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NASHVILLES TIMELY MOVE. BUSINESS MEN OF THE CITY TO TAKE OVER CUMBERLAND PARK PROPERTY. Will Foster the Sport of Racing in Tennessee Stakes and Purses to be Increased To - . Develop the Social Side. I- New Orleans, La., January 10. Secretary J. W. Ilusswurm. of the Tennessee Breeders Association, who is here attending the meeting of the American Turf Association, brings cheering word not only that lie believes the racing situation to Itc entirely safe in Tennessee, but that a project long under consideration has been consummated at Nashville, which will insure the safety of the turf at Nashville and at Memphis for the future. This is the purchase by the Merchants Association of the Cumberland racetrack, the consideration .toeing 20,000. This deal has been under way for the last six months or more, in fact it has been talked of for two or three years. Mr. Ilusswurm says that all that remains to lie done is the signing of the transfer papers, which will be accomplished in the next day or two. The Merchants Association Is practically the Board of Trade of Nashville, made up by the consolidation of the two business mens clubs there. It will bring into the new organization about 400 of the leading business men of Nashville and vicinity, who will see to it that no spoil-sport law will again have a clean walkover in the legislature. By the terms of the transfer a working fund derived from the sale of stock will be in the bauds of a directorate composed of the business men for the next leu years. It is the purpose to establish a big State Fair at Nashville, which will be held ill. the. .aututim cr period-of-ten-tfrtyii; otf inore,. and at which both harness and running races will be given. The spring race meeting will le continued, but both the slakes and purses, Mr. Ilusswurm states, will be increased in value. In the transfer the Merchants Association absorbs the old Tennessee Breeders Association, the holdings of the latter body figuring as stock in the new concern. Messrs. ltohiusou and Overton, the biggest owners in the old club, will each have 0,000 worth of stock In the itew body. It Is Intended to develop the social side of racing at Nashville, and to that end a Country Club will be formed and the clubhouse kept- open all the year around, This is the most important turf move that has occurred in the west in a long time. It will not only strengthen the Nashville spring meeting, but it will have a beneflcial effect on racing affairs throughout the entire middle west.
