Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-01
Annual Fair of Tarentum's Agricult-
ural and Driving Park Asso-
citation to Open Tomorrow.
$4,000 OFFERED IN PREMIUMS.
A Magnificent Track That Promises to be
the Future Race Course of
Western Pennsylvania.
TIE ONLY FAIR IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Great Improvements to be Made, Should This Meeting
Prove Successful

Tomorrow will be gala day in the his
tory of Tarentum. For quarter OF CEN
tury there has been no county fair In Allie
gheny county, but the demand for place
where farmers could bring their farm prod
nets. their horses and their cattle into COM
petition with those of their neighbors has
grown so strong that new organization has
been formed, grounds elaborately prepared,
and tomorrow will mark the opening day
of the new veuture-the first annual fair of
the Tarentum Agricultural and Driving
Park Association. 1t will continue four
days.
Everything seems favorable to successful
exhibition. The grounds have been fitted
up at a cost of SIC, 900, and S.. 900 are offered
in premiums. There is no better location in
the State. The grounds are 25 acres in e1-
tent, and situated on the top of a high
plateau, about mile east of Tarentum, but
only a lew minutes walk from Avenue
Station, on the West Penn Railroad. The
entire grounds are surrounded by high
board fence.
The entrance gate is at the northwest
corner and the exit at the southwest To the
left of the entrance is the ticket Office, and
to the right ''merry-go-round" will clean
pennies from willing pockets. On the other
side are the booths of the candy and lemo-
made butchers" and the fakirs who will
give away SO for 81. Next on the right is
floral hall, one corner of which
will be utilized by Paul h.
Voight, of the Tarentum Times, who will
display a frst-class printing Office and
scatter flowers of journalism in little sheet
which will make its appearance each morn
ing, under the name Of the Fair Bulletin.
OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS.
To the east OF this building is the grand
stand. Under it have been fitted up offices
for the sale of grand stand seats, and also
for the Board of Managers. Under it are
also rooms for the exhibition of fruits and
fancy work, and at the east end tasteful
kitchen, dining room and lunch rooms have
been fitted up. The dining room will seat
1l0 people comfortably, and 100 people can
be accommodated at one time in the lunch
room. The rooms are ceiled with beaded
yellow piue, and are perfectly waterproof.
The privileges for this season have been
given to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, of Tarentum, and the ladies of that
church will take care of the people.
Beyond this, aud to the left, are the
stables for the cattle. Unlike the usual ar
rangements at county fairs, the stables are
arranged in buildings, having 20 pens to
each. Neat walks have been made about
each. and the arrangement is such as to give
a perfect view of every animal on exhibition.
Another building is reserved exclusively
for the exhibition of stalliona. Along the
eastelu side of the grounds, with large
space between, are the two stables for racing
horses, each containing 80 conveniently ar
ranged box stalls. Along the whole length
of the northern fence are rows of open
stalls, while the pens for sheep and hogs are
ranged along the western fence.
OF course the buildings are not all as
handsome or extensive as many of the older
agricultural associations, but the venture
is oply new, and should it prove successful
this season, $4,000 more will be expended
next summer.
The great feature, however, is the race
track, which soon will be known as one of
the best in the county. 1t is what is known
as a half-mIle Jay Eye See track. 1t
is so feet in width and has been
classed by experts as one of the finest.
Situated as it is, on the top of a plateau,
drainage is simple question. The bed is
sandy, and a rain iu the morning would not
be noticed by afternoon. Some of the fills
are over 10 feet. and the cost of grading
alone was 81, $40. The association is in the
circuit which comprises New Castle, Butler,
Parker and Tarentum.
THIS SEASONS RACES.
Twelve races have been arran ged for the
coming meeting, and many of the best
known horses in Western Pennsylvania
will scatter the sand there this week. The
premiums offered amount to s., 800.
The grand stand is the especial pride of
the management 1t is 1872 feet long bv SO
feet wide, and will seat !, 900 people Every
seat gives full view OF the whole race
course. Beyond this, it commands view
of the surrounding scenery that is magnifi-
cent. Away to the northeast are the hills
that look down on Freeport. To the north
are the chain of mountain spurs that mark
the course of Bull creek. To the south and
west is the valley of the Allegheny, crowded
in on either side by ridges which are broken
every here and there by pretty little ravines,
a little further back the ridges are apparently
Joined together again. At the foot of the
plateau stretches out the town of Tarentum
while Creighton appears in the distance.
There are more than 60 entries for the
races. Over 800 horses aud colts have been
entered for the various premiums offered.
and about 100 head of cattle will be exhih-
tied for prizes Sheep and hogs have been
entered in droves. The entries have been so
numerous that Squire Mccall is afraid he
will have to hold umbrellas over some of
the stock, in lieu of other shelter. Not "a
Allegheny county alone is confined the
right to exhibit. Displays are coming from
Butler, Westmoreland and Armstrong
counties. Situated as the grounds are, they
are almost at a point where Allegheny.
Butler, Armstrong and Westmoreland Join.
For this reason big crowds are expected
from each of these counties, and throngs of
from 10000 to $1,000 people are expected
each day.
WHENCE THEY WILL COME.
Excursions have been arranged on the
West Penn from Blairsville, Apollo aud
Freep)rt. Excursion trains will also be run
from Allegheny City to Avenue station
every lour at low rates. Superintendent
McCargo, of the Allegheny Valley Rail-
road, has also made arrangements to run
excursion trains to Cragdale, opposite
Tarentrm. The programme of races for the
week is as follows:
TUESDAY, sEPTEMBERz
l. Twoyear-old race, trot, half mile heats,
purse. $40
2 Three-year-old race, tros, mile he-.s,
puTse. S3O