San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-10
A RUN OVER THE FAIR GROUNDS.
The Work of Preparation Goes on
Everybody Busy and the
Day at Hand,


the foreground. Before the opening
day of its first year in its grounds and
buildings it presents stronger ele-
ments of permanency than does the
Dallas State Fair association after four
wears of existence. Main building,
with its vast area and slightly proper
tiOns and Communications is in marked
con trast to the barn-like structure
which does duty for main building
on the state fair grounds, and this ig
but sample of the contrast eXistins
in all things. \ LIGHT representa-
tive was OH the grounds yesterday
and spent some hours taking in the
situation. Exhibitors are most ac-
lively at work arranging their eXhib-
it's and the work of decorating
and placing is being rushed
forward with all the dispatch
possible. The office of the secre-
tary was all hustle and somewhat
chaotic but the formative forces were
theoretically at work and creation out
of chaos is only question of time.
The superintendent of the grounds
was busy arranging space, the owners
of machinery were rapidly appro-
prating space in the machinery hall
and drays were coming and going
from the railway tracks, well freight
ed with exhibits for this department.
The stables of trotting and running
horses were all activity, and small
army of trainers, drivers, stablemen
and boys were seen at work within
and without the commOdious and
comfortab BILE stalls erected for the ac-
commodation of the track men. The
track itself was being narrowed and
rolled after the heavy rains of few
nights ago, and will be in prime con-
ditiOn for the opening races. The pens
for cattle, horses, mules, jacks and
sheep were being numbered and APP
plicants were receiving their assign
ments and settling at the clerks office.
Some arrivals were already in place.
The OwneIs Of privileges were hard at
work putting everything into shape
and making ready for the crowds
which are so confidently expected.
The poultry house is destined to be a
center of attraction and the exhibits
in this line will receive marked at
tention. The grand stand is a splendid
structure and we'll worth the en-
coniums that will be passed upon it.
The grounds Of the association COM
prise a tract of So acres adjacent to
and formerly part of the Riverside
park which originally included a
tract of 425 acres. This park is des-
tined to be one of the attractive feat
ures of this locality. 1t is owned by
a party of public spirited citizens who
are putting it into shape for popular
pleasure resort An ornate pavilion
for public gatherings, conventions,
etc, with seating capacity of 5000 is
nearing completion, and beautiful
drives aggregating some ten miles in
length are being laid out. The San
Antonio river skirts the entire park
and fair grounds as we'll, and there
are living springs of water on each.
The park lies nearer the city than the
fair grounds and the best approach to
the latter is through the park
grounds.
The main entrance to the fair and
exposition grounds lies just within
the city limits little less than three
miles distant from the opera house.
In this gate house, through which
the grounds is reached, are the offices
of the secretary and superintendent Of
the ground, and over head is the
room of the directors. All cOmforta-
bly, equipped with desks and all
necessary office furniture.
Passing into the enclosure, to the
left, on a gentle eminence stands the
main building, distant from the gate
way, about one hundred and fifty
yards. This building is quite impos-
ing in its appearance, and with its
galleries, affords 10000 square feet Of
floor room ior exhibitors 1t is BEAU
tifully draped in the national colors,
and when the opening day comes
will be found most attractive. Its
broad, double staircases at either
extremity, afford ample egress from
the galleries, from which a splendid
view of the whole interior is OBJ
tanned.
Standing in the principal entrance
of the main building, and looking out
ward, the whole grounds lie spread
out before the spectator, like a map.
A broad plank walk, several hundred
feet in length, leads from the main
building past booths and restaurant
stands, to the machinery hall 64xl64
feet, beyond which lies the poultry
house, and still farther away to-
wards the river, the live stock pens,
which sweep around the semi-circle
or the enclosure to the rear of the
racing stables, which lie nearer the
track, and in the rear of the grand
stand, nearer the river. The arrange
ments of these stalls and stables and
pens is most complete for purposes of
inspection, and full water supply is
afforded from the river, the mains of
the city water works furnishing