The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-13
DIRECTORS WERE CHOSEN.
Annual Meeting Of Maine Mile Track
Association.

A Little Something; About the History OF
the Association and How Rigby Has
Been Patronized by Portland People In
The Past Few Years.
Yesterday afternoon meeting Oh Vie
Maine Mile Track association was nelo at
the Falmouth hotel. No great interest,"
was manifested in the meeting, ana
though it was called for half pas1 TWO
O'Clock it was nearer three when Presl'
dent George Brunham, Jr., called the
meeting to order Hon. Isaac W. Dyer,
clerk of the corporation, reported thaV
there were 9S4 shares represented, some
trouble having been found at first in OBJ
tanning enough proxies to make the re-
quisite number to for,u quorum.
The meeting was brief and very har-
monious Treasurer John G. Small
made his annual report, showing that he
had received $6,61898, and had disbursed
S., 766. ~.
Manager II. F. Farnham presented his
annual report which showed that in
operating the track he had received S33,
564. rs for the July, September and Octo-
Der meetingsl at Rigby, exclusive OF the
New England Fair and had disbursed
$685. 239 IS, leaving u balance in the trea-
sury of 1924 81. Besides this amount it
was stated that it had been necessary to
borrow something like $4,000 to meet the
expenses of the October meeting. The as
ISOLATION has outstandingsclaims amount
ing to several thousand dollars, but the
deficit this year is in the neighborhood of
So, 500,
A nominating committee was appoint
ed and reported the following list of di-
rectors for the ensuing year, and they
were elected ~ an unanimous vote of the
associations:
q For Directors-Geo. Burnham. Jr., ".
+. MiIliken. John G. Small, John S.
Head, &. NJ. Stanwood, Edward Fletch-
Ter. FL. f. Farnham, Alonzo Libby, 3. Il.
| B. Pingree. Galen @. Moses Charles II.
Milliken, VIM. N. Davis, James .. Ban
| born. ,
For Treasurer-John c. Small.
For Clerk-Isaao W. Dyer.
On motion of Mr.. Dyer the directors
were empowered to fill any vacancy in
the board which night occur during the
year. The association then adjourned.
The newly elected directors will hold
meeting this morning at 10 o'clock at the
Falmouth hotel for the purpose of elect
ing a manager for the ensuing year and
transacting some other important bust
ness.
Another year has passed and thej. Maine
Mile. Track Association is deeper lnithe
tolls than ever We're it not backed by
some of the most public.spirited citizens,
men who desire to see Rigby track sue
coed and take the place it is entitled to
among the race tracks of the country,
| the future of Rigby might be in doubt
AS it is, Rigby park is bound to remain
open for the years to come, though 1t
will undoubtedly mean to some of the
gentlemen who are behind it the &C.
cumulation of fewLmore thousand dol
lars worth ofathe paper of the Maine Mile
Track Association with little prospect
at present of this paper ever being taken
| up.
The men who make Rigby possibility
are George Durham, Jr., and W. b.
MilIiken. They hold today with few
other gentlemen, who believe that Rigby
track is benefit to the city OF Portland
its notes and bonds to large amount.
Their purpose in bracing up the Maine
Mile Track Association year after year
is a praisworthy one. They have done
what they consider to be good thing
for the city, for the state and for the pub
lie generally and they intend to continue
to maintain the track until it shall
become self supporting and able to care
for itself.
When the history of the struggles and
successes OF Rigby park is ultimately
published twill be well worth reading.
The idea Of an up-to-date race track fo1
Maine was conceived by Mr.. John 4.
Barrett, and made possible by the I'D
erality of Mr.. Burnham, Mr.. Milliken
and few other gentlemen in this city,
when it seemed as if the state OF Maine
was to take leading place among the
states in this country In the industry Of
horse breeding. AT that time Maine
horses were in demand all over the
world and Maine stock was quoted al
very high prices. If horse raising was
to be one of the primo industries OF Maine
a few gentlemen in this city thought
that Portland should be the centre Of
that industry.E No great interest had eve1
been manifested in horse breeding or rae
ing here, but they fondly believed thai
the city would soon become one of the
leading nlarts for horse flesh in this coun
try, especially if some encouragement wa
offered. What was needed was race
track to stimulate this interest, aid thess
public spirited gentlemen ali agreed that
one must be built.
Many gentlemen in Portland and vicin'
ity were found who were willing to take
hold of the enterprise and they all con
tributed as smuch as they were able, but
the chief expense Of building Rigby
park was borne by the gentlemen already
named and one or two others.
It was predicted that Rigby park
would never be able to bring the horse.
mon to Maine, but it did and this was