The Washington herald., 1918-05-11
CUMBERLAND Is.
AFTER BATTLE
Chamber of Commerce
Solidly Backs Up Pro-
ject for Big Fight.

Cumberland. Nd, May 1o.-An the
talk here IL about the Willard Fulton
prizefght The Chamber Of Com
merce Is solidly back Of the project
for Cumberland and big money has
already been contributed to be put
up as forfeit for the scrap. States
Attorney ]. Philip Roman IL In Pitts
burgh with a wad of ready money TO
put UP IL he can secure the bout here.
1t Ii reported that Cumberland will
get 1t, although confirmation OF this
Is hard to obtain. The sport element
here, which is large, is back OF the
movement and a man is rather I'm
popular who speaks against the prize
fight coming here. However, there
Is a rift within the Lutte" already, as
expressed by a local paper today:
1T Is known that Roman and others
interested in putting Cumberland on
the map are in Pittsburgh to achieve
this result, but as to putting Cum
berland on the map I'm this way there
Ii quite diversity of opinion. De-
spite the fact that the principals in
volved promised to donate some OF
the gate receipts to war work. tncre
Ii rift within the lutte in the fact
that there Is bad taste to war money
here. Cumberland wants all the ad-
vertising possible; but does Cumber-
land require sport element publicity
that has been turned down by other
cities? The war chest would un-
doubtedly be filled to overfowing by
Allegheny county people even II the
Willard-Fulton prizefight missed Cum
berland. is the opinion Of many rep
resentatiye citizens here" says the
local morning newspaper.
Those who have kept in close touch
with matters regarding CumbeIland's
interest IN the affair are ready to
concede that this city will land the
bout, and are expecting every minute
to receive the word that agreements
have been signed.
1t is estimated that approximately
5000 people will be attracted to the
city from every section of the coun-
try who will come here to witness the
battle for the heavyweight champion
ship crown. and stories Of the fight
bearing the dateline, Cumberland.
Nd" will be flashed not only to every
part OF the country, but throughout
the world.
In the event Cumberland Is selected
as the place TO stage the fight Willard
will come here six weeks before to
complete his training and, consequent
ly, thousands OF people interested in
the match and the champion will visit
Cumberland between then and July T.
In addition to the great number Of
visitors that will be attracted to the
city, much money will be spent and
II has been conservatively estimated
that approximately sl,o0O,ooO will be
placed in circulation here between the
time Willard begins his training and
the date of the bout. This money will
go into the pockets of the business
men of the city and the best point
about 1t is that 1t will remain here.
1t is planned to erect an arena at a
point near the Six-mile House. which
is six miles out from Cumberland.
where acreage enough can be secured
to accommodate a crowd such as at
tends sporting events of this nature.
Much lumber will be consumed in the
enterprise, which, according to pres
ent plans, will be salvaged after the
bout and the proceeds derived will be
turned over to the Red Cross.