The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-02-23

ChA1 duu ICCpOplIOlJ WIFI IclcIcnC6
to enlarging the present Fair Ground,
by annexing whatis known as "Cook's"
bottom.
A statement by ]. F. Niesz, secretary,
per order of the directors favoring the
same, and a brief outline of the pro-
posed plan, and another contribution
favoring the extension, signed "a true
friend of the fair" while articles signed
"a member of the agricultural society"
and "a friend of the fair" oppose the
addition of said bottom to the present
grounds of the society, giving numerous
reasons which think are well founded
and fairly over balance what has been
claimed in favor of the same.
In giving my view of the case l will
assume that the articles pro and con
above referred to have been all read by
a large number of people of this county
and personally interested
Now "a true friend of the fair" says
"it seems to be a theme that many like
to write about" (the Far Ground. 1t
possibly does not occur to him that in
view of the great expense for such a
questionable move is the reason for so
much antagonism in the press, and ac-
counts for this article; particularly as
to anneXing Cooks bottom and vacat-
ing a part of Mahoning street, often
designated the Louisville and Harris
burg road. Now then take the
description, as given by Secretary
Neisz, of the proposed addition
of the Hoffman and Cook estates,
and the society would have three and a
half acres by getting the Hoffman
tract, which they ADMIT through then
secretary is held at such high figure,
as to almost discourage any effort in
that direction" The Cook heirs agree
ing to sell what is contained in tht
angle, as described by Mr.. NieS2.
tWenty-nine acres at $500 per acre. lust
about half the worth of the land" says
the learned secretary, when he knows
or ought to know that what the Cooks
propose to sell overtiOwS not only with
water but ice and rubbish that is car
ried along in the freshets, and cannot
be used for building sites, and is actu-
ally not worth more than 500 per acre
by reason of said frequent oveltlOwing,
and also the east and Middlebranch
streams uniting about or near the cen
ter of said land proposed to be pur.
chased.
Is it not a little remarkable that the
Cook estate will sacrifice that bottom
for 'just about half the worth of the
land" The fact is the Cook estate
expect to have street made at the
eXpence of the taxpayers along the
east and south side of the proposed ex-
tension, which would necessitate two
bridges, which, with an extensive ill.
would not cost less than $4,000. The
society further propose so as to make
said bottom available for their purpose
to vacate a part of Mahoning street, a
street that is and always has been one
of the principal thoroughfares to the
city from the northeast, and several
years ago was well graded and put in
excellent condition for travel.
Mr. Niesz further says: "The insinu-
ton Of underhand work by the Board
is uncalled for, as they desire nothing
but what the people, the progressive
people, will bear them out i'll"
Wonder if the progressive people" OF
stark county will favor the vacation OF
an old and established street, equal to
the best that leads to the square III Can
ton, and one on which there is immense
travel by the public every day in the
year, and have the Stark County Agri-
cultural Society occupy the same to
avoid possible but more probable jam
Of one day out OF the 1865 by people at
tending the fair.
"A true friend of the fair says:
Now there is no use for anyone to tear
his shirt very soon about this fair
ground extension" etc. The directors
are having an expression of the people,
through the press" 1t is all very
proper to let the press of our county
publish everything tending to enlighten
the people on this subject. But would
suggest that the question be first SUBJ
mitted to a vote, sand if a majority of
the voters voting favor the same, all
right. But these progressive people
dare not let the issue come fairly before
the public with an impartial statement
of the facts, or they would be willing to
make the attempt under the special act
passed by the Legislature March 4, 1887
(see Laws of Ohio, vol. 81, page 30S),
wherein it provides that the Commits
sioners of Stark County, for the pur-
pose of enlarging the fair grounds.
are authorized to levy tax not exceed,
ing $4,000, provided, however, the
Commissioners shall in no way assume
or contract any liabilities, vacate any
public road or make any Improvements
whatever, whereby in addition to the
land purchased the total cost to the
county would exceed the above sum
$4,000; and provided further, that
before the County Commissioners shall
have any authority whatever to issue
any bonds or contract any debts, it
shall first be submitted to the qualified
electors of said county at any regular or
special election called by said County
commissioners; if majority of the
electors voting at said election on said
question shall vote in favor of the
same, then and not otherwise shall the
Commissioners have authority to issue
said bonds as heretofore provided, &c.
About year ago this Fair Ground
extension was tried, and the projectors
thought they could get their desired re-
lief by quietly going to Columbus and
have the legislature pass a law favor
ing their pet scheme, and they actually
III the House by misrepre-
senting the facts in the case; but be-
fore the bill passed the Senate the true
of the job was laid before
our lawmakers, hence the act of March
| alluded to. This probably accounts
for the bill lately introduced "by re-
quest by Senator Snyder, to deprive all
the opposition that would be
given if the matter was left to the
taxpayers and voters of the county.
It would be safe to venture the opinion
that even some of the progressive
people would oppose it rather than
have large expenditure of money for
The convenience of the agricultural So
.iety and its patrons, for possibly two
lays every year, where, if the public
were so disposed, the money so sought
to be appropriated could be applied, in