was seriously lacking in colonial
Virginia. As early as 1714 a general act had been passed to attract
foreign specie, which was declared _current_ according to weight. Thus
the legal valuation of the _pistole_ was slightly in excess of 21s. or
approximately $4.34.[19] Its purchasing power in the eighteenth century
was about five times as great as today. Lots purchased at auction on the
first day brought from 16 to 56-1/2 _pistoles_. On the second day, they
went for as little as six _pistoles_, the highest bidder for that day
being Henry Salkeld, who purchased lots Nos. 38 and 39 for 23 _pistoles_
(present-day normal evaluation about $282.00).

[Illustration]

THE TOWN BUILT

For many months the trustees were primarily concerned with the disposal
of the lots and "advertisements were set up to that purpose,"[20] in the
gazettes. Sales were numerous, houses began to go up speedily. By
January 1750, eighty lots had been sold with two lots set apart for the
town house and market square. In August 1751, Colonel Carlyle was
"appointed to have a good road cleared down to Point Lumley and to see
the streets kept in repair."[21] On July 18, 1752, the trustees "Ordered
on Coll. George Fairfaxe's motion that all dwelling houses from this day
not begun or to be built hereafter shall be built on the front and be in
a line with the street as chief of the houses now are, and that no g