The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-21


committee of the Virginia State Fair
Association, composed of j. L. Ander-
son. Samuel Cohen, l. o. Miller, Leigh
II. Page and NJ. C. Patterson. held for
the purpose of considering two arti-
Giles appearing in The Times Dispatch
of October IA and Is, in which Build
Ing Inspector H. P. Beck was quoted
as saying that the bridge over tho
Richmond, fredericksburg and Poto-
mac and Seaboard Air Line Railroad
tracks was unsafe, and gave as his
'$iltimatum" that IL should not be
used again. the following statement
was given out yesterday by the com
mittee:
short time after the close OF the
fair of last year $500 u communica-
ton was received by the association
from Mr.. II. p. Beck In reference 10
the further use Of the foot bridge over
the Richmond. fredericksburg and
Potomac and SeaD0ard Air Line Rail-
roads trocks. and or the kitchen under
the grandstand. ana the committee
fully realizing, however. that Mr.. Beck
had no authority or jur 'sdictlon in tho
matter. but anxious TO adopt any sug-
gestion that might subserve the con-
venience OF Its patrons. took up the
subject with the Virginia Railway and
Power Company OF having that com
pany extend It's lines over the railroad
tracks into the Fair Grounds
No Stove Under Grnndstnnd.
After discussing the matter at
some length. II WAS deemed Inexpedl-
ent by the Railway and Power Com
pany and the association to attempt
TO do anything at that time on ac-
count of the fact that the city was
then contemplating widening the Bou-
levard out TO Bryan Park, which pro-
Jet. II carried out. would materially
AFFECT the situation. The matter was
taken up not through any fear on the
part OF the committee that the bridge
was unsafe. but with the view of hav-
Ing the street cars cross the railroa 4
tracks and deposit their passengers
within the Fair Grounds FOR their own
convenience. The committee ordered
the Kitchen TO be removed from under
the grandstand. and no fire has since
! been kindled there.
Early this year Mr.. r wortham
Spiiman. member OF the grounds and
p.uiloings committee OF this associa-
| by him that 1t would be entirely safe
TO use the bridge this year II certain
repairs were made. Shortly thereafter
MT A. l. Hunt who had done in a
.
work for the association. was request
ed to make. under the supervision of
Mr.. L. w. Scarborough, formerly chief
engineer OF bridges for the Chesapeak c
pairs as were necessary to make the
bridge thoroughly safe. Some time be
Tore the opening Of the gates this year
iooth OF these gentlemen reported to
the association that the work Of re-
pairing and strengthening the bridge
had been done In thorough manner.
and that 1t was absolutely safe
Snys 1t Hurt Attendance.
THE committee feels that in taking
great. responsibility of the occasion
called for. and 1t is at loss to UNI
derstand why Mr.. Beck. believing. as
I he now says he did that the bridge
WAS unsafe at the time of the fair. did
not protest against Its being used on
those days when the crowds were
eating with the association. gave out
to the public the interviews above re-
ferred to. The committee Is Informed
that in other communities enterprises
similar to the fair receive the aid and
assistance of both the private indi-
viduals and public officers, while here
different view seems to exist at least
in some quarters. for the first inter
view by Mr. Beck. appearing as it did
before the fair closed. necessarily in
jured the attendance, besides seriously
rejecting upon the management of the
association which. II nothing else can
be said in Its behalf. gives It's time
and labor gratuitousIy to the enter
| prise.
Although the committee had the
assurance from Messrs. F. ". Scar
borough and 4. l.. Hunt that the bridge
was absolutely safe before the gates
were allowed to be opened and was
not aware, as is above stated, that
| Mr.. Beck thought the bridge unsafe, in
order to set at rest this question for
| all time. 1t has employed Mr.. c. p. Z.
/ Burgwyn, a competent and skilled civil
engineer, who has had no part In the
| controversy, to make q practical and
scientific report on the bridge, which
report. together with letters from Mr..