The Progress., 1893-03-11
OUR FAIR GROUNDS.
SHALL ANOTHER CRISES BESET
TREM9
/ Shall We not Profit by the Experience
of the Past Week?

vi lhe faNt week
When It became known last week
that Capt J. q. McWilliams, who
held a martgqge of $1,000 or $1,000
on the Fair GrouDds was demand
ing his money or he would foreclose,
there was considerable stir among
our people who felt that it would
never do to allow them to pass into
the hands af spectators. 1t seemed
hard that those who had taxed them
selves by voluntarily contributions
in order to secure the holding of
fairs for the benefit of Shreveport
alone, that these grounds which had
been made valuable by such subscrip-
tons as well by the money lent on
them, should be sold at a sacrifice,
and fall into the possessions of IN
dividuals which would place them be
yond any claim of the public, while
the large number of stock holders
who had bought stock for no other
purpose than to insure success of the
association. would lose all interest in
the enterprise.
II was at first declared that Capt
McWilliams has refused to extend
the payment of the note, though the
interest would be paid on same.
This action in view of the prospec-
tive building Of two railroads, which
would add greatly to the value of
these grounds, was looked on as ex-
tremely unfortunate for all except
the owner of the note, or a certain
other few men who were able to buy
this valuable tract at the extremely
low price which it would bring under
the hammer, and a spirit
of 'let a few of the
monied men take poor old Shreve-
port and kill her." was fast settling
in The minds and hearts of the peo
pie generally when it was learned
that the holder of the note had recon
sidered and was willing to extend th'
time of payment Oh it for anothe
year.
Now, that this crisis has been pass
ed it behooves us, as a business pee
pie, TO prevent recurrence of II
This can be done by the city's becom
ing owner of these grounds. Let
tax be voted for the purpose, an
make them a public park. Good
ness knows Shreveport needs such
thing any way and then it would nc
only be a delightful retreat wher
business men and their familie
could enjoy an evening after workin
hours. but we could be assured @
: always having suitable grounds fc
holding fairs and such like, owned b
the public, used for the public gooC
with no man or set of men to say ma
when it was desired to give an eI
tertainment there which would /
pleasurable to the people general,
Let the city buy those grounds, b.
cause this extension is but respit (
one year with the same old del
1 hanging over them. These ground
should belong to the city. Few {
her people there be who have m
| contributed something toward
them and in all Justice they belon
to the public.
TIRE, ownership is vested in only
D limited number, but both labor an
money have been given by number
4 gratis, simply because it was consi'
I cred public enterprise. Of cour
. Capt. McWilliams had legal rig
y to foreciose and will have again at Il
expiration of the extension allowe
therefore we say let rs act now ar
buy these grounds. The larg
D shareholders have repeatedly offer'
!, to sell for so cents on the dollar, al
{ if they have not changed their minC
> on account of this suggestion tn
the city buy them out, it wOuld
S well to clinch the bargain, pay o
this mortgage and let the title to o.
S Fair Grounds be vested in the city
Shreveport.
!. Let us act Oh this at the earle
u possible moment.