The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-03
DALE AVENUE SITE.
WILL PROBABLY BE SELECTED
FOR THE STATE FAIR.
Mr.. JACKSON is FAVORABLE.
ITS SELECTION DEPENDS LARGELY
UPON A PLANT SYSTEM SPUR.

gers, as wen as Freight, over n
Spur to the Grounds From the Bun
Street Crossing transportation
Facilities, without That, Would
Not be Adequate-Chnirman jack
son Expresses the Advantages He
Believes the Tract Offers-Maj.
RyaIs Is for Ten Brock Tract.
The State Fair will probably be held
on the tract offered the Savannah Fair
! Association by the Merchants and Me-
chanics' Land Company on Dale avenue.
Mr.. j. w. Jackson, chairman of the Site
Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Fair Association, said yesterday thai
everything now points to the acceptance
of that site
Upon one important point, it seems,
hinges the acceptance of the Dale avenue
location. That is the answer that may
be given by President r. G.. Erwin of
the Plant System to a communication
that has been addressed to him, request
ing that the railroad build spur track
from the Bull street crossing to the pro-
posed site that may be used for the ac-
commodation, not only of freight, but of
passengers.
The letter was written President Erwin
yesterday by Capt. d. G.. Purse, presi-
dent of the Merchants and Mechanics
Land Company. Mr.. Erwin had already
promised Capt. Purse that the Plant Sys-
tenn would construct spur for the ac-
! commodation of freight and Capt. Purse
believed there would be no difficulty in
arranging for the passenger traffic.
1t was requested by Capt. Purse that
the spur be constructed to handle pas
sengers to the fair grounds from the city
| and return. That is what the Site Com
mittee wants assured. 1t is not desired to
| have the Plant System sell from interior
! points direct to the Fair grounds, thus
allowing passengers using the tickets to
| visit the show without entering the city.
| This difficulty can be obviated by using
| the spur for passenger trains that will
run only from and to the city.
| Mr.. jackson said that Capt. Purse S
| success with the Plant System in secur-
ing the arrangement desired would I'M
doubtedly be followed by the acceptance
of the Dale avenue site. The advantages
| in it's favor are such as to make it i'm
| possible for the committee to ignore
them, he said, and it is practically assur-
ed that the Fair will be held on that tract.
The chief difficulty has been the set
| tlement of the question of transporta-
ton for the crowds in the event of the
| selection of the Dale avenue tract. Mr..
| Jackson thinks it will be solved by the
| construction of the spur and the running
| of passenger trains from the city by the
Plant System. The Savannah, Thunder
| bolt and Isle of Hope Railway, he said,
n a aafi inc emu 70
its Isle of Hope line and to rehabilitate
| the line that runs along Dale avenue
| but he questions the ability of the street
| railway company to handle all the bust
ness. If the Fair proves a success, as
he does not doubt it will, it will be nee
essary to have far more equipment to
| handle all the passengers than the Sa-
vannah, Thunderbolt and Isle of Hope
| Company could supply, even though ii
should depete it's service in the city in
order to put many extra cars on the
routes to the Fair Grounds.
The tract that is offered is just east OF
| Waters road and extends along the south
| side of Dale avenue. 1t is shown by ac-
companying blue prints 10 be ample in its
dimensions for the construction of a one
mile race course. Mr.. Jackson said tina;
he had the opinion of two men who are ex-
| perts in such matters, and that they had
constructed upon the property for less
money than would need to be expended
upon the track at the Ten Brock tract tc
put it in condition for use.
lone of the gentlemen" said Mr. Jack
son, "a man who has had experience in
such matters after looking over the
ground, told me that he would be glad tc
! give a bond for the completion of a con-
| tract to construct the race track for from
| 50 800 81 GOO I do NOT dOubt that the
work could be done, exclusive of the fenc-
ing, for the larger amount. The fencing
would have to be built at Ten Brock, IN
the event we should accept that site.
1T would be the part of wisdom and
| economy 10 hold the Fair at the Dale ave-
nue. tract, and l think the committee will
so agree, provided satisfactory transpor.
tation arrangements can be made. We
cannot rely upon street cars; there must
| be steam cars as well. Whatever recon-
mendation the Site Committee may make
| will, / believe, be acceptable to the Board
of Directors and it now looks as though
the committee will recommend that the
| Dale avenue tract be chosen.
'The inquiries 1 have made and the sug-
gestions that 1 have received induce mo
to believe that four out of five of the
citizens of Savannah want the Fair held
on the Dale avenue tract. 1t is certainly
! the place for it, if all desired arrange
ments can be made. 1t is so close to the
| city that visitors to the Fair might even
walk the distance, if they so wished. 1
have just received letter from a lady.
who advocates the selection of the Dale
avenue tract 1t is the popular sentiment,
| | think, and it impresses me that ear
should be given to it. Upon this matter
| of the selection of a site, the success Of
the Fair will depend. The committee is
now studying all the questions bearing
upon it, and the decision we reach will
be the result of long and careful study
and personal inspection of the tracts of,
fered
Il do not know just when the commit
tee will meet to settle upon the matter.
| but IL will be soon. Mr.. B. II. Levy, a
member of the committee favors
! the Dale avenue tract, and l think it will
be recommended to the Board of Direc-
! tors"
Maj. G. NJ. Ryals. the third member of
the committee. was seen last night. and
| his view is that he has held from the
| inception of the efforts TO secure a suita-
BILE site. namely that the Ten Brock
race course tract offers the greatest adj
vantages. Maj, Ryals merely asks. he
! says. that the Agricultural and Mechan-
ical Association of Georgia, which owns
/ the tract. grant IL upon favorable terms.
| The advantage OF a race course already
constructed and the means OF communi-
cation with the tract. he believes. marks
! It as the best that could be secured for
! the Fair grounds.
/ -