Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-21
THE REDFLAG 0DI0US
Richmond Does Not Wish to See 1t
On the Exposition Grounds.
PROTESTS AGAINST SALE.
we Must Help the Society; "How," Dis
cussed by Prominent
Citizens.

A great popular reaction is setting in.
For months the community have treated
A. idle ords tho assurances given by the
Executive Committee Of tho Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical Society that
they must raise $4,000 or sell their beauti-
iui and valuable property.
The Common Council said "All right.
the city VIII advance you the money"
The Board Of Aldermen said mo; you
must look in some other direction"
The committee oanvassed numerous
ylans. bi; mono were feasible. At last they
we're reduced 10 the extremity Of putting
the grounds in tho hands Of real estate
agent with orders TO receive bids Tor 50
much of he tract as would realize tho
money needed.
This action wac taken Saturday. II has
put the community in n study. Men. who
have heretofore trifed with the subject
have now begun TO think how 1t would
look % have the auctiOacers red flag flying
an those e ouuds. How will this appear
~ tie worlds What will they think of
orr enterprise? VIII they believe that we
ere the growing, prOsporln9. thrifty city
that We claim 10 be Z" they are asking
themselves.
Et lftyuffl Ni~lffuNI l'tNiifN VI ioI ~
number of intelligent citizens what the
cty and people should DO TO prevent the
Expos.tiOn-Gr0unds being divided upand
aold to pay the debt Of $4,000 Z" and
found. with here and thorc an exception,
tlai the proposed sale was looked upon ~
giving "A black cycn 10 Richmond. ana
fmt there was general opinion that the
society should furnished with the money
needed - relieve tfcm of Their embafrass-
mont. Precisely how TO do thus there Is
clntrariciy Of opinion, as will be seen from
fho EXPRESSION. below. but the outGro~th
irouiscs TO bc an awakening OF puDic
sn,rit. u rousing of popular pride, ana en-
irresistible movement TO put the ca9h
needed INTO the hands OF the society.
lind TIL MoSEy At ONCE.
Mr. james G. Lamb:
think II would be rcproach to Rich
ruond % allow the IXplsition-Gr rounds 70
bc sold. The city should lend the society
Che money at once.
LII TIE CITY PAY IT.
Nr. A. y. Atkinson:
con see no reason why the clty should
nrr nav the debt on the Exposition
Grounds. but think the reasons why u
should are obvious.
IT WOULD BE A DISGRACE.
Thomas ?. Campbell Ee1.:
I
the society from the beginning, and j am
of the same opinion still. think 1t wouid
Doe "A disgrace upon the city to allow the
grounds 10 be sold.
F0ncFD SALE WOULD DE A SHAME.
Major A. ". CARRIER:
If the Exposition Association cannot
borrow the money 90 hquidate the debt on
their grounds from some capitalist, think
our cItv should help them. rs it would be
shame TO bayea forced sale.
4 LoTrLRY SUGGESTED.
Major r. J. Blass:
would suggest lottery
after tho one III Louisiana. Get the present
Legislature TO pass an act for that special
purpose and feel quite sure, II properly
managed, it would result satisfactory.
PAY THE DEBT Is THE ONLY WAY.
Mr.. J. l.. Apperson:
The only thing that the city and people
should DO 10 prevent the ENpositlon-
Grounds being divided mp and sold IS 20
,,av the debt of $4,000. II interest could
he guaranteed doubtless the money could
De borrowed.
Would L. , POOR MOTIVE
Mr. David A. Ainslio:
If the Board Of Aldermen will not agree
with the Council to pay the debt. place II
before the people at our May election, and
am confident YOU will find that they will
vote not TO have 10 spread 70 tho world
that our Exposition-GrOunds and build
incs had TO be sold for debt ana throw
Richmond back ten years. This IS poor
motive of attraction to strangers.
ISSUE CITY BONDS.
Mr William McBain:
suggest that the city issue in
torcst-bcaring bonds for the amount neces-
sary 10 pay the debt of the Exposition
Grounds, these bonds 70 be payable IN say
twenty years. With the present improve
ments on the grounds five well-manaeed
oxDositions should greatly reduce, II not
entirely Gquidate, the debt. Rlchm0nd
cannot afford to let The grounds be sold.
DOES NOT FAVOR TIE LOAN.
Nr. A. II. Christian, Jr.
do not consider it wise for the city TO
buy the property or TO loan the EXPOSE
tion Society the money required 70 pay its
debt. Nor do know of any sound reason
why tho citizens should act in the matter.
No Good could result from holding tho
property in its present shape and do not
believe an occasion Will again arise when
az exposition Will be practicable or posi-
ble.
WOULD pE suPII1IE FOLLY.
Mr. y. W. B0We:
II would be supreme folly 20 permit the
Fxuosition-G Grounds to be divided up and
sold understand the matter the city
q Richmond can become the practical
owner of this valuable property Tor
SO 0OO. and its failure 10 do SO VIII result
in the city's shame, to say nothing OF the
follv Of not securing for so paltry sum n
property that ten years hence Will DO
worth 100000 or more,
surcoUNCIL SHOULD DUNHEsI1ArINGtY LEND IT.
Major Bonlamiu II. Nash;
Tho Council should unhesitatingly lend
the SfO. 900 necessary TO relieve the property
Of the debt. lam sure IS per cent, oi our
taxpayers would so dcclareh they had the
opportunity.
Ihe annual interest on this sum at per
cent. Is the insignificant sum OF S'l,G0J, too
mail 10 be estimated IN the tax OF any m
diyilual. Let the servants of the people
carry out the wishes Of the people
DON'T SKILL IT IN LOTS.
Captain Miles 4. Phillips;
am opposed 10 the grounds being sold
oa nm lots. II the city will loan the amount
required and become the owner. by good
management il will pay. We want place
TO hold our fairs, and the State Society
viii have to have place 10 have state
fairs, and SO our city can rent II out ICr
such purposes and for other uses ana 10
Nfll ldN IN tnQrrt ti Niiu'. 90 L SOY Hr r'.'A
that / don't want 10 see it sold ont in lots.
LIT THE PEOPLE VOTE ON II.
NJ. F. y. Price:
II seems very obvious that the city Of
Richmond should assume the debt OF
$4,000 due upon the Exposition-Grounds.
The sentiment Of the voters can readily be
found out at the polls. As an investment
ior the city the property IL rapidly en-
hancing in value, that section beng
especially in the line of improvement.
Tho necessity Of controlling these commo-
d.oas ard convenient grounds must be APP
parent 10 all.
WILL NEVER CEASE 10 REGRET.
hr. l.. w. Andrews:
think il would be a shame to allow the
Fxposition-G Grounds. in whole or IN part;
e. be sold. The needed funds can be raised
u the city will endorse the paper OF the
esgOcation. taking, Of course, lien on
the property as security, and that they
should do at once. Even II the associa-
ton failed TO meet the paper when due, IL
could not. in my opinion. be other than q
rond Investment III the sale ~ made We