The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-17
new RACE TRACK.
Committee Of Seven
Practically Decides
on Grounds.
.BARBER'S CROSSING
That Site VIII No Doubt
Be Determined For Agri-
cultural Society.

1t is practically determined that tha
committee of seven appointed by Wor-
cester Agricultural Society to recom-
mend plans for the investment Of the
funds obtained from the sale of the fair
ground property will recommend that
the society purchase new grounds at
once and that a race track be built.
This was determined at a meeting OF
the committee held last night in the
small upper dining room on the tenth
floor of the State Mutual buildings
Warren G. Jewett, William p. Searlesa
George c. Rice, ]. Henry Washburns
Charles E. Parker and Leander f. Her.
rick were present. The only absent
member of the committee was James
w. Bigelow.
The meeting was presided over by
Chairman Warren G. Jewett, and be-
ginning with a supper at $50 o'cloeA
closed at 10. 30 o'clock with an adjourn
ment until Friday morning. This is
taken as an indication that the COM
mittee has practically finished its work.
has made its decision and awaits only
the vote of James w. Bigelow for a
unanimous report. One of the commits
tee stated this as the case to The Spy
representative last night.
Several locations for a track were
considered at the meeting last night,
and were illustrated by means of
rough engineers sketches showing APP
proximate grades and a rough esti~
mate on the initial cost of building a
race track.
At the close of the important meets
ing the members of the committee wera
extremely reticent and courteously re-
fused to make q statement other than
the committee Will not under any con-
ditions make public its report until ID
is submitted at the meeting of the So
ciey Friday.
This much was learned, however The
committee has had under consideration
several sites which are believed to be
suitable for the purposes of the society
and at the same time admirably adapt
ed for building a race track. One by
one these sites have been cast aside in
favor of two of the best, one of which
is the site at BARRIERS Crossing. Be-
fore the committee took any site into
serious consideration it first secured
an option on the property in view, and
on every location it has considered the
committee has a price.
Although no member of the commits
tee would make a positive statement
that such was the case, it was plainly
limited that the society has only the
BARRIERS Crossing site in view, and UNI
less some unforeseen obstacle arises at
the meeting RVzlay morning, the COM
mittee will recommend that the site be
purchased at once and that work be
begun on the construction of a race
track.
The society has about $4,000 after
the LIQUIDATION of every outstanding
debt The plan as proposed by the COM
mittee contemplates the expenditure OF
about $4,000 for site and equipment,
h1I nf n hEn
invested as a permanent fund. The
committee expects little opposition to
the proposition to build a track, all
though a rumor Of an effort to defeat
the track idea has come to the ears of
the seven men who are trying to solve
the problem.
Whatever the decision of the society
may be on the matter, glance at the
names of the men who constitute the
committee would indicate that its re-
port will be for a track. first. last and
all the time. William p. Searles, as
the annual meeting of Worcester Driv-
ing Park Company, was the father of
a motion that that organization take
up the effort to give Worcester a good
race track ]. Henry Washburn is
one of the most enthusiastic horsemen
in worcester. Warren G. Jewett chair
man of the committee, believes a race
track necessary for the purposes of the
society, and Leander F. Herrick is a
pronounced advocate of the propositions
to put up track.
Forestalling the expected report OF
the committee, some interested men
have been prospecting on the proposed
site at BARRIERS crossing, and are re-
puted to have driven a stake into the
marshy swamp, and that it never ap-
peared to the light Of day again. 10
simply vanished away into unknown.
lou
had borings made of the soil and will
be prepared to show that the tract is
Of the proper bottom for fast and
springy track.
Said a member Of the committee to
The Spy man last night: This same
plan was followed several years ago, to
defeat the proposition to build a track
at Peat meadow. Indeed, it did final
ly succeed in killing the project, and
Worcester lost the opportunity to own
one of the fastest and best race tracks
in the world. Every expert who has
ever seen the meadow has pronounced
it the finest foundation for a trotting
track in the country, and a spot where
a mile track could be put up at as
small expense as it is possible to build
a track anywhere. It was the Peat
meadow proposition and the consequent
fight that resulted in the change Of
charter requiring two-thirds vote -
sell the grounds. This very provision
has delayed and kindered the society
10 years. All that is necessary for
sanction to purchase new grounds ana
all that will be required to sanction the
investment of the money in that man
ner is a majority vote. At all events,
I do not believe there will be any diff
Guilty in reaching a decision, nor do I
believe the society is in a mood to pro-
long the argument into a long battle
such as was necessary to sell the
grounds
The same member of the committees
Of seven, when asked if there is any
possibility of his committee returning
a minority report. declined to make any
statement other than that the commits
tee has done a vast amount Of work.
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