Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-31
THE STATE FAIR.
PREPARATORY JOrrINGS OF THE
GREAT EXHIBITION.
mOdious Exhibition Buildings - Track
and Amphitheater er-Magnificant Horses,
Cstie. sheep and Swine show-Won-
ders of the Dairy Dspartment-Candi-
dates for Speed Conttsts, Etc Etc
Especial Telegram to the Globe.l

Rochester,, Aug. S0.-To morrow heralds
the opening of the twenty y-fourth annual ex-
hibition of the Minnesota State Agricultural
society. Rochester, the fair pearl of south
ern Minnesota, has for the third successive
season been selected as the most suitable 10
cation, and right nobly have her citizens re-
sponded to the confidence repoeed in them by
the managers when she was chosen.
This city OF Rochester, which | denominate
the pearl of southern Minnesota, is
place of snme 5000 people,
located in the center of the garden of the
state. Olmsted county we'll deserves to be
called the banner agricultural county OF Min
nesota, and in fact the entire southern and
southeastern part of the state has no parallel
anywhere in the extent of its rich, desirable
and abundantly productive farming lands. 1t
is the oldest settled agricultural district OF
Minnesota and for over twenty five years pro-
duCed unrlvaled crops of wheat and other
small grains. The past four or five years,
however, exhausted nature has failed to re-
spond in her former liberal manner; the farmer
has not met the necessary reward for his
lab T. While the northern and western dis
tricts of the stats have been continuously
blessed with an abundant wheat harvest, this
eection has been obliged to admit the fact
that wheat raising here was failnre and they
must
DIVERSITY THEIR FARMING
and look more to stock raising and the pro-
ducts of the dairy for their maintenance and
profit.
At this very critical time when every other
branch of agriculture needed encourageme ct
and support, the managers of the State Agri-
cultural society very wisely,removed its annual
exhibition to this locality where they have
since as wisely retained it Its legitimate OBJ
iect being the encouragement of a more per-
foafcf cfofa IF o. N nf m
Jog and the production of better grade of
stock and farm products by system of com
petitive exhibition, stimulated by judcious
Offering of premiums. What more appropri-
ate than that this locality most
Leeding such encouragement should have the
annual exhibit located there.
FAIR ACCOMMODATIONS.
To meet the demand for suitable accommo-
dations for so large an exhibition as the
mammoth fair of the state society, the enter
plising citizens of Rochester with their ac-
customed zeal and energy organized a
lint stock society called the Southern
Minnesota Fair association, and early in the
summer set to work to meet the emergency.
The old fair grounds, south of the city one
mile and containing some eighty acres, and
fastest and best one mile track in the North
west were purchased and the campaign
opened in good earnest. To describe them as
duty.
THE GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS.
Crossing the Zumbro at the upper end OF
Broadway, after several turns you reach
Dubuque street, upon which the grounds are
located. This street has been finely macad-
amized and the entire drive is placed In the
best condition possible. Arriving at the cor
ner of the grounds after drive of one mile
we see the grounds enclosed by tight bo ,rd
fence seven feet high. There are two main
,utro nces ou the west side, while on the ro-ih
Idle is gate for egress which opens upon par
e lei street to Ddbuq1e leading to the city, so
inst teams enlering aL either of the two west
=. es drive through the grounds and exit on
tte north, returning 10 the city by the north
ca e, thus avoiding blockade and preventing
a ,ush aDd ush.
y, you enter the grounds, having purchased
your ticket at the box-ufiice on the corner be
low The entrance gates, you are at once struck
with III; beau'Y oil the hie
level tract within the enclosure,
as smooth as a house n ar without break or
hollow, every square irch Of the ground is
distinctly visible from auy point within the
enclosure.
ARRANG EMENT OF BUILDINGS
You enter upon bro I'd avenue which ex-
tends from the gate past all the buildings 10
beyond the amphtheater. At the right, along
the fence, are the horse stalls, 100 in number,
rooted, and ska feet each. Further along on
The same side and parallel with the avenue,
which runs due east from the entrance gate,
are two buildings 20x100 feet each, which
contain seventy boX-stalls, for fancy and trot-
ling horses, each stall l0xl4 feet square.
On the immediate left of the gate neat
AMI substantial building, one story high,
and neatly painted, twenty by twenty eight
feet in siZe, stands which has been erected
for officers quarters. There will be four COM
plrtnents for the use of the officers of the
society and representatives of the press. The
president, secretary and treasurer will office
here.
Beyond the box stalls the right Of the
avenue is the old railroad building, being filled
at present by the splendid exhibit of the Wi
noua u st. Peter railro Id land department.
FLORAL AND MECHANICs' HALL.
Next and upon the left is the supurb new
building of the most tasty architectural de.
rign and finish, deuomin tied floral and me-
chanics' hall. This was elaborately described
several weeks ago, when in process of erec-
tion, but now, as completed, deserves a more
extended notice. 1t is designed upon the
ground plan in the shape of a Greek Cross,
and is $50 feet each way, each arm of the cross
being 40 feet wide. The wings are 16 feet
high between joists, while the rotunda,
4Oxs0 in extent, is open TO
apex OF the roof which is surmounted with
handsome tower, the top of which is 60 feet
from the ground floor, and which has nag
staff 40 feet high over its roof. The building
IS finely lighted and has two doors at the east
west, north and south ends each, and door
at each angle between the arms OF the cross.
Isis being elaborately decorated within aud lis
immense space is more than taken already. q
THE AMPHITHEATER.
Further on and at the right is the new grand
amphitheater 225 feet in length, cut Of
which was given some weeks since in
the GLOBE, ard which will seat
over 1000 people, every one of whom
eau command a fine view of the entire track
which it faces. The building rests upon q
secure foundation and is surmounted by inc
truss roof, supported by forty pillars 10xlO
inches square and thirty two feet in length,
set in the ground five feet each
The projection of the roof gives
ample protection in case of rain.
Underneath the entire space is foored and
hall running the entire length communicates
by four flights of stairs at as many points
with the seats above. Flanking the hall and
having also an outside front are tie stalls for
restaurants or eating rooms. Entrances
to the hall are had from each
end and at intervals on the north side.
Across the track and opposite the center Of
the amphitheater is the judges and reporters
gallery, neat three story structure, sur
ny piOJCCliuS iOol. ulS taStJ
structure is 16 by 16, and is entered from the
track, where the ground floor is set apart for
drivers and hostlers, aud the second floor for
the repres entatives of the press, and the upper
gallery for the judges.
CATTLE STALLS.
Further ou to the east, and at the left of the
avenue, are four rows of cattle stalls, ends
towards the avenue, and along the north side
and parallel to the fence, with
It's eud at the exit gate, is another
EIch building is $50 feet long
rooted and his stalls on each; side, 5x10 feet
IN extent.