Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-27
GAVE IT OVER.
The Columbian Exposition Pro-
ject Abandoned.
OF LAST NIGHTS MEETING

hi'HSu ~ W ihu 4 - the htiseT ana 'fe-
pose of the Laud-A Long and Hard
Struggle for SauSh:.
After all the work and time devot-
ed to it, after Is months hard strug-
gle for the success of the Twin City
Columbian exposition project, in the
face of much to discourage and dis
hearten and delay and impede. the
undertaking has been given over and
abandoned.
The safest Way Out
This was the outcome of of last
nights conference between the Twin
City Columbian committee and the
endorsers OF the original note under
which the Brooks tract was secured
by Messrs. William Jackson and 5.
IL. Vclie. The ,iual determination
was not reached without mature de
liberation and consideration. The
situation was fully canvassed and
discussed. IL was shown that with
the $1,000 note and interest due in
MAY the taxes of 1899, the paving
costs, the band stand and grading
note. etc. the Indebtedness falling
due in Nav will be $50, 600. This must
be met in some way. In the matter
of subscriptions to the capital stock
in the exposition association it was
reported that of the original sub
scriptions Rock Island had secured
$50. 900 and Moline so. 900. making
total of SIS, 900. Under the prop
osition to secure subscriptions of the
note signers for 81. 900 each OF capital
stock, Mr.. Guyer reported that in
Rock Island all but three of the
signers had subscribed themselves to
such an agreement, which with an
increase of So. 900 in c. II. Deere's
subscription and $4,000 in that of
Morris Rosentield brought the total.
so far, up to between 500. 600 and
$40. 900. Mr.. Moore reported that
while the papers for the note signers,
subscriptions had been in Moline
since the canvass was completed in
Rock Island. nothing had been done.
MeSsrS Guvcr. McCabe. Moore.
Nelie and Bennett were in favor of
making an effort to complete the
capital stock ii possible, it having
been reported that if $4,000 or $50
600 were secured. the railway COM
panv would increase its subscription
sufficiently on the 10 per cent. basis
to perfect the organization. Mr..
Velie doubled his subscription on the
spot. and Mr.. Bennett said he would
raise his to $1,000 if the other en-
dorsers would do likewise.
Mr.. Jackson expressed his belief
that the exposition project might a
well Toe considered NJ an end. So
A.. \ hot l,t,
feared some OF the subscriptions
would he difficult to collect any
way and in his opinion the best way
would bc to dispose OF the
land without further delay. Many
opinions wcra expressed ~ To the
best course OF procedure. all finally
Joining in the sentiment that il
would be best to abandon the expo
sition idea and wind the matter uP,
and i'm the discussion a to the
method of disposition OF the land.
several plan, were suggested, Mr..
Nclic al length expressing his belief
that he could arrange for the pur-
chase OF the tract outright and wip-
ing ont OF all liabilities. This met
with the approval of all and the
meeting adjourned subject to Mr..
Velic'~ call when he shall be ready
to report on the matter.
Hard Work f,r NauGht.
The prospect of a complete wind
up Of the Columbian project.
while a source Of regret and di~aP-
pointmcnt to those who have been
identified with the undertaking from
the first and VINO have had confidence
in it right along, have hoped against
fate and are still satisfied that it.
could have been made to go. l. mo-
less great relief to those who have
assumed the most in labor and re
spouSibility that il might win. 1T
has been plucky UP hill struggle,
with much to contend against. the
stormy weather o. wear ago which
interfercd 80 seriously with the sue
cess of the first demonstration on the
grounds. that Of the Fourth
of July. and the fact that
in year OF national campaign
public attention turned TO politics
and the canvass for suhscrip tions had
of necessity to be abandoned tempo
rarily, all proved fatal to the
undert aking. OF other causes which
have led to the abandonment of the
perhaps the least said the
better. There Is nothing to be gained
by crying over the broken pitcher
1t is a matter of great satisfaction to
know that so many OF the represen-
tative citizens of both cities have by
their aid and encouragement OF the
enterprise shown their public spirit. !
while it is not in any sense the fault OF
the people of Rock Island that it has
not succeeded. To all those who ,
have subscribed in proportion to
thei, means and thus placed them ,