Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-08-29
orris DIR. Morgan T, Gloss, an ac-

Morris. DIR. Morgan T. Gloss, an ac-
count of whose death we recently pub
lished, though at the time of his death
residing near Chapel Hill, had for
some years spent much of his time at
Durham, and there, as elsewhere,
worked for the benefit of the commu-
nifty in which he lived, with his accus-
toned intelligence and enterprise.
And thus ends the account OF our
holiday visit to Orange. We have en-
ioyed it muchly, and shall remember
it long. ..
WELDON, N. c., 25th August, 1873.
Ny DEAR JoURNA1:-Friday morn
ing found me once more in Raleigh,
the beautiful "City of Oaks" quar-
tered as usual at '' the Marlborough,
under the care of mine host DR..
Blacknall.
The Marlborough House is being en-
larged and improved by wing to the
rear as well as by largely increased
| frontage. When the new Postoffice on
the corner to the right and the Masonic
| Temple on the corner to the left, on
the opposite side of the street, and a
new Court House in front, shall have
been completed the value of property
in that portion of the city will not
soon be subject to depression.
THE NEW FAIR GROUNDS.
In the evening I rode out with Capt.
r. t. Fulghum, Editor of the State
agricultural Journal, and Secretary
of the North Carolina Agricultural So
ciety, to inspect the new Fair Grounds
which are situated literally on &c high
ground" about mile and quarter
west of Raleigh, on the old Chapel
Hill road. The site is higher than any
point in that vicinity, and indeed is
said to be higher than the dome of the
Capitol, giving assurance at all times
of pure fresh air and commanding
views Ct the surrounding country.
The enclosure consists of fifty-fve
acres, through which are to be laid out
walks and drives under the superin.
tendence of the tasteful and accom-
plished CAY tain G. B. benson, OF
PittsborO.
THE RACE TRACK.
The race track or '' the track for the
trials of speed" as it is called, is just
Il half mile in length, and is being
constructed according to a plan drawn
by civil engineer of New York city
under the directions of George Wilkes
ESQ, Editor of the New York .Spiri
of the Times. The work on the tract
. is progressing rapidly, but while mucl
has been done much still remains t.
be done. When completed it vii
doubtless be one of the best in TIN
country-one desirable feature being
that from many points on the grounds
other than the various stands ant
buildings, the whole track is unde
view. No matter how large the Grove
there will be no difficulty in seeing
the race. The enterprise and vigo
:. manifested by the committees in charg
give assurance that everything will b.
in good order when the horses ar
brought out.
THE BUILDINGS.
7 The buildings will include four TO
q offices, .Sc.-twO for each of the prin
f cipal entrances, to be connected b.
+ grand arches ; an Exhibition Hall, 80
I XII feet, two stories high the Gran
, Stand 2O0x44 fleet, three stories hig
j -(the first floor Of this building wi
be used for Offices, saloons, &c.-th
Y second is for the use of spectator
- and will comfortably seat 1000 pei
8 sons-the third floor will consist G
= reserved seats, fitted up with comfort
: charge will be made.) Machinar
G Hall, 2O0x44 feet, one story high !;
$ two-story Conservatory, filled with tn
f choicest and rarest exotics a Judge
4 Stand, three stories high ; portabl
: Speakers Stand a Music Stand 90
: excellent stalls for horses and cattle
k - pens for sheep, hogs, &c. In &C
: dition 20 thee there will be erected
G passenger shed 200 feet long. Th
r Music Stand will be contiguous to til
: Grand Stand, and with the othe
structures will be located so as not
e oistruct the view from the Gran
= Stand. The branch of the Raleigh
n Augusta Railroad will pass throug
e the center of Machinery Hall, to facil
: tate the unloading and loading of ms
/ chinery. The three floors of tn
@ Grand Stand, the numerous offices an
e exhibition halls, and the large passe1
e ger shed, will afford ample shelter i
f case of rain storms.
a Considerably over a hundred me
V chanics and laborers have for over
e grounds. All the buildings are raise
and several of them are finished an
e by the middle OF September it is e,
h pected that the last coat of paint wi
e nave Deen put on-JuSt one month
t advance of the opening of the Fail
d And thus, as our friend said in burs
a of pardonable enthusiasm, land thus
Il i'll less than ninety working days,
: barren old field, fifty-fve acres in G,
t tent will have been substantially ii
d closed and converted into beautiful
e ornamental Park, containing one G
the best half-mile race tracks in til
: country, and dotted with extensiv
o handsome buildings, requiring in thei
/ construction about one million feet G
+ lumber!"
The cost of the site Of the new Fai
Grounds, including the buildings an
other improvements, is estimated a