New-York tribune., 1911-03-06
BLACK DONCASTER
Famous Races Doomed by Amaz-
ing Discovery of Coal.

bring into sudden existence large and nopy-
lous towns within the space OF twelve
months. so will the finding of new and
unsupported coal beds as quickly change
the entire character OF countryside in
/ England. Until last summer Doncaster. in
Yorkshire. was celebrated Ear and wide for
its annual races. while in the county itself
II was looked upon in the light OF an i'm
portant agricultural centre.
Suddenly and unexpectedly enormously
rich beds Of coal have been discovered with
In a radius Of six miles Of Doncaster. They
are pronounced by the most eminent ex-
perts In the United Kingdom TO contain not
merely millions but many billions of tons
Of the finest kind of bituminous coal, equal
/ TO the Welsh, and already twenty different
/ coal pits are being sunk. while new bor-
/ ing operations are in progress. Each pit
affords. roughly speaking, employment for
! some four thousand workers, making, with
/ their families and dependents total OF at
! least ten thousand. Thus twenty coal pits
mean an addition to the population of
| Doncaster Of more than two hundred
| thousand
I The sudden influx Of new population Of
/ two hundred thousand to a countryside
hitherto wholly agricultural constitutes
such radical change and presents so
many important and pressing problems
that representatives Of the government,
also the Archbishop OF York and his suf-
| fragan the Lord Lieutenant. and the High
/ Sheriff Of the county. presidents of various
/ industrial unions as well as the members
Of the Parliamentary Commission on Town
Planning and Housing are in consultation
/ wit Nd - 90
caster. the total population Of which until
year ago was under twenty-six thousand.
One Of the principal results OF this trans
formation of Doncaster from green into
"a black country will be the abandonment
os number o. grand country seats in the
vicinity and the permanent departure Of
their occupants. who ever since the begin
ming of the reign of George III. in the
middle of the eighteenth century. have been
contributing to render the Doncaster races
the most aristocratic in the kinGdom-more
so even than Goodwood, despite the owner
ship Of the track by the Duke of Richmond,
and more so even than Royal Ascot. Year
in and year out the Doncaster races have
filed every country place in that part Of
Yorkshire with all that is most blue blood
ed in the United Kingdom. and an invita-
Z
was considered even more desirable than
one for the Ascot week.
II the Doncaster races are kept up for
some time longer their character will be
wholly changed, and It is probable that
they will within a brief space Of time be
abandoned.
With them will disappear the only races
in the world that are municipal; for the
lracecourse on which the St. Leger has
been run every year since 40 belongs 10
the municipality OF the town Of Doncaster,
which has furnished $4,000 a year as stake
money, besides paying all fees. such as
clerks Of scales, judges, handicappers and
SO on, and yet has managed to clear a
profit Of nearly 10000 a year from the
races The corporation runs the whole
thing in conjunction with the Jockey Club
which is responsible for the technical side
OF the racing; and DOncaster is, to the best
Of my knowledge, the only municipality In
the world that not merely derives revenue
from a racecourse. but actually runs the
race meeting. The finances Of the races
are in charge of the borough accountant
the town clerk is the legal adviser Of the
officers Of the meeting. and the borough
surveyor and his staff attend tc keeping
the racecourse, the stands and the ap-
proaches in proper condition.
OF course, the actual revenue which the
municipality Of Doncaster draws from the
/ Doncaster race meeting and from the ST.
/ Leger race contributes only a small pro-
portion Of the wealth which reaches the
town and it's inhabitants each year through
hundreds of other channels IN connection
with these races and until now it may be
said of the people Of Doncaster that they
have been all well to do, while the rates
and taxes have been 80 per cent less than
the average minimum rate Of other Eng
Iish town and cities. The great influx OF
mining population and the abandonment OF
the races. which have been q source Of so
much prosperity is bound to change all this
before long.
How closely the good people OF Dom
caster were identified with the race meet
ing is shown by the fact that until COM
paratively recent times the fine peal Of
bells OF the grand old parish church Of
Doncaster used 10 be rung on St Leger Day
and was generally rung when the winner
passed the post. Perhaps under the circum-
stances I should add that. in spite Of popu-
lar impression TO the contrary. the parish
church does not bear the name Of St. Leger;
also that the famous race does not take its
name from the church, but from Lieuten-
ant General Anthony St. Leger, to whose
suggestion the founding of the race was
due two years after the proclamation OF
the independence Of the United States.
The ST. Iegers are one Of the Oldest fami-
lies in the United Kingdom. The founder
OF the family, Sir Robert st. Leger, was
one Of the companions in arms Of William
the Conqueror, his name figuring as such in
the roll Of Battle Abbey. In 1ji0 Sir An
thony St. Leger, who was a Knight OF the
Garter. was appointed LORD Deputy OF
ireland. and ever since the -. Legers have
been established in the south Of Ireland.
The head Of the house IS ViscOunt DON
eraile and il was al DOneraile Court in
! County Cork. for centuries the home OF the
81. Legers that the remarkable episode oc-
Cured which led 10 the initiation as a
Free Mason Of the only woman ever ad-
r1itted 10 membership Of the craft. The
woman in question was the Hon. Elizabeth
81 Leger. daughter Of the first Vlscount
Donerslle
Hot Tempered Psternos.
THE PaternOs have always besn noted for
,., ,.iolence OF their passions and for their