Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-09

| suoii through the premises, Win view
giving our readers an idea Of what th'
association has been doing in the way O
improvements, and what may be expected
of the forthcoming Fair, which commences
on the 18th inst. -
THE GROUNDS AND LOCATION.
The grounds purchased by the sssocia.
lion embrace eighty acres, situated about
two miles from the Public Square, west Of
the city, and forming what might be called
an oblong parallelogram in shape. The
grounds are situated between the Harding
pike on the south and tie Charlotte pike on
the north. The eastern boundary is on
the line of W. r. EIliston's beautiful farm,
and on the west is a side track of the
Nashville and Northwestern railroad.
7r HANDSOMELY ENCLOSED.
The grounds are handsomely. enclosed
by close upright fence. The posts used
are of the best red cedar, and are sunk two
and half feet in the ground. They are
six inches square, and five and half feet
apart. The plank used was selected with
great care, eight inches in width and eight
feet in length. The fencing is gothic
topped, and the pickeling being done by
Johnson's pieketing machine, one of our
Nashville inventions, there is uniformity
about the fencing that is noticeable fea.
ture. THIS fencing comprises ten thousand
feet, and the substantial and workmanlike
manner 10 which it il built is credit to
the contractors, Messrs. Haynie & Chiffon.
THE APPROACHES.
The grounds are easy of access, and in
this respect, there could not be any i'm"
provement When we take into consider.
alton the large crowds that attend such
exhibitions, it is proper to make aR esti-
mate az to how the grounds shall be reachH
ed This has been duly considered and
acted upon by the supervisory committee,
and it is safe to say that there will be no
such rush and mixing up of vehicles as we
have seea at our old Fair Grounds From
the Harding pike, there are two ap-
proaches, both Handsomely graded roads,
Of sufficient width to make them doubly
attractive. There is also a wide road
leading from the Charlotte pike, and on
the vest side is the railroad track, which
passes along Immediately in the rear of
the grounds, back Of the amphitheater.
The main carriage entrance is from the
southwest corner, and it is understood that
other entrances will be reserved for those
on foot, aud others having stock for ex
hibition.
THE PRINCIPAL APPROACH.
The popular route 10 the grounds will
be by the railroad. By the enterprise and
liberality of Col. E. w, Cole, the Presi-
dent, aud the directory of the Nashville
and Chattanooga railroad, side.track ID
now in course of construction from the
Nashville and Northwestern railroad.
This track is about quarter of mile in
length, and extends along the western por-
ton of the grounds and stopping but a
few yards from the main entrance to the
amphithester. For the convenience of
visitors by the railroad route, ~
A PLATFORM
Has been erected, over four hundred feet
long. Stepping from the cars TO the plat
form, and but a few steps more, you are
under the shelter of the amphirheater.
This arrangement ic complete, but to be
fully appreciated, visitors must wait for a
rainy day, and then they can form an idea
of the convenience of trip to the Fair
Grounds by the railroad. The cOnstruc-
ton of this side track, which is attended
with considerable cost, is regarded as the
of our great Fair enterprise, and
therefore we feel that the highest prSise
should be extended to Col. Cole and the
Directory of the road. We may add just
here that trains will be run every ten
minutes during the day, thus giving those
who desire to visit the grounds an oppor
tunity TO go and return at pleasure. But
we must hurry on to the improvements
ard will commence with .
t- THE AMPHTTHEATER.
Long before reaching the grounds, the
eyes Of the visitor will fall upon the mans
moth and handsomely. finished amphi-
theater. Pope mot john would say
"There stands structure of majestic frame"
The line from our poet friend of days lang
syne expresses everything. 1t is, indeed,
majestic in appearance, with strength and
beauty combined. Ii is four hundred and
twenty feet long, and laid off in sections,
of which there are thirty-one. In shape
it is a semicircle, of the Swiss cottage
architecture, with a cupols in the centre
of the roof. There are sixteen tiers of
seats, capable of seating comfortably six
thousand persons. and 10 the rear OF the
seats is a grand promenade, thirty feet
wide, capable of holding at least three
thousand more. This smphitheatre is
built on q solid stone foundation, and
from the front is about fourteen
feet high There is another promenade on
the first floor or on the outside of the am
phitheater in front Of the booths, which is
the same in dimensions as the one above.
We are at once struck with the convenience
of everything connected with the amphi-
theater. There are broad stsirways from
the lower to the upper promenade, and al
30 a number of stairways from which you
can ascend from the lower promenade to
the circle. There are also openings at
each end of the promenade, which has al
80 numerous side openings. Everything
in fact is constructed with a view to conve-
nience and for the comfort of visitors.
From the promenade in the second story
il a broad staircase leading to the cupola,
in which there is room forty feet square
and twenty-five feet in height, which will
be occupied by the band !
FINE VIEW. 4
From the cupola we have a Gne view OF
the city and surrounding country. Just
beyond the grounds are the range Of hills
which become q part of the history Of the
country during the memorable fight in
front of Nashville. Within a stones
throw of the amphitheater ia an old. fashS
Toned frame, built and occupied by the
father of Marx r. Cockrin over seventy-fve
wears ago. The outside ia frame, but lined
with brick as defense sgainst the ladians
in the days that tried mems souls. About
half a mile 10 the north is another old
house, the same in which E. H. Chiidress
was born. II, too, is upwards Of
seventy-fye years Of age and
its appearance indicates that it
was constructed when il was fashionable to
build substantial buildings Our own
capitol stands before you, and from this
view appears to fine advantage. But we
are DEPRESSING, as we have not yet finished
our description of the amphithester.
THE BOOTHS
Are under the seats, and have a front on
the ground floor promenade, and the roof
of the amphitheater, We will here say, pro.
iects soma distance over this promenade.
These booths are twenty-one in number,
each fourteen by twenty feet in sizs, de-
cidediy TOomy.
THE DINING HALL
also fronts on the promenade, and is one
hundred and eight feet long, and thirty
feet wide. 1t will contain three rows Of
tabIee, and the renter will be able TO &C,
commo1ate all his friends and the rest of