Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-20
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
Manly Sports the Craze In Atlanta--The
Coming State Fair.


Coming State Fair.
Correspondents Of the Morning ye1cs.
ATLANTA, July 1s.-The recently held
walking matches have influenced the
young people of this city in the direction
Of manly sports, and the Atlanta Athletic
Club has been organized for the purpose
of encouraging them. This association
has secured a piece of ground near the
city, and large number Of workmen are
now engaged in putting the tract Of land
selected in good shape for the purposes
intended. The lot, which is ample in size
for all purposes, will be graded and en-
closed at once, and so arranged that base
ball, cricket, lacrosse and other games
can be played thereon. These popular
games are backed by clubs of the city,
and all of them are in good trim, nOtwith-
standing the fact that they have had no
grounds or place Of resort.
The projectors intend 20 fix the men,
bership at 600, so as TO get all of the
young people in the city interested. There
are 26 bicyclists in the city, and the club
to which they belong will have free use of
the grounds, either for practice or public
contests.
A base ball club, known as the 'sAth-
days they issue invitations to the clubs Of
Savannah, Augusta, Macon and Column
bus to come here and cross bats with the
Atlanta club. While the club is yet
young and lacking in experience and
practice, the members of it are Of the
opinion that they can at least play such
game as will entertain any visiting clubs
that may find it convenient to appear on
the diamond with them. The first game
is looked for within the next two weeks.
The grounds Of the Atlanta Athletic Club
will be the only resort for open air sports
in the city. The once famous fair grounds
and race course, located near the western
limits of the city, a few years since passed
into the hands of the Atlanta
Cotton Exposition Company. This
property at the close of the exposition
manufacture of cotton goods. The build
ings have been remOdeled and turned into
a cotton factory, the race track has grown
up in grass and weeds, and the grand
stand is fast falling to pieces.
THE STATE FAIR TO BE HELD
at Macon, opening Oct. 81, under the aus
pices Of the Georgia State Agri-
cultural Society, promises to be
the grandest since the big fair
held by Mayor Huff twelve years ago.
In addition to the regular line OF yearly
displays of minerals, deposits of the
earth Of every description, specimens Of
the forests of the State, and innumerable
other articles of value, besides historical
relics. and in fact everything that will
attract interest. The articles to be eX-
hibited as a part of the new departure
will be gathered together by United States
Commissioner Dewitt G. Bacon and his
efficient board of assistant commissioners.
Q
tural Society are in full accord, and by
the combined efforts of the two Organiza-
tiOns the state Fair will be one of unusual
interest. At the closing of the fair all
articles of value or note will be carefully
packed up and shipped to New Orleans,
to be placed there as Georgia's display.
TWO GAS COMPANIES
now under successful operation in At
lanta, are having a lively fight for SUI
premacy. Two years ago the Atlanta
Gas Company charged So 60 per thousand
feet for its product. This. high figure caused
the Gate City Gas Company to be organ
lied. After a hard legal fight, the new
candidate for public favor secured a good
footing, and rate cutting then commenced.
The result Of this scramble is that to-day
a tirst-class quality of gas can be had at
81 80 per 1000 feet, with a reduction of 10
per cent. for cash when bills are due. With
no desire to "bull' or ''bear'' the stock of
either company, state it as a fact that
the patrons of the new company are
highly pleased with the product of the
Gate City. A strong fight is still being
made upon the new company by the stock
holders of the Atlanta Gas Company. The
holders of this stock. who are property
owners, are, to a large extent, opposed to
their tenants subscribing to the list of
patrons of the Gate City Company,