The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-29
DIRECTORS MEET TO-DAY.
They VIII Take Up the Matter of n
Site for the Fair.

They VIII Take Up the Matter of n
Site for the Fair.
A meeting of the Board of Directors of
the Savannah Fair Association will be
held this morning at II o'clock at the Of
flee of the president, MIR. George w.
Owens. 1t is probable that the report Of
the Site Committee will be submitted
and not improbable that the board will
agree upon a place for holding the State
Fair next fall, as an opinion prevails
generally that it would be well for tho
matter to be settled in order that the
work of preparation of grounds and build
ings may begin.
Day before yesterday Mr.. j. w. Jack
son, chairman of the committee, sent 4
notice to Mr.. Owens, informing him Of its
readiness to report. 1t was then expect
ed that the committee would recommend
a certain tract as the fair site, provided
lbs owners would agree to certain terms
that had been proposed by the commit
tee as counter to those proposed by the
owners to the committee. Though the
members of the committee would not say
so, it was generally understood that the
site was that of the Ten Brock race
course, and that ii would be recommend
ed to the directors.
Yesterday morning, after the notice of
the committees readiness had gone to
Mr. Owens, new propositions were receiv-
ed from the represen tatives of the Thun-
derbolt tract. and from the Merchants
end Mechanics Land Company. This
morning. before the meeting Of the direc-
tors, the Site Committee will consider the
new propositions and arrive at an under
standing as to their report. Careful con-
sideration will be given the new offers.
Mr.. Doyle offers to lease the race track
and the triangle opposite the grounds of
the Savannah Yacht Club for a period of
five years, with the use of the stables
and all the buildings on the premises.
The grounds and buildings will be under
the control of the Fair Association, If
accepted during the progress of state
fairs thereon, with the sole use of the
half-mile track now in good order, and
the use of the track and the stables for
such race meetings as 1t may be desired
to hold at other times The association
Will have the privilege of building such
structures as it may deem necessary and
to remove them at the expiration of the
lease. One stipulation is that the prop
erty be returned to the owners at the
expiration of the lease in as good order
as 1t may be when turned over to the
association.
1t Is urged by Mr.. Doyle that the Thun-
derbolt grounds are the most available,
the most economic and the best, when
all things are taken into consideration.
Among the arguments that he advances
are that fast track is already built
that there are stables already in readi-
ness for the accommodation of sixty
horses; that the tract is accessible by
two lines of electric railway. one of which
will be double-tracked, If the site is Sc
lected; by good roads for wagons car
riages, automobiles and bicycles, and a
water route for steamers or other craft
that bleachers may be built and enclosed
on the river front of the property, and
that large revenue may be derived from
those witnessing aquatic attractions; that
$4,000 would be saved the association, for
the reason that the track and stables are
already built and that the artesian water
and piping throughout the grounds could
not be put in elsewhere short of great ex-
pense; that the privilege is allowed the
association to change the location of any
of the buildings on the grounds that may
be regarded as necessary and to the in
terest of the fair: that any reasonable
amendments that may occur to the direc-
tors of the association will be acceptable
to Mr.. Doyle; that the lease is a free
tender, the only expense to the associa-
llOH DeHS the payment OF taxes ana IN
surance. which, it is said, may be waived
or shared by the owners, and that Mr..
George Parsons, president of the Savan-
nah, Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope Rail-
way. will subscribe literally TO the Sa-
vannah Fair Associations stock, provid-
ed Thunderbolt is selected as the place
for holding the fair. From $12. 900 to $15,-
900 is mentioned by Mr.. Doyle as the
probable total cost to the association for
putting the grounds in condition to hold the
fair, and erecting all the necessary build
ings.
The proposition of the Merchants and
Mechanics Land Company was submit
ted by the president. Capt. d. C. Purse.
The company will grant the free use of
the tract of land owned by it on Dale
evenue for one year, and at a rental of
$500 a year for four succeeding years. The
tender will terminate on Jan. 1 next, If
not wanted beyond one year the rent to
be paid semi-annually. An option is also
given for the purchase OF the property on
or before April /, 1902, at $4,000 cash, or
for $4,000 at the end of the second year.
All the improvements made upon the
property will belong to the Fair Assoca-
ton. removable at its pleasure at any
time up to the expiration of the lease by
its own Limitation or by mutual agree
ment