The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-28
CAN'T UNLOAD ON THE CITY.
Atlanta'S Mayor Puts a Veto on the
Piedmont Park Scheme.

He Fails to See Why the City Should
Buy for $1e5,o Property That
Cost Only $21,o and Is Not
Needed-The City Already Owner OF
Better Site for the Exposition-Ths
Promoters of the Show Threaten to
Give It Up.
Atlanta, Ca, Feb, 27.-The cotton
states and international exposition, which
has already been widely advertised TO be
held in this city, in 1895, received a black
eye to-day, and many of those who here
tofore professed the utmost confidence in
the success of the big undertaking, now
openly say they don't believe the scheme
will ever materialize. Mayor Goodwin's
action in vetoing an ordinance of coun-
ell purchasing the grounds Of the
old Piedmont Exposition Company al
cost OF 81 1000 is what gave the pres
ent plan the backset. After spending
month or more in working up sentiment
in favor of holding a big exposition next
year, the formation of corporate com-
pany, etc, those interested, when they
thought the time ripe, suddenly sprung
the proposition to council to purchase tho
ANAtAAViAh SAi'toltAOll EiuQIho Aul bit uS0
of the new exposition company, thus as
sisting the movement.
PUSHED THROUGH COUNCIL.
This deal was pushed through the coun
Gil two days after 1t was first sprung,
without waiting for public Endorsement
OF any kind except the interest of the
local papers, both of which were stock
holders in the Piedmont company. The
principal spirits in the new company
ulr a.ty, ia 1, a
mont company, and altogether the
scheme was fair on its face.
The property offered for sale
to the city at SlG5, 900 is assessed for taxa
tion at S2l, ,000 about what is cost when
bought But Notwithstanding the trans
parency Of the deal it was accepted with
only one dissenting vote by council, with
the patriotic explanation afterward, that
IL was for the good of the city.
Mayor Goodwin, in company with com.
petent judges, went over the property,
which is largely swamp, to-day aud
promptly concluded to sit down on the
deal.
THE EXPOSITION PEOPLE EXCITED.
AS soon as he made known his decision
there was great excitement among the
exposition people, some OF the most
prominent of whom openly declared that
they would now wash their hands of the
whole business, and let the proposed ex-
position 90 TO the dig nation bowbows.
The exposition leaders are among the
wealthiest citizens, and they declare that
they will not put any OF their money into
the enterprise now, unless the council
passes the land purchase ordinance over
the mayors veto. This will hardly be
done. Three councilmen, who helped the
deal through, have already weakened,
and will not vote for 1t again.
BETTER PROPERTY AVAILABLE.
Mayor Goodwin wants the exposition
people to use property already owned by
the city, in every respect better than the
Piedmont grounds. But the exposition
people say they will not have show un-
less the city buys the Piedmont grounds
to help them out. Mayor Goodwin
has held various fat city Offices
for years past, and the disappointed
exposition people are particularly sore on
him because they say they compose the
element which made him a political sue
cess but he does not show his apprecia-
tion of that fact. The matter has caused
the biggest financial and political split in
the city's history and Is likely to be an
open wound for many day to come.