Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-22


the president OF tha Virginia Agricultural
and Mechanical Society TO the people of
/ Richmond relative TO their stock sub
scrptions. Upon it l wish to offer few
reflections. There is profound silence in
1t relative TO the propositions aud sub
/ scri;tious Of Manchester. is not Man
chester a part and parcel OF the society
as a State institution? is Il a small
| thing that Manchester will provide
grounds ircomparably better than the
present grounds, and that she will
promptlv take al the subscription that
Tho present life members Gecline to
take? Las She not without effort
or the appointment Of committees sent
IN subscriptions to the amount Of
go. .o10; this before dollar had been
sul >cnoel IN Richmond Can It not
be seen That these propositions of Man
chester relieve the city OF Richmond
from any obligation to subscribe and
! the committee OF about one hundred
from onerous labors Is it not self-eyi-
dent that, from a society point OF view,
an acceptance OF Manchcster's offers will
enrich the society IN material resources
10 tine extent of the value of the Far
Grounds less Richmonds lien upon it
Aud would it not be to the pecuniary
Interest of Richmond. saying Richmond
was the whole society, which she IS not,
to hold the Exposition in the most attrac-
tive of her environs, wherever that
might I've, instead Of at place the least
attractive according to almost cOncen-
sus OF opinion relative TO the old Fair
Grounds?
Now if Manchester, when the answers
to these questions are all in, IS Virginia
city, and as s1ch has shown enterprise,
patriotism. and promptitude IN support
inc anu insuriDG an exposition, why
should she be ignored or why should 1t
be implied inferentialiy that Richmond
must now act promptly lat once or the
Exposition scheme VIII break through, u
or that there is but zone proposition
away from which We cannot now 50
This surely must be error, for tine facts
confronting these statements would seem
to me to entirely reverse the propositions.
IL We look TO the record We will find that
the reorganization had been in effect but
one day before put in writing an offer
for better grounds on pecuniary basis
highly advantageous to the society and
better for Richmond. Then, again, at the
first meeting OF the Executive Commit
tee after the reorganization | put III sub
scriptions TO the stock for $l3.CO0 and
few DAYS thereafter farther subscriptions
for s.. 100 at which time in writing,
fullv empowered by responsible busi-
ncss-men and property-Owpels, | guaran-
tced to take all the stock The llie'me
bers did not want. So how can it be
said or assumed that "the Exposition
would break Though even saving iIch-
mond did not subscribe a dollar. Con
trary 90 thct, i is absolutely assured
for under better conditions Tor an at
tracliye successful exposition the so
ciety is pecun;ari!y reinforced to the
extent Of about &700 coo, which amount
is ordinarily assumed as the interest OF
the society in the present Fglr-Grounds.
And furthermore, it will keep the or
capi2ation in the control OF the present
life members instead OF letting ii drift
into a Ricbmond organization, when the
citv Of Richmond vote alone would
swamp tho vote Of the old hfe-member
stockholders.
So it appears to re as liie-member
that the WISE eud equitable plan topursue
under circumstances which so fully in
sure an exposition would be to tho
roughly canvass the life-membership for
subscriptions then when returns are in !
say TO Manchester the amount of further
wanted. That done, | do /
not say that Manchester wishes TO ex-
clude Richmond contributions to the
stocs. but this / do say If she does not |
act promptly and without much sohclta- !
tion we viii take all the stock on this
side in less than three days. We would ,
take it mp in less time, but ] think three
days will give Richmond due chance.
fyuly Gc JOSEPH WALKER.