The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-10
WHY 1T is The BEST
TEN BROECK TRACT ADVOCATED
FOR FAIR GROUNDS.
ITS ADVANTAGES DISCUSSED.


His view, as Less DESTROYS Than
Ten acknowledgements the Matter
as an Authority, as His Real Estate
Business Mnkes Him Familiar
With Its Phases-COI. j. ii. Estil
Refutes the Statement That His
Advocacy of the Ten BrOeck Tract
Is In Any Way Inspired by Person
al Interests.
Not only the directors and stockholders
! of the Savannah Fair Association, but
! Savannahians generally, are interested in
the matter of a selection for a site for
the Fair grounds. Much has been said
and written about the proposed sites, es-
! pecially the Ten Brock property and the
tract on Dale avenue belonging to the
Merchants and Mechanics Land Com
| pany. Various arguments are advanced
in support of one or another of the tracts.
Mr. c. II. Dorsett was asked yesterday
to state what in his opinion, as a real
estate dealer, reputed to be familiar with
lands in the county, are the respective
advantages and disadvantages of the two
sites most prominently spoken of in con-
nection with the State Fair. He hesitated
to express any opinion on the subject.
| AS a citizen and seller of real estate, he
had at first freely expressed his views,
but having very recently, and unexpected
ly. been elected a director of the Fair
Association he felt some hesitation to
discuss the matter except in the board.
He remarked that, individually, his in
| nc al dc ba baa cfa
section, but as a seller of real estate,
the interests of his clients lay in every
direction, but he had but one motive to
influence him, and that was the success
of the fair and. as would naturally fol-
low. the benefit that would accrue to Sa-
vannah.
In answer to the questions as to the
topography and size of the land
offered by the Merchants and Mechanics
Land Co., he said that he understood it to
be the piece bounded by the Waters road,
Dale avenue, Bee road, and the Barstow
land, which, according to a plat which
he referred to. contained about 70 acres,
but from which he thought some sales
had been made.
This is a very pretty piece of land
said Mr.. Dorset. There are some low
Places in it and some large drainage
bitches. These would have to be piped
and covered and the land graded, which
is expensive work, and would require time
| to accomplish. However, there is ample
time. The cost is the item to study. AS
to the sufficiency of the size, l am no
judge. AS there are public roads which
could not be closed, ON three Sides addi-
tional land. if needed, could only be had
| on the south. This is the Barstow land,
which is in litigation. Whether or not a
safe lease of five years could be made
with either or both parties to this litiga-
ton is legal question, and l know moth
ing about law.
Il think the correspondent who claimed
that mife track could be built ina forty
acre field. failed to remember that there
are but 1860 feet in an acre and that
there are $3.50 feet around a mile track.
don't know anything about racing, but
suppose a track should be from eighty to
one hundred feet wide, and have heard
that the standard track is egg-shaped.
However, there should be enough room
for buildings after using up over As acres
for the open, uninterrupted view neces-
sary- for racing. The presumption is that,
| though not as large Ten Brock, this
land must be sufficient. as all parties
doubtless understood about the status of
the Barstow land.
mo, have not looked into the route
by which either railroad can secure rights
of way l do not now recall any way
of getting there without using Waters
road or Estill avenue, which would rem
der those highways very dangerous for
driving" One of the greatest objections
that occurs to me in connection with the
question of transportation of freight and
passengers is the fact that the tracks of
the Plant System and the street railroad
must be temporary while every sub
fafr
manent to grow out of it. Even if it
lasts but five years, these companies can
not be expected to build every five years,
nor will they be able, on account of
changed conditions, to secure rights of
way.
Il would not care to express an opin-
ion as to the value of the land. 1t is a
beautiful piece, and the rate it is offered
at per annum is no interest on it's value.
If the stockholders were to order it sold
now or at any time in five years it would
| pay them, at the price il would bring,
many times, in interest, the rent it is Of
fered at"
There has been talk about the distance
from the city of the two tracts. To a
question, Mr.. Dorset replied
"Oh yes; the Ten Brock course is
nearer the city than the other piece 1t
is about two and a half miles. while the
land on Dale avenue is three miles Yes;
the roads are excellent as hard as as
phalt, and better for driving. There ore
the Louisville and Augusta roads; really
| three paved roads, counting the
| Bay street extension If the
Fair is located at Ten Brock, there will
| be another, the Gwinnett street extension,
which the County Commissioners will he
sure to build. This will be the favorite
drive to the grounds, as IL is a straight
shoot for the center of the city. with a
slight divergence when you get to the in
tersecton of the Telfair road, opposite
the grounds The West End trolley line
is a really beautiful route, and quite in
| teresting. You see some of the finest
| truck gardens in the county on this line,
and get some slight idea of the great in
dustries along the river in fair view from
the cars This line passes through West
Savannah and passes historic Jasper
Springs and The Hermitage This line.
with one more turnout and one length
ened, can carry its share Of passengers
to the fair.
"As to the size of Ten Brock race
track property, | am not certain, but
think the association owns over 100 acres.
The land, however, has splendid railroad
facilities. The Seaboard Air Line runs
along the western line. the Central along
the southern line and the Plant System
conveniently near.
mo. sir l know nothing about sub
scriptlons by railroads. ! have met with