The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-28
General Counsel Blair Authorized
by Executive Committee to
Begin Proceedings.
NO PROGRESS IN CATLIN DEAL.
President Thomas Wright of Park
View Realty Company Says
No Proposition Has
Been Received.

Papers In a suit for the condemnation OF
a part of the lesson tract, which lies be-
tween the Washington University tract and
property recently acquired by the Exposition
management. are being prepared by General
Counsel James l.. Blair OF the Exposition
Company.
These proceedings were authorized at the
last meeting Of the Exposition Executive
Committee, to be brought against Mrs.
Laura lesson and other heirs, who are own
ers of long strip of property extending
from Skinker road west to Pennsylvania
avenue. a distance Of about 400 feet.
The section of ground which the bxpoa-
tion company will ask to have condemned,
in case that Mrs. Tesson does not lease her
property before the suit is tried, compris
es the end OF the property on Skinker poad,
extending 1880 feet west, the full width OF
the tract This section contains about ten
or twelve acres.
The entire lesson tract hes between
Washington University tract controlled by
the Exposition and the Ss0 acres OF private
land recently acquired as part Of the FAR
site. Without a right-of-way across the
lesson property, such as the Exposition
management desires in the LOO feet, two
great physical divisions Of the site would
be wholly separated.
have been carried on for some time between
Mrs Laura lesson and President Francis
of the Exposition Company. 1t is stated
that Mrs Tesson asked about $1,000 an acre
for the use of the ground sought oy the Ek-
position. The outside $50 acres owned pS
the Sllinker De Mum and Mafitt estates
was secured for less than 500 an acre
The Exposition management refused TO
nav such a pric. and gave Mrs. lesson and
her Joint owners until last Thursday to
give a positive answer to a direct proposi-
tion for the land. That DAY expired anu
been received from Mrs. lesson Mr.. Blair
is expected to file the papers in the con-
Gemnatiou suit any day OF the coming
week.
1t is proposed to place the French nation
al pavilion and its landscape effects on Sax
or seven acres of the lesson tract in the
event that the suit is decided in favor Of the
EXPOSITION Company. The other space
would be used for various purposes. The
French pavilion. according TO the under
standing with Commissioner General La
grave would occupy the extreme end OF the
lesson tract where 1t abuts Skinker road.
The Indications yesterday at the Admins
tration building gave little hope OF the ac-
quirement of the Catin tract by the Expo
sition. This forecast was borne out last
night by a statement made by Thomas
Wright. president OF the Park View Realty
Company. owners of the Catlin tract Mr..
Wright said:
we have no proposition to make to the
direct proposition and therefore have no re-
ply TO make TO them. There are no nego-
tiatons going on between the Park View
Realty Company and the Exposition Com
pany looking to the requirement OF the Cat
lin tract. go away TO New York tonight.
but the proposal of the Rock Islend Off
cials with respect TO terminals at the Expo
sition gates and the depression OF the
tracks Of that line will be considered while
am gone. and when conclusions have been
reached a definite reply will be made to
President Leeds of that railway"
Failure OF the Exposition management 10
secure the Catlin tract for the Midway"
features would cause the management to
look elsewhere for a location which would
exact sufficient revenue from the conces-
sionnaires to make these returns one OF the
heaviest earnings of the Fair. 1t was
learned Yesterday that the mana cement had
not considered the Midway location. but
that, in view OF the probable failure to OBJ
tain the Catln tract. the matter would be
taken up soon by the Executive Commit
tee.
An official of the Exposition has suggested
a location which for choice, in respect to
surroundings and novelty Of prospect. may
recommend its position to the Executive
Committee. If carried into effect this plan