New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-11-16

AS the day appointed for the opening Of the
great agricultural fair to be held in this city is near
At hand, cursory glance at the fair grounds will
not De unintereslIng. A drive Of fifteen minutes
rom the CRESCENT office brings US to the main
gate on GentilIy road, and upon pass ing the lodge
we were. agreeably surprised at the animated
scene which presented itself to our Yit'w. Large
and substantial buildings and sheds w ere being
completed in every direction on the grounds,
Whlle hundreds of wOrkmen were digging ditch
ing and arranging the remaining spaces ! and
positive assurance from Capt Slocomb IL 'at all
would be in readiness by Tuesday next. houId
satisfy the most skeptical.
ne Far Grounds were formerly known as the
, Creole Race Course" situated 10 the Third Dis
SFlct, with Esplanade street on the one side and
uentIy road onthe other. 1t comprises 10 acres.
ahu has TWO large main entrances; one on Gentilly
road, which will be exclusively used for the car.
rage way, and the other on Esplanade street. |
mhich VIII pc the principal entrance for foot pas
sengers. The grounds are completely Ieyeed, and
enclosed with high fencing, and we ventura the |
assertion that there is no handsomer and better
adapted site for an agricultural fair in this |
country.
The heavy rain of Tuesday and Wednesday af7 |
not prevent the managers from Continuing theiTE
"ork, ana the somewhat damp state of the grounds
suggested an Improvement iu the way Of complete |
aFSlnage. 70 y. N. iyens, ESD, of this city, the
pubic, as well as the fair subscribers and mana
gers are much indebted for the entire solving of
tlis question: He has placed one of his Tafnense
centrifugal drainage pumps, with heavy forcing
engine, at 1ne disposal OF the association, and his
Kind 0iler has been accepted. The pump and
engine has been placed at the side of the grounds in
the cid gr1veinrear Of the old booth and club house
The water from all parts of the grounds drained
to the large ditch that skirts the enclosure, and
from TINS IS thrown by the pump into an outsNle
ditch which runs into the main city canal. The
is perfect, and insures dry Haikna
and driving over the entire place.
Ihe arena j. the largest in this country. il is an
eighth Of mile in diameter It will seat l0.O0D
persons, while 10000 can find standing room and
space to promenade upon the balcony top, which
runs back and around twenty-sx feet from the
upper seat of the circle The arena or circle seats
ascend, in a slanting position, from the ground to
Gether form most beautiful aHpitheater. Un-
Ger the balcony and seats are arranged sixty
booths, fronting on the outside. They are in size
II by rs feet and will be used only for the sale Of
confectionery, ice cream, vines and soda water,
but no other liquors. In the center of the wing
of the arena pagoda is erected. Here the band
VIII discourse sweet music; and the Judges an
nouRee their decisions as to the merits Of the varf
Gus exhibitions in the arena, of stock, cattle etc.
The building will be decorated with fags and en-
blems of all nationaties the flag of the Fair Asso.
citation Surmounting all the rest. The arena is but
fifty feet from the Gentilly road entrance and
those visiting the fair in carriages and hacks after
entering the gate and alightiig from their yeh-
oles, have but short distance to walk before
reaching it, The foot passengers, by the Esplan-
ade gate, have direct dry w2lk from the gate to
9hese convenient accesses to the main exhibition
and promenade building are very desirable, and
show the good Judgment of thofair managers.
The St. James Hotel, under the management of
Gen Smedes and Col Hamilton, of the st. James
Hotel, of this city is feature Of the Fair Grounds
that needs special notice. The building is situated
near the center of the grounds,swheh the grand
avenue or race track encirole. 1t is about $50
feet in length and 200 feet wide, and built in
octagonal style, with dome roof, the center or
highest point of which is over a hundred feet.
The covering is Of the best prepared tarpaulens
the dOorways are protected in the same way so
that in case of rain the hotel is kept completely
dry.
In fair weather, the tarpauins which cover the
doOrways are thrown upon the roof, forming a
complete pavilion of the entire dining, bar, and
rooms. The flooring is raised several
feet from the ground, so that whie eating dinner,
view may also be had of theinteresting surround
ings. The bar room is eighty,BY one hundred and
sixty feet, and will be fitted up in the bestmanner
The dining room contains eight long tables, and it
is estimated that three hundred and fifty persons
can be seated at Que time. The store-room and
pantry and the Office, are at the east end OF the
hotel While the kitchen will be situated in the
south corner-a building adjoining the main hotel
having been erected for this purpose Elegant
Marquee tents are also erected adjoining
the hotel, and in direct communication with
the kitchen and dining rooms. In these
tents private parties can order their meals or
Refreshments as they choose, and any hour tn ~
see fit. In fact, the Fair Grounds St. James Hotel
is complete affair." and the, well-knOwn ability of
General Smedcs and Colonel Hamilton to keep
a hotel,' insures satisfaction, in advance, to- all
its patrons. On the last; day of the exhibition
General Smedes designs giving a dramatic per
fornance and a barbecue, the proceeds from
which he VIII present to the Southern Hos
pitt Association for Disabled Soldiers. Theregu-
lar dinner hour at the hotel viii be from IA D P.
M. A large burgee will lily from the roof Of the
hotel, so that can miss its locality.
On the right or east side of the GENTLY GnsranCe
is the handsome conserVatOry-a most beautifully
designed glass hot house. 1t is Ihirty-t five feet
high sixty feet long end twenty-five feet wide,
and is filed with the most rare and choice flowers.
All around the conservatory, and extending dowE
the east side of the enclosure, is flower garden,
1t has not been under cultivation a year, bnt only
requires to be seen to be admired, and will not he
the least visited portion of the grounds, by any
means. Southeast of this conservatory and gar.
den is, the association building, WHARF the mana
gers, subscribers, stockholders, Judges and e8pe-
ciallE invited guests alone have entree. 1t is u
small neat dwelling, and is familiar to all the
habitues Of the odraCe track
On the southeast side of the grand aVenue are
o number of large and handsome, buildings, sub.
stantially ersctGd> the boarded roofs being GOV
cred with tarnauins, They araas follows; The
Mechanical Department Building, 100 feet in diam
eter: here all kinds of tools and various mechanE
cal inventions, stoves, ETC., %il be placed for eS
hbtion and sale Another large building, 150 b.
go fleet, adjoining this, will be devoted TO paint
ings, laaies, work, embroidery, quilts, preserves
and all nick-nacks, together with sewing
machines, etc. The third adjoining building l5
by &C. feet will be devoted,to the exhibition Of al
patent samples of machtnery, agricultural imple
ments, cott0ngns, planiRg and saving mills il
patent samples, etc., etc. Then beyond thes
three large buildings, on the same side Of tn
grand avenue, is another buildings los hg 30 feet
which is for the exhibition of carriages, wagons
carts, and in fact, all kinds Of vehicles The
still fHrther, and beyond the EsplanafA entrance
are four large ground floor baildings especial
h a., ~ lfpHy bi,.N