The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-22
BECK |MNAAKESREPlY
IOFAIR DIRECTORS
Says Entrance Bridge at Grounds
Has Not Sound Tim
Der in 1t.
SAYS BURGWYN is KMocKER
Quotes Hunt as Declining to
Assume Responsibility
for Bridge.

Answering u criticism made on him
by the executive committee OF the
State Fair Association, Building In
spector Beck Issued d statement yes
terday on the condition of the foot
bridge over the railway tracks en-
tering the Virginia State Fair Grounds
in which he reiterates that the bridge
is unsafe for further use. lie asserts
that II has not n thoroughly sound
timber in it, ana that Contractor Hunt
who recently repaired 1t for the Fair
Association. had asserted to him In
the presence of three witnesses that
he would not assume any RESPONSE
oility for it's stability, notwithstand-
ing the patching which had been done,
Went at Request of Directors.
Mr.. Beck asserts that he went TO
tn grounds only on the urgent soil
citation OF the directors of the Fair
Association and in the course of his
statement refers to Colonel c. p. Bur.
gwyn as one who had fought his Of
fee since It's creation, never missing
an opportunity to appear as an EEK
pert" against its rulings.
The bridge itself, Mr.. Beck asserts
is sagging as much as six inches Over
and above the question of Its struc-
tural strength, 1t is regarded as an
awkward and dangerous method of en-
trance to the grounds, and one that
constantly subjects the public to dan
[ r from accident and panic, and the
Building Inspector is firm in his
recommendation that some steps be
taken 10 secure a new and more con
venient mode of access to the grounds
before another fair
Issues Written Statement.
The written statement issued yes
tnsiaV hV the Pnildin1y In fnl-
lows in full:
The lengthy statement appearing
in Saturday mornings Times-Dispatcl
from the directors Of the Virgini;
state Fair Association. accompanie,
by letters from the 'triumvirate.' c. p
l.. Burgwyn. A I. Hunt and +. W
scarborough, would go unnoticed b!
me except for the inaccuracies anc
Misrepresentation II contained.
In the very FIRST place il must b.
borne IN mind that / have never at
tempted TO assume any Jurisdiction
over the State Fair Grounds excep
upon and at the earnest solicitation
of the board of directors of the Vir
ginia state Fair Association them
selves, and that 1 have only gone int,
print when / became satisfied that tn.
orders OF this office were being disre
garded by the Fair Association ant
the public safety teoperdized thereby
and for this action ! have no apolog,
10 make.
Not n sound Timber in II.
in regard to the present condition
CT this bridge and its future efic.enc,
as a channel through which the Fai
Grounds must be entered, I must sa,
that the attempt of the Fair AssocIa
tion 10 Justify the use Of this brids,
is q very bold Undertaking. even wheI
backed by such authorities as Colone
c. +. L. Burgwyn, +. w. Scarborough
and A L. Hunt. because am satisfied
that any one who will examine this
bridge Will be unable TO find a thor
oughly sound piece OF timber in tn.
entire structure.
After my interview with Mr.. Spil
man, concerning the botched attemp
al repairing this bridge. Mr. Hun
came into my office and in the pres
ence of reputable witnesses admitted
the bad condition of the bridge. an,
regretted that he had attempted I,
repair 1t, and wound up by saying tina.
he certainly declined to assume an,
responsibility for its stability. and We
in your issue of to-day he change
front entirely, and attempts to bolste,
Up a very weak case b. some tremen
dous Misrepresentation
BurEwyn Opposed TO Beck
81 do not think that any one excen
the directors OF the Virginia Stat,
Fair Association will look serIousi,
upon the report of Colonel C. P Z. Bur
gwyn. the unbiased engineer, for If
mistake not, the colonel is the same
person who appeared in the POLES
Court few weeks ago in the Mon IL
cello Hall condemnation proceedings
and after a great effort and length,
explanations, declared the totterini
walls of the Monticello Hall were per
fectly safe. The fact is that a portion
of these same walls collapsed within ;
few days
Nor is It the first time that tn.
colonel has appeared in opposition L
the rulings OF this office. for he ha.
never lost an opportunity to appear a.
an expert witness for the opposins
faction, and never failed to knock tn,
head o. this Office at any and every
opportunity. for what reason l know
not.
The directors of the Fair Associa tior
state in their card that Mr.. Hunt ha:
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