The record-union., 1894-09-17
REVIVAL. OF AN Old PROPOSITION.
Talk of New Grounds for the Agri-
cultural Society.
How the Present Park Was Secured
If Abandoned 1t Was to Revert
to the City.

y
spondent of the! UNION suggested
that, owing to the cramped condition of
Agricultural Park and the rapid growth
of the city in that vicinity, the State A gri-
cultural Society should secure more COM
modious and better grounds somewhere
outside the city.
The matter was discussed at consider
able length, and had begun to take shape,
when question arose as 70 the title TO
the present race-track property and the
society's ability to dispose of it, and
further action in that direction was
dropped.
The subject has been revived by Presi-
dent Boggs. who claims that the society
is the owner of the Agricultural Park
property and has the right to dispose of
1t.
There were originally two propositions
discussed in connection with new track,
the necessity for which appeared to be,
and is now, generally admitted. One was
TO have 1t located on the high ground ON
Rancho del Paso. just beyond the Ameri-
can river, where all the ground necessary
could be secured at a small figure.
1t was urged in favor ofthis proposition
that track could be laid out there which
would be in condition all through the
winter months for training purposes and
that such track would bring together
several hundred horses and their trainers
Others. however, urged that the pro-
posed new track be established just east
OF the city, where it would be accessible
by the extension of the electric railroad
system, and the New Ramona Tract was
talked of. This latter proposition seemed
TO meet with the most favor, and is the
one now favored by President Boggs
and he intends to have legislative action
taken In the matter at the coming ses-
sion.
The Agricultural Park property was
purchased by public subscription in 1861.
The first meeting held to consider the
matter was iii January of that year, and
a committee was selected to procure SUBJ
scriptions to the purchase fund. This
committee was composed of +. +. Figg,
j. ID. Culver, n. l.. Drew. Edgar Mills,
q. z. Huntington, Thomas Hansbrow,
A. d. Rightmeyer, w. NJ. Harron, Sam
uel Cross, z. II. Russell, l.. A. Booth,
Dr. Underwood, X. ID. Ferguson, ID. o.
Mills, Wilson Flint and Josiah johnson.
DIR. j. +. Morse presided at the next
meeting, when A. X. Grim, from the
Committee on Location, reported that
they had made inquiry as to four different
locations OF six blocks each, as follows.
Between Twentieth and Twenty-second,
4 and ii streets, price about $4,000; be-
tween Seventeenth and Twentieth, l. and
streets, price not stated; between
Twelfth and Fifteenth, . and q streets,
price not stated.
At a subsequent meeting Judge II. o.
Beatty offered TO sell six blocks north of
a street beyond the north levee), from
Seventh to Tenth, for 5000. The COM
mittee reported that the six blocks from
d to ID, Twentieth to Twenty-second
streets, would cost So, 500.
Evidently the people of those days
held very different views from those of
to-day regarding the distance to be trav-
eied in reaching racetrack, as DIR. Un-
derwood objected to Beatty's proposition
on the ground that the track would be
too far from the Pavilion.
AT that time, 1t appears the proposition
was to have stock grounds only, but
X. ID. Ferguson urged that there should
be room tor racetrack. and ., O.
W heeler agreed with him.
At the next meeting the present site
was agreed upon (the six blocks referred
toy. but Wilson Flint, K. d. Ferguson
and others wanted the action reconsid-
cred, as the grounds were so far away
that. in their opinion, people would not
visit them. There was no thought of
electric cars in those days.
Then John s. Barrett sprung a new
proposition. He offered to sell twenty
acres along the river and south of \
street for cattle grounds, for So, 600, and
others urged the Twelfth and Q-street
locality.
AT the next meeting d. O. Mills offered
a resolution, which was adopted, provid-
ing that the property to be purchased be
decided to the Agricultural Society for
use as cattle grounds, the same to revert
TO the city whenever the society aband-
oned or failed TO maintain it as such.
The county records will, of course.
show whether this condition is embraced
IN the deed given to the society. But
even If 1t is, there is probably no serious
legal difficulty in the way of the State
Board of Agriculture selling the property
and using the proceeds for purchasing
and improving new grounds elsewhere.
As the city would be benefited by the
abandonment of the present park, she
could afford to-if the conditional title
rests IN her-forego any claim she might
have to the land. This, Of course, ap-
pies to the property covered by the
original purchase, for the State Society
has bought and paid for much of the
present park.
There have been statements made since
the removal proposition was first sprung
lew years ago, that the present title to
the old park Is very much mixed, but
this is matter that could doubtless be
easily determined by any good lawyer or
searcner of records.
good track, on high and dry ground,
where winter training could be carried
on, would certainly be a very desirable
thlng. win modern improvements in
the way OF buildings, fences, etc., such a
track would be great drawing card.
DIED IN CAMP.
The Daughter of Sparrow Palmer, the