The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-05-11
THE STATE FAIR AT OTTAWA
The Preparation of the Ground.

The Preparation of the Ground.
What 10 Doins and What 10 to be Done.
After the purchase of the ground upon
which the State Fair is to be located at Otta-
wa for the next two years, and the decision to
have mile track, We had little to say about
the fair grounds until the necessary time
should have elapsed to get the plans and
specifications ready more in detail for the pre-
paration of the grounds to receive what We
all expect will be the most imposing and sue
cessful agricultural exhibition ever held in
this state.
The plans and drawings are now finished
and in the hands of practical mechanics who
propose to put in bids to do the work, and
although We can as yet make but an approx
mate guess at the cost Of the buildings and
improvements contemplated, we are able to
state what they are to be somewhat In detail.
The fair grounds themselves embrace about
SO acres of ground, lying in what is nearly a
paralellogrsm, about an eighth Of mile in
length, stretching from northeast to south
west along the north bank of the Illinois
river, half mile west of the city limits. There
is just enough unevenness in the ground to
give good drainage and touch Of the pctur-
esque. The entire grounds, except on the
riverside, will be enclosed by tight board
fence feet high.
| THE MILE TRACK.
On visiting the grounds at present the only
object that attracts attention is the mile track,
upon which the work is being driven under
the superintendance Of Mr.. jeremiah Wood
with his characteristic energy. The track will
be so feet wide, and on level, which re-
quires, particularly at the southwest curve, a
good deal of heavy grading, the filling up at
one place being five or six feet for some dis
lance. When graded, 1t will be smoothed of,
rolled and pounded to a firm yet elastic bot
tom, and it is believed will be without dust
except in very unpropitious season. The
track will be finished by the lst of June 1t
extends diagonally across the grounds from
northeast to southwest.
THE BUILDINGS.
Within say 800 feet of the northwest curve
of the mile track, on the south or inside, is
placed tue Pagoda, building in the usual
form, upon which the Judges will take their
place to watch the animals to be tested The
pagoda OF course commands view of the en-.
tire track. Around the pagoda a smaller cir
cular track will be made. for the exhibition OF
horses and other animals where speed is not
the test.
Opposite the pagoda, and some three hun.
dred feet in length, will be placed the am
phitheatre, with seats to accommodate abou,
5000 people. Under the amphlthea.re will
be % booths for the use OF restaurateurs and
other dealers in creature comforts. North OF
these will also be erected two other eating
houses, each 2OxlOO feet.
The grand gateway or entrance will be at
about the middle of the north line of the
grounds. On the west side of it will be the
Superin.endent's office and Police Head
Quarters, each story aud a half building, IL
by "a feet, with sleeping apartments overhead
On the east side of the gate will be the Treas
urer's Office, lG by 80 it., also a story and a
halt high. South of these, near tie race track
and nearly in line, will be the Presidenrs
Office, l6 by %; the Office of the Auditing
Committee, - by so, and the Secretary's Of
fee, "a by so, and in the northeast corner Of
the grounds will be the ticket Office, 10 by ~
All these buildings will be story and hall
in height, with sleeping apartments up stairs
and tastefully finished in the Swiss style OF
architecture.
! FLORAL HALL.
But decidedly tie building on the grounds
will be Floral Hall, located about midway
between the Offices just described and the Eat
ing Houses mentioned as standing north of the
amphlthcstre. Floral Hall will be in the
shape of Greek cross, with four elevations
The measurement from the entrance of the
north to that Of the south elevation as well as
from the entrance of the east to that of the
west elevation, will be $50 feet each, each Gle.
walton being so feet in width and forming q
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