On the morning of April 20th, 1864 Gridley appeared on the street with a 50 lb. sack of flour, decorated with American flags and bunting. He wanted to auction it and give money for soldiers in the United States Army.
One local worker won the first round with a very large bid of $250. The question: "Where to deliver the sack?" he answered: "Nowhere. Put it for auction once again."

That day 300 more people bought the flour (total sum $8 000 for soldiers).

Then they put the "Sanitary Sack" up for symbolic auction again and again in other parts of Nevada and California.
All told, the otherwise ordinary sack of flour had raised some $275,000 for the U.S. Sanitary commission during its career.
A fantastic sum.

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