The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-11
BIDDING FOR THE FAIR SITE
SPECTATORS NAME THEIR PRICES.
Four Bids Received by the Board OF Agri-
culture For the Valuable State Fair
Grounds-The Board q Little Dis
appolnted-The Bids and Bidders

The state board OF agriculture convened
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, and as all
the members had been notified that bust
ness OF importance was on hand, a
full complement of members, sixteen
in all, were present. Some routine busi-
ness was disposed of at the morning ses-
sion and a discussion of the sub
ject Of new sites for the fair
grounds was had. The general
sentiment of the board was unani-
nous in favor of selling the old grounds
at price approximating the value of the
property. A number of real estate agents
and land spectators listened to these dis
cussions with attentive ears, and when
Deputy Secretary Of the Board Emmett
Rose came in with a formidable looking
bundle of documents, it was supposed that
the bids would be offered at once. How
ever, with the consent OF all, the matter
was deferred until the afternoon, and Mr.
Rose explained that twenty-six of the
sealed packages contained proposals TO
sell sites to the board, while only four
were bids for the present site. 1t was de-
cided not to discuss the repurchase Of
grounds until the old site was disposed Of
The correspondence of the sccretary's
Office, relating to exhibits and kindred
subjects, wes read and referred to the COM
mittee.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock in the afternoon
the gavel, welded by President Banks,
summoned the board to order. eve will
now proceed, gentlemen, to consider the
sealed bids" was the announcement OF
the chair that caused the members and
real estate agents present To give breath
less attention at once, while Mr.. Rose
deliberately opened and read the pro-
posals.
The first bid opened was presented by
Thomas B. jackson of the Van Camp
packing company and brother-in-law OF
Cortland Van Camp. 1t is declared on
good authority that the bid was made in
the interest of the Van Camps. This
proposition offered 1927 900 for the fifty
six acres, of which sum $40, GOO was TO be
cash, 3d. 900 in one year, S45,0 900 in two
years and the remainder in four years,
interest On money at per cent.
The second bid read was made in the
name OF H. H. Beville, who is said to be
acting for John ]. Cooper and others.
This bid offered S217 900, of which $780,
600 would be paid in sixty days alter the
acceptance OF the bid by the board. and
the remainder in two years. Mr.. Beville
offered to deposit 500 o as guarantee if
his bid were favorahly considered.
Mr.. Charles Z. Robbins presented the
third bid. The inference is made on good
authority that Mr. Robbins was acting for
Judge Lamb and Terre Haute syndicate.
His offer was S203, 900, of which one-third
is cash and the remainder will be paid in
two equal yearly payments. The bid
stated that 5000 would be deposited as a
guarantee.
The last bid, and one which the individ-
ual members of the board seemed TO favor
more than the others, was for S275, 000 OF
which sum $4,000 was to be cash pay
ment; SOS, 900 in one year, $4,000 in five
years, $4,000 in ten, S50,O 900 in fifteen, and
the remainder at the end of twenty years.
The amount of indebtedness to be COW
cred with bonds bearing interest at 81 per
cent. and the bid stating that the PROPOSE
ton would be open for sixty days and that
its features could be amended.
Upon motion OF r. NJ. Lockhart the
| further consideration of the bids was most
poned and the routine work of the board
! taken up. The bids will be further con-
| sidered before the adjournment OF the
| board, which meets again today, but, as
|
| quite possible nothing would be done un-
til it can be seen what will be done with
| the industrial board bill.
The members of the state board OF agri-
culture spent most of the day Wednesday
in wrestling with the question of premi-
ums. However, the matter of the bids
again came up and was referred to q
special committee, consisting of ]. \.
| Davidson, R NJ. Lockhart and T. II. Peed
with instructions to report at the after
noon session. The committee retired TO
caucus and consider the bids and the re-
vision and correction of the premium list
| proceeded. The afternoon session was very
| similar to that of the morning, and the
routine work of the board was slowly but
surely disposed of. About o'clock the
committee appointed in the morning sig
nified its willingness TO report, and &C
cordiDgly the president called on Mr.
Lockhart, the chairman, who read the
following sagacious conclusion of the com.
mittee:
Your committee, to whom was referred the
| bids for the purchase of the Indiana state fair
| grounds have had the same under cOnsidera
ton and beg leave to submit the following:
| We have carefully examined the bids made
| in accordance with the advertisement of the
board and find the price offered to be much