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. j i A NfcW ST. LOUIS TRACK. A deal for the lease of the St. Lonis County Fair Grounds nea Dwyor by the bookmakers who were arrested several months ago at Wellstdn will probably be completed today at Clayton. This statement is made on the authority of 3heriff Peter Korth of Clayton, who is one of the directors in the St. Lonis County Fair Ass cition. Arrangements for the completion of the deal have been in progress for several mrntbs. In fact shortly after the Wpllston b kies wpre fined ,C0O each by Judge Hirzel for condncting a gambling game in St. Lonis county a proposition was made to them by the directors of the Fair Association suggesting that they lease the Fair Grounds and condnct a race meeting under a state license, which would render them exempt from arrest by the connty authorities. Edward Fitzgerald, one of the bookmakers, was at Clayton yesterday to complete the deal bat did not succeed, owing to the absence of eeveral people. A party of bookm-ikers inspected the Fair Grounds last Sunday in company of President Hancbeasteiu and several directors of the association. It ceems that when the grounds were purchased several years ago from a Mrs. Clymer a stipulation was insarted in the contract to the affect that no batting should ever be allowed on the grounds It is said that Mrs. Cymer is now willing to waive ber objections, but her brother, Edward Von Schrader, is Btill averse to permitting the meeting to take place. The bookiea have made an offer of ,500 per annum for the grounds for a certain number of years. In addition they offer to increase the length of tlx track to a mile, build a new grandstand and mike other improvements costing in the aggregate about 5,000. The directors of the association say they see in this offer an opportunity to enhance the value of their property and also to reduce their indebtedness. It is no secret that financially the St. Lonis County Fair Association is in a bad way. Their patronage fur the last several yearB has , not been sufficient for the premiums offered, 1 and thoir debt has increased nntil it now reaches nearly 4,000. At the fair this year . ribbons only will be offered as premiums. Daring the throa days that the fair is in progress i the bookios have agreed to race their horses . without batting. The meeting will not bo oponed until about tho 1st of September, after tbe close of the regular ninety-day season at tho St. Louis Fair : Grounds. By that time the necessary Improve-j ments can ba made. St. Louis Republic.
