Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-20

A CARD FROM Mr.. F. P. HILL.

r. r
WASHINGTON, d. c., August 20, 1879.
Editor Star:-It is due to the public and to
myself that i should, as briefly as possible, say
something OF the organization OF The National
Fair Association. 1t Is well known that pur.
chased the property and opened the race course
known as "Benning's," after very heavy ex
penditure OF money. found that racing die
not meet the tastes Of the people, as they wanted
idea OF q Nati0Sal Fair, which would bring prO
ducers from all parts OF the country to extlibit
there, benehung myself and the citizens Of
cure greater privileges 90 ADV nnE Sc e.
Congress Tor charter, rather than orRalize
under the general Incorporation laws Of the
was SO broad IN It's provisions that I would moi i
have obtained 1t had not taken the sub com.
mttee In charge to "Benning's" and showed
IN tns f, my INVESTMENTS and explained ray plans
'Benntass." After obtaining the charter,
0egan to consider the best method tor organiz
ing company: Several ways were open to me;
De better judges OF men than myself, deter
mined to open subscription books, so that every
one interested In the prosperity of Washington
who chose to do SO could become party to this
means Of advancing it. | paid all the ex;
penses OF printing, advertisements, &C., and
finally the National Far Association was
duly organized after weeks OF labor and
considerable expense on my part. 1t was
distinctly understood by erery one that "Ben-
nings" was to be the place chosen for the fair
larry organized 1 submitted several alternate
proposals as to my property at "BenningS, :"
which have been for several years preparing,
lease or take part OF the proceeds OF the fair.
The directors took these under consideration.
They visited the grounds. l furnished them
Wn pat the prope,ty the number Of
tlnctly stated and defined. With that plat be-
Tore them the board of directors passed reso-
I9slon accept'ng my proposition. to sell; the ad-
rectors followed this up by making rules and
bylaws to govern the track and stables, and
published the same; they took possession Of the
horses on the place, bringing them revenue
Returning from short absence from the city
after making this sale, !! was astonished to
to be held was still an open one. 1 called on
M. Vim. N. Gait, president of the company, and
found that something had caused cnange to
come over him and the board of directors, and
that, ignoring or proposing to ignore their con
tract with me, they were examining other
property with view to purchase. For some
but finally 1t is solved, and shall give the SO
luton for the benefit of the stockholders and
the public. Mi. Gait and some others of the
directors ar conceived the idea that impressed
Col. Sellers:-That "there was millions In It,"
and they wanted no long divisions with stock
holders. Their plan is very simple one. viz
10 Duy the Ivy City and Stewart property for
the money, and have the property placed in
the hands Of trustee to be transferred to the
association when the purchase money is repaid
They will expend all the money of the stock
holders in improvements and In holding fair.
Having control OF the whole matter themselves,
they can, and possibly ought to, use up all the
money received from the first fair in that 1oca-
ZION and In premiums and further improve
ments. The trust will become due and the
trustee VIII sell the property; 1t will be pur-
chased for the mortgage money, and the five
acting In dnanciering capacity for the other
stockholders, will become the sole owners.
There's millions In It," can find no other
when remember that after Mr.. Gait saw that
the fair could be made success, he said to me
"there ought not to be more than ten OF us In
thiS;" since then he has concluded five are
enough.
1t is well-known that the property at Ben
ning's' Is the most suitable place in the Dis
trict; that small expenditure In addition to
aeaay made W1nd put the In
and would make it available, and that it will be
Impossible TO get any other place ready in time
Tor q fair this year; besides which the National
now In possession Of 1t, under a contract pro-
posed by me and accepted in writing by the
association. Ishau hold the National Fair Asso-
myself to be despoiled Of charter obtained by
me to utilize an Investment have already
made, and allow it to be used against me and
the best interest OF the city. 1t was not my
choice to sell the property. proposed to take
per cent. OF the profits and stand my chances
with the rest OF the In the success OF
the fair. The courts OF the District Will uphold
me, and SO, believe, would the stockholders OF
the association, as believe they all subscribed,
understanding that the fair would be held az
"Renning's,n and II it Is not held there they
Will be entitled to receive their money back
The organization was perfected over a month
ago, and nothing has been done except to en-
ploy two men, at $500 per day, to collect the
stockholders money, and keep them out Of the
use OF 1t. According to Mr.. Cats statement,
they propose to keep on collecting until they
get So, GOO OF the peoples money tied up or
given to some bank to use, except what they
pay out for collecting it and pay to engineers
Tor e experimenting around the country; There
first-cla fair at "Benn1ng's" this fall told
MI. Gait would place 5000 Of that amount In
the hands OF the treasurer myself to be paid
back out OF the receipts OF the fair. In all prob
ability, by adding this small amount to the
investment already made at Benning's, the
place would pay for itself this fall
t F. p. HILL.