
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 17, 1994                   TAG: 9405170091
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LANDMARK

NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. - Natural Bridge, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is to be auctioned off next Friday in a lender's foreclosure sale at the Rockbridge County Courthouse. If the sale goes on as advertised, the winning bidder would be the 14th owner of the 215-foot-tall limestone arch, carved by the waters of Cedar Creek, since Thomas Jefferson acquired it in a land grant from the British Crown.

PSSST, Governor - want to buy a bridge? Lots of history goes with it. Thomas Jefferson first bought it from King George III, for 20 shillings in 1774. George Washington carved his initials on it in 1750.

It's world -famous, and - though perhaps past its heyday - still draws 300,000 visitors a year.

What's that you say, Gov. Allen? That the state ought not get into competition with private industry?

Well, that's what they said when Gov. Mills Godwin Jr. tried to get the state to buy the bridge with its hotel and tourist complex for $4 million in 1976. Those were also the mumblings when the Rockbridge County landmark and adjoining property were offered for sale, for $2 million, to Gov. William Tuck in 1948.

But the state has long since been competing with other private enterprises - liquor stores and the gambling industry, to mention two.

True enough, governor, the state may be a little short on money to invest in more history - now that you've pledged $163 million in state aid to get the Disney's America history-theme park for Northern Virginia.

OK. But for a guy like you, a big fan of Jefferson and a governor who's pledged to promote state tourism with a passion, this could be a natural, a deal too good to refuse. Don't say you never had a chance.

by CNB