The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-30
To DISCUSS FAIR
DIRECTORS MEET
1904 FAIR FOR SAVANNAH.
WILL BE TALKED OF AT MEETING
OF RACING ASSOCIATION.


Sentiment of Merchants Is in Favor
of Another Fair-Advantnges That
VIII Accrue from Beginning
EARLY - Would Obviate Diff
hcuIties Encountered Last Year.
Horsemen Want Permanent Track
EstabIished-Benefit Would Re-
suit TO savannah.
At O'Clock this afternoon the board
of directors of the Savannah Racing
Association will meet in the Chamber
Of Commerce rooms to discuss the adj
visibility of holding race meet in
Savannah this year. Though the di-
rectors are not willing to commit
themselves previous to the meeting
there is a general feeling in favor of
holding another fair this year.
At the close of the fair and race-meet
last year interviews with the leading
merchants of the city showed that
they had benefited greatly by it
and that they were in favor of
another fair this year. Much mon
ey was spent in the Savannah bust
ness and mercantile houses by visitors
to the fair and it is probable that with
the bettered conditions that can be
made this year, even greater crowds
can be secured.
The matter will be discussed in all
its retails, and every phase of the
question brought out. With the mer-
chants and horsemen speaking in IA
vor of it, it is probable that the direc-
tors will vote to hold a similar meet
and carnival. Another great advantage
resulting from such projects is the
wide advertising which the city gains
The railroads scattered the announce
ment through a large territory and
brought Savannah prominently before
the people of many sections.
Not Too Early to Begin.
Mr.. Joseph F. Doyle, secretary Of the
1903 fair in speaking of the
meeting, said: I'VE will discuss
the project from all sides and probably
take definite action regarding holding
the race meet. 1t is not considered
too early to begin making arrange
ments, as many advantages accrue
from an early start. Much that work
ed against the fair last year would
have been obviated If the matter had
been started earlier.
Zone of the chief advantages of an
early start is the matter of dates. Last
year we were compelled to take dates
on which there was no counter attrac-
ton in the same line and this threw
US late in the season, and close to the
Macon Fair. The ways in which TINS
worked against us are too well known
to need repetition. With the experience
gained from last years work, am con-
fident that a similar project this year
can be made an unqualified success"
Msy Discuss Establishing Track.
1t may be that the matter of estab-
fishing a track here similar to those
at New Orleans and other leading race
centers will be taken up. The unquali-
fed advantages of Savannah as set
forth by the horsemen who trained
their horses here has brought the mat
ter prominently before the people, and
there is believed to be considerable
sentiment in favor of the project
In speaking of the matter a horse
man said: "I believe the establishment
of such a track would result in in
estimable benefit to the city. brief
summary of what would be gained
should be sufficient to convince any
one of the desirability of such move.
I'm the first place every horse that
would be brought here, and from the
unqualified Endorsements of horsemen
who have visited the city, there would
be many, represents three men, the
owner, the trainer and an attendant,
or jockey, and sometimes both. All
of these men, which would be con-
siderable, must be fed, and this money
would be spent with Savannah mer-
chants. The feed for the horses would
also be bought in this city.
Income from Pool Rooms.
"The money from the pool rooms
would also be a large figure. At pres
ent there are nearly 200 pool rooms in
the country that would be only too |
glad to take the Savannah races. Each |
of these pay the track $40 per day, |
making $4,000 per day. or 100000 per
month, that would come to Savannah. |
In addition there would be the large |
fees of the Western Union, the greater |
part of which would be spent in the |
city.
1.-THE attendance at the races would |
be all clear gain to the track manage
ment, as the fees from pool rooms |
would more than pay the expenses. !
Then, too. the track would attract |
many visitors here who would spend |
money ~liberally, and the large fees |
paid by the local bookmakers would |
net considerable more gain. / am very |
anxious to see the matter taken up, |
and believe that IL adopted incalcula-
ble benefit would accrue to Savan-
nah.
another matter Of no small conse-
quence to the city would be the wide
advertising that would result. Every |
paper Of any consequence in the coun-
try would report the results of the |
races and daily the name OF Savannah |
would appear In all of them. What
this will mean, the mere reference OF
New Orleans and other racing centers