Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-08
EXPOSITION COMING
PRESIDENT srARKE APPEARS BEFORE
THE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
They Agree that the City's Claim Against
the Agricultural Society Shall be Capt.
talized on Certain Conditions


what the city will do TO help him in his
exposition scheme practically before its
members Said he: Mr.. Chairman, ]
must express my appreciation of your
kindness in calling this meeting to hear
me touching an enterprise in which
must think you viii agree with me will
contribute largely 10 the best interests
Of our city. have already bcep eau
toned by your chairman not to "oder
any bribe," so that | will not even at
tempt 10 treat you to a speech, but
simply try TO pnt plain business pro-
position before you. II is needless for
me 20 enlarge upon what benefits the city
may derive from an exposition in our
midst. Your intelligence and the effects
produced upon other cities renders this
unnecessary.
TIE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
First Of all, LET me say that l am
speaking solely for myself and do not
ut al know how my position viii strike
the Executive Committee OF the Agrl-
cultural Society, which meets in tins
city next Tues lay. 1t is perhaps fairer
30 compare such an undertaking IN
Richmond with the experience of At
lanta, Ga There a city that cannot
compare with IT'S in resources or geogra-
phical position. nor indeed in wealth,
makes a showing of from eighty TO one
hundred thousand people in attendance
at her exposition IN single day.
Here one of the members interrupted
Ivy saying, " You don't suppose We can
hope for such an attendance here p
Mr. Starke replied by asking, " Why?'
Member: "Becausc We haven't got
the -
Mr.. Starke relieving bis hesitancy) ::
"Ah, that's just II, We haven't got the
go in US, and that's just what pro-
pose 20 start. We can have them here,
and ought to have three TO one Of At
lanta."
Another member: "Mr. Starke, may
ask what kind of an exposition you
propose"
Certainly. ! am glad you make the
suggestion. My idea is to have an expo
sition hall which Will court and accom-
modate those features which make such
exhibitions attractive aud instructive to-
day. Exhibitions of advanced me-
chsnics, art-sciences. &C, together with
q show of our live stock, farm products,
mineral wealth-in line what and who
we are in all the vOcations of life; TO
offer TO our people who cannot travel
oydr the country an opportunity to sec
what is going on in the land. and above
and beyond all TO do mighty work for
the agriculturists Of our State, upon
whom We depend so much, and whom
tine active minds Of the cities should
strive to stimulate, encourage, help IN
every way possible.
THE Exhibition.
want, said Mr.. Starke. these coun-
ties TO wake up and send down here
standing exhibition Of their varied pro-
ducts. with large map of each county
showing every farm, stream, road, &C,
- that we shall have a photograph Of
tie entire State right here all the time
But in doing oil this / don't want to 90
i1tO any reckless extravaganza. ! viii
not consent - cmbarrass the Agricultu-
ral Society with a burdensome debt
We don't want TO 60 one step further
than We can soc.
Here another member asked if he
don't want to have thirty-days' ex-
limt?l
M Starke: We want to hold an exhi-
hition only SO long as 1t IS profitable.
Wien tho profit stops we want to stop.
Ny idea had been ten days, at least for
the first year. II is hard to know where /.
10 drift in discussing such a subject. /
Many IDEAS have occurred 10 me. For iu- |
stance There is q splendid site for q |
beautiful lake and at very moderate cost. /
Why not have It, with swans and geese, IA /
deer or two perhaps. 10 add to the at /
Of the spot? But we can't /
do al at once. and when we have once .
begun who eau tell what We may accom-. /
plish ? | have placed before you two |
prOpOsitions-the first asking that
If the society shall capitalize its property
to the extent Of $4,000, that the city
will agree to convert the obligation OF
the society which she bolds-namely.
$50, 000-into shares of such stock. And
the second Is that the city will cancel this
obligation in full, provided the society
erect an exposition building at a cost of
not less than $4,000 on her grounds III
two years time. must leave you to
pass upon these propositions.
PLAIN BUSINESS.
want, SAID Mr.. Starke, each one Of
you 10 feel that this is as much your en-
terprise as mine. Unfortunately for me
there is no salary attached TO the Office
! hold. 1t is purely one Of honor, aud
perhaps i will be one OF the last to enjoy /,
ANY of the benefits which will accrue TO
Us as people from the exposition. How
ever, / have taken the Office upon me
md shall DO what can for the veal Of
INV people through it.
One of the members asked:
Can't you get the railroads to help YOU
largely?
Answer: "Well. sir, / shall have to
answer the question by asking you what
YOU think about il? / have not al
any one on the subject; you
ire as much enlightened on that subject
Is an."
Member. interrupting: "They did
biz things for Atlanta.
eyes; but who is the largest stock
1older in the especial railroad you name?
Member: "Mr. Brown"
Mr. S;arke: "Yes, and Joe Brown
ives in Atlanta, has big interests there,
md he usually looks after his interests.
RAILROADS NCsT HAVE A CHANCE.
] will, said Mr.. Starke, give our roads ,
chance, and we will see what their in {
crest in Richmond and Virginia amounts {
o. 1t has recently been discovered that {
are ran 20 make money ont of I
DE people as much as anything else. I
But the roads have been very kind 10 us,
md j have no charge against them.
They have brought freight for exhibition
md taken it back free of charge, which {
: a great help. and they have met me '
With universal kindness. look for them
o do all they believe 10 be to their inte-
ests, and this IS I'll We can expect. They |
will only get their returns out Of the de-
lelopmen. Of the State at large and our c
NY. Indeod, there seems 70 be gene.
4. des.re Ca the part Of corporationsand
ndividosis 10 30 all possible for the ex- C
,osijon ssss1N and We may hope, | 3
bfaL for rAav helm The Dronosifions 1