Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-01
TEE WiLMING r0N FAIR.
Great Preparations Being Wade for
the Forthcoming Exhibition.


Great Preparations Being Wade for
the Forthcoming Exhibition.
The Wilmington Agricultural and H.
dustrial Association, otherwise known as
the Wilmington Fair Association, has
been at work quietly but still very ef-
fectiyely for the forthcoming exhibition
on September I'd, Sd, 4th, 5th, 9Th and
7th, and the people Of Wilmington and
vicinity who visited the grounds last
year will lie sstonished at the material
progress made by this young but vigor-
GUS and ambitious organization. The in
creased subscriptions to the capital
stock has given larger work.
ing capital which has all been
placed in enlarging the permanent plant.
All of the buildings this year will bel new.
The burned main building OF last year
will be replaced on the same site, with a
building designed for the ladies work,
art exhibit, horticultural display &c. This
is the building just contracted for. 1t
will be SO feet VIDE and ITO feet long,
with two snnexes So by 40 feet in extent.
Il will be lighted entirely from the roof,
and will be adapted for the purposes for
which it is intended.
The main building, now nearly COM
pleted stands sou: of the ladies' build
ing. 1t Is handsome, substantial
structure 80 feet front and 2l2 feet deep.
The main 6oor will be entirely devoted
60 agricultural and manufacturing ex-
bibits and unless WILMINGTON merchants
are mora wIde.awake, outside concerns
will again get the most available space
| room and the local merchants will ''get
left" as they did last year. preference
will be shown for the displays OF local
merchants but application must be made
at once.
a floor plan of the building is now on
exhibition at William Lawton's china
store, No Gil Market street In the base
ment, or rather first floor of this building
! is room 80 by 1876 feet in extent, in
which the dogs, chickens and other birds
will be displayed. An agricultural build
ing and q carriage building are yet to be
erected. The work of adding story to
the judges stand, will begin this
week thus changing it to comfortable
structure with quarters for the press.
Open seats will be erected in front of
the grand stand. thus increasing the seat.
ing capacity of these stands to about
1000 The restaurant will again be under
/ the grand stand.
The track is in excellent order and O
man is constantly ENGAGED in keeping it
in thorough repair. Inside of the regular
track, q turf track will be fenced off for
running races and this will be utilized
between the heats of races on the main
! track. A troupe of horsemen has been
engaged who will compete In novel run
ming races on the turf track between
heats. There will be at least 20 of these
running races thus affordiug sport and
amusement during the usually long waits
between heats. Besides, thegs horsemen
will give exhibitions in polo, filling and
sparring and their performances are
sEilful and marvellous. The fair man
agement is determined tina. there shall be
no voids in the amusement line and
when the races nee begin there will al
wayB be something going on to interest
or sninse the spectators
One Of the chief features Of the com.
ing fsir in the amusement line and one
on which considerable time ana money
is being spent in preparation, is the
knights tournaments, WHICH will be held
on Tuesday and Fr,aay Of fair week. II
these, cash prizss of s LOO Will be awarded
each day-S5U TO fitk,, $50 to second aud
$40 to third. Asautances have been
received that scores of Knights will be
present from this State, and from the
n. n.ighboTiag counties Of Msryiand and
New Jersey. The grand procession OF
knights, neralds &c, will be made on
these two mornings vt 10 o'clock, and the
fitting will begin half honr later Tha
successful knight viii be challenged by
an unknown knight, aud the winner of
the tournament will Ee crowned by the
Queen o. Love who will be present
seated on her throne end surrounded by
her magnificent court of pages and ladies
in waiting.
These are few of the amusements
provided in addition to the regular morse
races which will be the best ever offered
here. The nomination stakes Gge beoon.
ing more popular daily, to ildge OF Che
number Of iuquiries being nnde.
The fair as a whole will bs conducted
on mucn larger scale than last year and
the attractions will be double this year.
An idea of the enlarged exhibition can
he & gsined when il is stated that the new
catalogue will contain 140 pages, while
last years had but so pages.