The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-11
MONSTER PLEASURE RESORT.
Exposition Grounds TO be Turned Into a
Model Suburban PARK.
AN UP-lO-DA7E BICYCLE TRACK.
Races at Night by Electric Lights and
Skating on an Ice KinE in Winter-Mr.
II. l.. Lorraine and a Philadolphian
Arc at Head Of the Enterprise.

4 INTO pleasure resort at an tdl4g : o''
and a rendezvous for turfnan ana wheel
men.
This decision was reached yas';' 'y
| morning at meeting held iy tho k'ocV-
| tive Committee OF the NicliuiA IL ev'tE-
raj and Mechanical Society, ana th3 Zeal
| was agreed upon. For quite e =" l.c lt
was known that the society WJulF ase
the grounds If they could ind a sri able
| lessee who would agree 90 neir ufN s.
| It was the idea Of the EXecGtisc con NIT
| tee 10 realize something on ,he property
| from year 10 year, so as 20 meet The
| interest falling due on their l' hded
| debt. instead OF permitting She lrCpTty
| TO be "a kind OF burden on ne society.
| 10 was argued that IL the 'sa-'ization
could get 5000 per annum for the rent
| Of the grounds and still reserve the right
! 10 hold a State Fair there every fall. and
| an exposition once IN five years, such Il
| plan would be advisable. With this 1ca
| I'm view, the Executive Committee held
| several meetings and discussed the mat
] ter. II was understood Chat the Traction
! Company would Ike 10 have possession
| Of the grounds % establish n pleasure
resort az the western terminus Of its
| line There was also some talk about
| other parties being anxious 10 secure
/ the grounds. and il was understood that
! TWO partial offers had been made. Finally
| the committee decided 10 advertise for
bids for the lease Of the property.
TERMS AGREED UPON
AZ Nurphys Hotel yesterday morning
at II o'clock tho committee held an ad-
iOurned meeting. In the absence OF
President Watkins, Colonel Murphy pre-
si1ed, and the following other members
were present: Colonel Harwood. Colonel
WicIham, 5. IT. Cottreh, II. G. Cham
bin, II. l.. Lorraine. j. II. Dickerson,
Thomas Christian and z. b. Chafiin.
The Chair stated that the meeting vas
called to consider any bids that might
lie made for lease OF the grounds.
Mr. II. l.. Lorraine, a member OF the
committee, rendered his resignation, Civ
ing as the reason that he wanted TO make
an oner for the grouncs. The committee
expressed IT'S regrets al parting with Mr..
Lorraine. but accepted the resignation.
Mr.. Lorraine then submitted an offer of
lease for five years, with privilege for
fiye more. S2c00 TO be paid for the first
year, and S3000 for the four following.
This was the only bid made and on mo-
tion Of Colonel Harwood II was accepted.
ard Colonel Wickham was appointed a
committee to confer with Mr.. Lorranes
lawyer TO fix mp the papers.
Several months ago Mr.. Lorraine offer
ed TO lease the grounds. He wanted TO
make them the seat Of a monster amuse-
ment enterprise. The offer was consider
ed. but for time II looked as though
nothing would come Of it. The grounds
had been promised to the veterans for
their reunion. and they held that they
should have the exclusive use Of the
premises.
The Executive COMMITTEES settled the
matter by drawing mp a lease, which
gave the veterans the right 10 Use all
the ground it was thought they would
need. This lease Mr.. Lorraine agreed 20
with a reduction in the rent of the first
year.
The other conditions are that during
the month OF October OF each year the
society shall have the use Of the grounds,
buildings. and improvements made by the
lessee for ono week for holding state
fair, and i'm case they should wish 10 hold
an exposition not oftener than once In
nve years at such time as they may
decide upon they shall be entitled to the |
use of the property for three weeks for |
that purpose.
THE LESSEE'S PLANS.
When Mr Lorraine was seen yesterday |
afternoon in regard to his lease and fu- |
ture plans he said that he had been |
trying for more than year to get pos
session Of the Exposition Grounds. but |
not until yesterday could he get his plans /
perfected for The deal.
Richmond has long been in need Of |
2 suburban pleasure resort whore people /
can 20 in the afternoon and evening TO /
enjoy themselves" said Mr.. Lorraine.
we have not a single pleasure psort |
properly fitted up in the vicinity of the
city. There is and has been a great
demand for one The city deserves one,
and the population has reached such a
point as to Justify the management 10
maintain such a resort. I have had
this idea I'm view for several years, and
have watched for several opportunities
along this lire The Exposition Grounds !
seemed TO me 10 be the proper 2ia;e
for the establishment and maintenance |
OF just such n pleasure resort for lie
city. and | believe the people VIII take
advantage OF all the privileges offered
them I'm this direction. OF course I am
not doing this for charity II u pgreiy
"A business scheme. and / expect 20 make
something out of u. ! believe tn enter
prise Will pay in reasonable way out
at the Exposition Grounds there is plenty
OF room. The place is conveniently
located and the best transportation Ia
cillties will soon be IN operation % carry
people direct TO the grounds. Win al
this in our favor, We may expect that
the place viii become very popdlar. Moth
ing will be neglected TO make the i'sce
attractive in every respect All the
usual forms OF amuscments Will be sup |
Piled and everything done to make The
place a hrstclass pleasure resort IN every
respect"
Mr.. Lorraine then went on 10 tel me
IN detail what b. expected 10 10. 80 far
as he knew at this time. His D.ars In
many respects have not been decided
upon. but IN a general way he has
mapped out his plans as to a number CT
features.
His lease commences on May -; but
he will begin on next Monday ,.e work
OF Transforming the grounds INFO pleas
ure and amusement park.
NORTHERN MAN INTERESTED.
A gentleman from Philadelphia is inter-
ested in this enterprise, and is associated
With Mr.. Lorraine in the lease and man
agement Of the grounds This gentle
mans name could not be learned yester-
lay. and when Mr. Lorraine was asked
about IL he said he had rather not as yet
make public the name OF the gentleman. |
Suffice 1t to say, that the northerner has
been interested in the proposed scheme
'or some time. and at one time felt sure
hat a portion OF the grounds could be Sc
cured, but was not willing 10 make any |
leal with the society until the entire pro-
)erty could be secured. Mr.. Lorralne's |
seocfafn in the enterpriSe WAS In this |