The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-17

TIE FAIR GROUND sALB.-To.day the
real estate belonging to the North West
Virginia Agricultural Society, situated on
Wheeling Island, and formerly used as q
fair grounds, will be offered at public sale
at the front door OF the Court House, by
committee OF the stockholders. 1t is.
thought by those who are interested In
the property that in all probability the
sale to-day will result in its purchase by
two or three Of the largest stockholders,
and that it will then be laid out in town
lots and offered TO the public. Such was
the expectation expressed yesterday by
two or three Of the stockholders with
whom representative OF the ISTgLLiGES-
cen talked on the subject. So that II
seems as II the history Of this possession
as public resort is TO terminate with the
sale to-day If these antcipations are
realized.
The North West Virginia Agricultural
Society was created by an act OF the Legis.
Iature in 1866. By this act, which bears
date February q, 1896, Curtis P. Brown,
VIM. F. Peterson, ir., James @. Orr, John
X. Bottsford, Thomas p. Shallcross and
Alexander Laughlin, and their associates,
are created a corporation under the name
and style given, the purpose and object OF
said society being stated to be "the ad.
yancement and improvement OF the con-
dition OF agriculture, horticulture, horti-
culture, stock and domestic animals, and
the manufacturing, mechanical and min.
ing arts, with such other and additional
objects as may. be advantageously and
legitimately connected Herewith" The
corporation was limited to the possession
Of twenty acres OF real estate, but this re.
striction was aiterward removed by an
amendatory act. It was provided that II
certain lands on the island should be
purchased, any streets and alleys inter
seCtinR the same should be vacated.
Prior 10 this, and for an indefinite num-
Der OF years, the property referred TO, the
present Fair Grounds, had been owned
and operated for the same objects by an
organization known as the Virginia North
western Agricultural Society. Some oil
the members OF the new organization, in
Guiding Mr.. O. p. Brown, had also been
members Of the old, and Mr.. Brown was
one OF the charter members OF the origi-
nal company. This was formed prior to
the war, and at frat the land was leased
| tOr Two yehIb IIUtl tub LTubtben VI WTb.
Elizabeth Zane. AT the expiration Of the
lease the property, which comprised TWEEN.
ty acres, was purchased. The present
company bought 1t November 10, 1867
and afterwards purchased an additional
TRACT OF five acres from Joseph Kugessner
The present Fair Grounds therefore com.
prise twenty-five acres,
The stock oil the company paid In
amounted to seventy.seyen shares Of Sl0(
each. On this one dividend was declared
of SO per cent out Of the earnings Of the
Association. It has been, however, some
years since the property was used with
any regularity for the purposes contem
plated in the charter, and latlerly it ha!
been used principally by circuses' and
similar shows. Having ceased 10 be prof.
liable as an investment, the sale was re
solved upon. 1t seems pity that so fine
and so accessible tract oil ground should
be allowed to pass from the use OF the
public, and be parceled out into building
lots. However, the owners offered to sci
It to thp city for park, and their offel
was rejected. They cannot, therefore
afford 10 support such an elephant OF
their hands, and in all probability thu
Fair Grounds is approaching Its last days