The Washington times., 1909-06-22
ASSURES SUCCESS
:. Of FAIRGROUNDS
nc
-.Thirty-one Will Be Opened
- as Result of Button
sn Day.
STATEMENT MADE
~ BY ARTHUR MOSES
sMacfarland Announces That Even
More Pressure Will Be Brought
IS on Congress.

Thirty-one school and municipal play
grounds will be open in washington
Rext Tuesday as a result of the success
which attended Button Dav Yesterday.
s. This is the substance Of a statement
made today by Arthur c. Moses vice
Cpresident of the Fairgrounds Associa-
lion, who declared that the funds now
In the hands of the association and in
ssight are sufficient to make It absolute
~ certain that all of the school and
municipal Fairgrounds will be opened,
AS originally intended. on June q.
Whether all thirty-one Fairgrounds
can be maintained throughout the en-
tire summer remains to be determined
from the funds secured through other
enterprises to be undertaken by the
rassociation, one Of which viii be a
Baseball game and another an excur-
sion down the Potomac.
Use for Surplus.
If the amount eventually sub
scribed is in excess Of the $4,000
(Which is needed to maintain the school
and municipal Fairgrounds, three ad-
ditional grounds viii probably be
opened later in the summer.
Six thousand dollars is now be-
flieved to represent the approximate
amount of the funds secured yester-
day through Button Day.
While gratified at he results of But
ton Day Commi SsiOner Macfarland
Fannounced this morning that deter
mined effort viii be made by the Com
Tnissioners at the next session of Con-
gress to provide an appropriation SUI
ncient for the support Of the play
grounds.
THE Button Day results are admir-
able and characteristic Of the public
spirited citizens of Washington" said
The Commissioner.
Feels Hopeful.
Il feel very hopeful that Congress
will appreciate what has been done and
provide an adequate appropriation for
maintenance next year It must be re-
membered that Congress has made ap-
preparations for the Fairgrounds in the
past, but II ought to provide for these
outdoor schools, just as II provides for
the rest of the public education. This is
done by a large cities and towns, incIud-
ing those smaller in population than
Washington, and it ought to be done
here.
The. people Of Washington have dem
Tonstrated that Fairgrounds are needed,
Just as they demonstrated at the be-
5ginning OF the last century that public
schools were needed and at the end Of
the century that kindergartens were
needed. Congress would not think Of
asking the citizens to maintain the
gBubhc schools or the kindergarten By
individual contributions. realizing that
they are the proper objects for support
by the whole body Of taxpayers and the
National Government"
Moses Well Pleased.
None Of the officers Of the association
would venture an opinion today as to
the probable amount collected Yesterday,
but IL is believed that the $1,000 turned
in last night VIII be doubled. All, re-
turns viii be finally gone over by this
evening or tomorrow, and announce
ment as to the total proceeds viii be
made tomorrow by Ar. Moses.
1T was q success SAID Mr. Moses
today. The citizens OF Washington
have shown once more what splendid
spirit they have. / would Ike to GRASP
them ali by the hand. Both men
women and children proved themselves
iI.defatigible workers and it was the
Splendid cooperation and unity OF pur-
pose and determination that turned the
day into a great victory
II was announced by Mr.. Moses that
The association had abandoned It's Origi-
nal intention TO give minstrel perform
ance with the view Of securing funds
for the Fairgrounds. The association
will begin preparations Immediately,
however, he declared, to make a sue
cess of the baseball game, which is to
be played this month between teams
representing the Washington Chamber
pf Commerce and Board of Trade.
The Potomac river excursion viii be
fmade some time in July, and will prob
sabIy mark the last OF the assoc atoms
Eeffcrts C raise funds.
; Work viii be commenced tomorrow il
fmaking final preparations for the open
ing OF the thirty-one Fairgrounds next
TUESDAY.