Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-23
EXPOSITION FUNDS.
THE SOCIETY ASK OF THE CITY The
LOAN OF $4,000.
Views that President starxe Will Present
in Support Of the Petit
tion.

tion.
The Common Council will have a special
session Tonight at O'Clock.
Its object Is to consider the request OF the
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical So
ciety for the city to pay or their indebted
ness TO the amount Of $4,000.
Presidents COMMUNICATION.
As soon "a the meeting is called to order
the following communication viii be read
from Hon. Ashton Siarke, president OF the
society:
RICHMOND, VA. May II, 1882
To The City Council OF Richmond:
The Virginia state Agricultural and Ne
chanical Society upon balance of accounts
after the Exposition heli during the mouths
Of October and November. lSSS, liud a def.
cit OF abou, $40 600, which amount must be
raised to relieve the society oi i'S present
embarrassment in meeting these outstanding
obligations.
The society comes 10 the city oi Richmond
and asks that she viii loan On amount equal
to this deficiescy-namely, s400J0-tor tine
following reasons among O'hrr-:
The Exposition was he'd in and con-
.ributed more largely 10 the interests of
this city than any other community Oi our
people. Il has been the cause Of enhanced
value of city and suburban property tnat
must he soon tlgcn within her corporate
limits 10 such an extent as will largely COM
triDute 10 her annual reyenue. The EXuosi-
ton was an occasion through which the
merchants snd people OF tins city reaped I'M
told benefits, az shown in part bv our bank
ing returns during the period alluded 10. In
time OF scarcity OF work la 0ur mld,t L
gave employment 10 thousand, OF our needy
citizens. II has advertised this city abroad
As no other one thing. perhaps. has yer done.
and already the fruits from the seed then
planted can be seen Tipcuing among us.
These outstanding Obligations are all due
our own citizens for labor and Hsterial fur
nishcd. The city owns nov $4,000 0i The
society's stock and she should have control
Of 90. property. This control would be ef-
fected by the loan asked f0r. II is pro-
DOsed 10 give the city the iull use Of the so-
cietv's grounds and buildings during tlc
term ~ thIs loan, excepting FOR such short
periods as may be wanted by the society for
exhibition purposes. a portion ot the
grounds is now yielding revenue. and the
reminder would be a delightful resort Tor
om citizens II thrown open a. park. II is
thought that the city caDnot pil1rd Tor the
sake Il her reputation to permit this society
70 suffer for the lack oi funds, growing ont
Of The wo;k Of the Exposition. vhlch Is re-
coenized on every hand As her Institution.
lt is therefore respectfully asked that an
appropriation Of $4,000 be made to the end
set forth.
Respectfully submitted.
ASHTON SrAFEE,
President Vrginil agricultural and Ne
chanical Society.
NJ. sTARKE's VIEWS.
A Dispatch reporter called on Mr. Starke
yesterday, and In n general talk about ihe
matter y obtaining io1u from the cirv thnt
gentleman, 10 The question n he had any
reason TO suppose that the Council would
decline 10 make the loan replied
81 cannot say, " c0ur'e, but sincerely
trust, FOR the reputation of Richmond. that
there will Doe no hes fancy ON the part oi ihe
Council. Other progressive cite. have SCI
an example in such matters that would by
c0mBanson be a reflection upon u dad me
city decline 10 take care Of an organization
whose work was aud is for The building
| up ~ Richmond's interests
IN what shape is the loan asked iorf"
! queried the reporter.
The paper which I will lay before the
Council merely sets forth the state OF ilcis.
The character of the loan will be set forth ~
o re.oluti0n. perhaps. aud tli> resolution ]
think had better be- decided upon after We
biye had some expressions from the mcm-
be-,5f the Council. I see no reason why
the city could not issue her bonds for the
purpose, thereby not necas,itatinc an appro-
prlaiion Of money"
WHAT IHE EXPOSITION DID.
own you have anything TO say outside u
what Is in the paper you Will presentf ~
IL really % not see what more can BE-
said. Every member OF the Councll j., cog
nizant OF the iicls. and they az counclImeH
and citizens are as much interested in tal,
matter a. we are. The gentlemen "ao gave
their time aud labor On the work Of having
an Exposition were s,l meu whose time vas
valuable They worked hard simply ior the
GOOD OF this city. 4 benefit was done l,lch-
mond such as no one thing, think. ever
did her. She has been advertised abroad,
and attention called 10 her by reason 0f
! the Exposition such as she never Cu-
loved. II vas a seed planted, aud
no one can tell when W. shall cease
10 gather tie fruit. Of That worn. In a
word. II vas Que great Richmond effort Tor
Richmond, and for her Council 10 hesitate 10
stand By toe enterprise viii DO ncr no good,
| if. indeed, II VIII not dctrsct greatly from
| her reputation made through the Exposition.
| fear, in the event that the cty Goc, he,i-
| tate in this matter. wsshaii bear voices from
some o,her cities that are jealous of
! her that viii he anything bul pleasant
/ they only want an opportunity And
/ there is another effect to Doe considered.
need not tel you that 1t j. difficult
| 10 find men who are willing 10 take hold OF
I hos.
| monetary confederation Tor themselves and
| give their work for the simple good Of tue
| community IN which they live. 'rhauklc,5
/ work tney say, az best. ~ YOU succeed,
| all right, but II you fail everybody IL down
| on yOu,' and so men hold back and for lacN
| Of leadership simply think and refuse 10 act.
! BESIDES, everywhere you viii ind some Few
men whose jealousy prompts them 70 pull
| against a man, however patriotic his work,
! lest he become conspIcuOu, and they DE lost
! sight o. and 30 the coHarGly and conicmpti-
| bic l0derqr0i,0d work Of these nj iSerIbie crea-
| tufes-ofltimes found under Fair oXteuors-
| poison to death what might prove Of great
| benefit and deter men from grand ehOrss. /
| have seen something OF IJ. The city must
| show her appreciation and lend her encour-
ageraeut il she wishes her individual ciii-
zens 20 take a deep and active interest IN her
progress. she can expect ucu 10 HAht
| bold strokes for the pubic good II she SHOWS
! that in case Of q dciiclt IN a. 'enierprise
which was carried on solely for the develop
ment and extension Of her interests she de-
cines TO come 70 the rescue.
THE Gi-T or ~.
Mn this case added Mr.. Starke. "sho
actually risks nothing, but simply makes a
good investment OF money, thoroughly Sc
cured the interest on which she Will reap
! tenfold In the result OF the work done.
! think the Council will not hesitate to 10 It's
full duty. which hope It may be able 10 see
as we do"
"Who will appear before the Council: "
- hope every one Of the officers OF the
society and Just as many citizens AZ may
feel an interest in this matter. J also hope
that the c0uncilmen may tax with the peo-
! pie and ascertain what Is the public senti-