Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-31
THE QUESTION PUT.
DO TIE PEOPLE WISH AN EXPOSITION
IN RIcHx0HDi
President Ashton starks States the Case
and Makes an Appeal for
Money.

To the People Of Richmond:
The bill incorporating the Virginia
State Agricultural and Mechanical 80
ciety will have been passed by the Lcgis-
lature OF Virginia before the last OF this
week. The lie members Of the Virginia
State Agricultural Society and the City
Council OF Richmond have given every
assurance OF, and we confidently expect
their acceptance OF, the provisions OF tho
charter namely, O capitalization ot the
property 10 the amount OF Sl20,0Oc,
divided INTO shares Of $50 each. Thirty
thousand OF this amount goes to the city
for the debt due her. About thirty
Thousand more may 60 10 the life mem
hers q ,5OO) in lien OF their membership
privileges. This will leave 500 shares
at $50 each upon which to raise tho
amount necessary 10 insure a building.
The charter provides that thirty days
notice shall be given the life members
to assemble and act. Notices OF this
meeting, with copies OF The new charter,
will be mailed this week TO all life mem
bers. So that we find that in about
thirty days from this time the question
OF exposition, or whatever name our
contemplated enlarged show may DO
called by, will come squarely before the
citizens OF Richmond for their action.
Were | in a salarled office rs president,
or were there any special perquisites for
me personally, | might not be as bold IN
stating the proposition but, serving the
people for their good, | cannot see that
/ am called upon to qusliiy or apologize.
The whole subject has been ventilated
aud talked about for thirty days past
The people are in rs good position now
as thev will ever be to dispose of the
matter one way or the other promptly.
II any desire information shall be glad
TO inform them. But / cannot think
that our citizens would have me, after
irving so much time and labor, 10 so
from Office to Office and house to
house and at each place enter
into n detailed statement OF
all the why's and wherefores tell of
all the plans and arrangements proposed,
and discuss what peculiar features might
be best or what should not be. This l
cannot do. The question which | now
nut 10 Richmond Is. What will you do
Ia have these 800 shares taken at $50
each? Who among us will say that he
or his concern will take so many shares Z
Provided no one shall be called upon
until the 300 shares are all taken. put
the question here end now 10 the citi-
zens of Richmond. and mean IT as an
honest test OF their public spirit, aud l
look for prompt responses. Shall have
them? We viii see.
4 The shares Of stock are thoroughly Sc
cured in that the property is worth tho
/ money. and there Is no reason why they
should not sell At par on the market hero.
/ Yon are no. asked really 20 give, but 10
/ invest. 4 very different proposition
from that met by the people Of Atlanta
| and Augusta. whore they ran their hands
| in Their pockets aud gave outright
/ great deal more money.
OF course / can 90 before our Cham
Der Of Commerce ami asa them Ia taho
TIE matter ia hand. or car call n meet
ing OF citizens aud have spcerhcs with
ont number made, ,Ld viii If 1t is 80 dc-
sired; but businessmen do not need
this sort of thlng, : msgine. The pro-
position Is plain. What viii We do with
IL? Will our y.oplo 1T ne hea from
them
Baltimore has taken our cue. Tho
YCrGd Of the 2Gth instant comes out IN "A
lengthy editorial endorsing movement
on foot to have an exposition IN 1859 or
1890. aud the whole framework would
seem 10 have been copied from our
plan. Baltimore is Watching M.
ANY one desiring copies of the charter
can get them by calling upon or address
ing the secretary of the Virginia State
Agricultural Society.
here We are. then. face TO face with
.the question OF exposition or no exposi-
ton, and place toe burden upon this
city, for she must shoulder the response
bility. AsHToS SrAEKE.