The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-03
DALE AVENUE SITE
SELECTED BY THE DIRECTORS FOR
THE FAIR GROUNDS.
THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE SHOWED
ADVANTAGES FOR THE TRACT.

Rates Can De secured-15 Cents
Rate for the Round Trip Is Want
ed From the PInnt SyStem-COm-
parison of the Ten Brock and the
Dale Avenue Tracts Made by the
Committee-RepOrt of the Civil En-
gineer, MIR. Percy SuEden, Submit
fed-Committee.~ That Will Manage
the Fair.
The State Fair will be held on the Dale
avenue tract. This was determined at
the meeting of the directors of the Fair
Association yesterday. The question has
been practically settled, there being but
one provision left in the authority given
the Site Committee to close contract
with the Merchants and Mechanics Land
Company for the property upon five
years lease. This provision is that sat
isfactory. transportation arrangements be
made.
BY transportation arrangements the
committee is to understand that the
Plant System is to promise rates for the
transportation of freight and passengers
that shall be reasonable. Particularly is
this true of passengers, and an effort will
be made to induce the company to agree
TO name round-trip rate of Is cents from
the city to the fair grounds.
No reason is apparent why such a rate
should not be granted. 1t is believed that
the company will make this concession.
The rate that has been mentioned by the
officials of the Plant System has been %
cents, but that is regarded as too high.
nh Do IN ho
the Fair were held on the Ten Brock
tract, to make rate of Is cents for the
round trip effective, and it is thought
the Plant System can do no less than
meet this figure.
The selection OF the Dale avenue tract
was unanimous, there being not a one
Of the thirteen directors present to vote
against 1t. The report of the site Com
mittee showed, advantages. in favor of the
Dale avenue tract. and those of the direc-
tors who had held out for the Ten Brock
property yielded gracefully and voted for
the other tract. Z
There will be no meeting of the stock
holders to dispose of the site question.
The popular opinion among the stock
holders was that Dale avenue offered the
best place for holding the fair, and, now
that the directors have made that selec-
ton, the stockholders will feel no further
desire for the matter to be left to them.
Those who wanted the meeting felt that
Dale avenue should be chosen and
that done, they see no need for the stock
holders to take up the question. They
are satisfied with the directors DISPOSE
ton of 1t.
Upon the meeting being called to order
by President George w Owens, the Site
Committee reported through its chair
man, Mr.. J. W. Jackson, ais follows;
Your Committee on Site, invested with
the power to employ a surveyor for the
purpose of ascertaining cost. etc, of plac-
ing a race track upon Dale avenue, Ten
Brock and the Screven tracts for the
Fair, went into the matter carefully and
engaged Mr.. Percy Sugden to give an
estimate as to the cost of preparing the
race track. After going over his report,
I'VE find the following facts presented;
The Dale Avenue Site-Rental five
years free; no taxes. Cost of constructing
track, as per estimate, $3.50. Insurance
If any, for the benefit OF the Fair Asso-
citation. An option on the property. All
railroad transportation arranged for both
freight and passenger business. Right of
way obtained for laying tracks Public
opinion Overwhelmingly in favor of this
site.
THE Ten Brock tract-Rental, $1,000
Putting track in perfect order, 81, $50 To-
tai. $3.50 Insurance to be used for re-
building. No option on the property can
be obtained. Public opinion is against the
selection of the site. All railroad trans
portation has been arranged.
I'VE have thoroughly investigated the
matter and now leave the selection of the
site to you or the stockholders. This re-
port, we hope, will be final and a site Sc
lected at once, as We believe delays are
dangerous.
IF the Dale avenue tract is selected,
track Co is recommended by Mr.. Sugden,
that Will allow us to place the grand
stand and Judges stand facing south and
the buildings for fatr purposes will be
on Dale avenue, which, in our opinion, is
most desirable.
''As to the Screven tract. we do not
think II as desirable as either the Ten
Brock tract or the Dale avenue tract,
as there is no really hard road for We
hicles heading up TO it. although they have
obtained promises from the railroad to
make all connections necessary. The
track can be laid upon this place at the
same cost as upon the Dale avenue site.
I'VE feel sure that. in selecting the site.
the best interests of all parties concerned
will be considered. What we want for the
Savannah Fair Association is success, and
the best way to obtain success is 40
select site best suited for the purpose !"
Mr.. Sugden was in attendance upon the
meeting and gave some information. He
said that he thought that the clay need
ed for the Dale avenue track could be
secured from the property. II not, It
could be obtained from the Kehoe prop
erty, just across the avenue, i'm which
case the cost of constructing the track
would be about 81 900 more. No charge
would be made for the clay. but the ex-
pense would be represented in its trans
portation. His survey of the Ten Brock
track showed that IL would require WIDEN
ing and Regarding.
Three tracks were set forth on the Dale
avenue property by MIR. Sugden's sur
vey The cost OF their construction was
estimated as ranging from $3.50 to So, $50.
The least expensive was that decided
upon, as It was also regarded as the most
satisfactory IN other respects.
The committee appointed at the last
meeting TO suggest committees for the
State Fair management reported through
Col. j. II. Estil. chairman. The report
presented amendments to the bylaws and
was adopted There will be the four fol-
lowing committees, appointed by the pres
fdent. with the consent of the directors.
Executive Committee, Committee on Fl
nance. Committee on Grounds and Build
frva 81 y-t.. 4