The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-02-05
BETTER THAN A FACTORY
Proposition for Big Race Track
is up to Norfolk.
VIEWS OF SOME BUSINESS MEN
G. A. Luikart, President Of the Com.
merciaI Club, is Heartily in Favor
Of Accepting the offer-Public Park
is Much Needed Here.
[From saturday,s Dnllv.l

with their stables of excellent ami |
mails, to Norfolk Before a meeting
of the commercial club can be held, |
a call must be presented to the pres
ident, G. A. Luikart, signed by at
least five members. And before any
thing of definite nature will be
done, the business men must meet
and decide about what they want to
do.
Before he left Norfolk, John Kay,
who was in the city to investigate
conditions and see what might be
done toward receiving support from
the business interests of the city,
talked the matter over with President
Luikart of the commercial club and
stated to him something definite in
the way of proposition.
THE Kays would like to come to
Norfolk" said Mr.. Luikart, "and will
do so If the people of the city will
offer inducements such as they have
a right to expect. They will come
providing the city will donate half
of their expenses at the outset. After
that, in all future race meetings and
the like, the track will be self-sup-
porting and they will ask for nothing.
What Will Be Done.
"The plan is to buy the twenty
acres of land where the race course
now is. This is held at $4,000. Four
acres of this they will set aside-four
acres at one end of the grounds, to
be public park open at all times and
absolutely free for the use of the
people of the city. In this park will
be planted trees and flower beds and
walks and all of those things which
go to make a park attractive. The
Kays will sign a contract to give Nor
folk the free use of this park for
twenty years and will probably agree
to turn it over to the ownership of
Norfolk at the end of that time for
consideration.
"They will raise the race track one
foot. This will be great expense
but it will make the track one of the
finest in the commonwealth.
"They will erect a grand stand and
amphitheater, which will be ample
for the seating of any number of per-
sons who might be gathered at a
racing meet. Just inside the driving
track will be laid out a baseball park
which can be used absolutely free by
the Norfolk players at any and all
times.
"At the far end of the grounds they
will build long row of substantial
stables for their blooded animals and
around the entire twenty acres they
will erect a high board fence which
will act as a wall to make the
grounds absolutely tight.
"All of the buildings on the grounds
will be painted nicely and everything
will be maintained in a perfect way
so that it will be a credit to Norfolk.
1t is estimated that the expense of
improvements would be about $4,000
The entire amount, then, which Nor
folk is asked to raise would be $4,000
Returns From Money.
I'm return for this investment of
$4,000" continued the commercial
club president, Norfolk would get
value received every single year.
The Kay brothers will guarantee to
give a race meeting every year.
They will further guarantee purses
amounting to $4,000 out of their own
pockets-putting up $400 and guaran-
teeing the rest. For these fall race
meetings Norfolk will not be asked
to contribute one cent. The entire
amount that the city is asked to put
up is the $4,000 at the outset and
the whole affair will take care of it.
self thereafter. They will sign a con-
tract to give these races for five years
at least.
Il estimate" said Mr.. Luikart, that
Norfolk's returns will come in the
shape of the crowds which this fall
race meeting will bring each year.
With such horses as Shade On which
went down onto the grand circuit and
cleared up a magnificent $4,000
prize; with Shadie Beattie and a
large number of other fine steppers
which are owned and controlled by
these horsemen, there is no question
in the world that several thousand
people would be drawn to Norfolk.
A three-day meet would bring 1000
the first day, 5000 the second and
5000 the last. That would be 10000
people. They would spend at least
81 apiece in Norfolk, making $4,000.
In that $4,000 for one time only Nor
folk would get back its $4,000 invest
ment. For at least one-third of the
$4,000 would be profit, putting the
original cost into the pockets of those
who first gave.
1T is self evident that those who
would receive the greatest benefits
should be the ones to donate the most
literally The saloons, restaurants
and hotels should raise a good half
of the amount That would be $1,000.
And the other $1,5OO should be raised
by the merchants of the city, the
property owners and all of the citi.
zens in general.
Public Park Free.