Telegram-herald., 1891-09-02
Up THB ROLLING GRAND
Hundreds Of citissns Enjoy . Trip
TO Comstock Park.
THEY WENT BIZ SPECIAL UVITlfIOy
Te view TIE Aagninesas 1xhibisisn
Buildings and the Greunds II the
Wsst Mtchtgsa Asrieaisar-
~ seeiesy.

Through the courtesy of the Orec-
tors OF the Western Michigan Agri-
cultural and Industrial Society. q CON-
piimenfary excursion was given TO the
city officials. business men and men,
ipers OF the press yesterday afternoon
To the soeiety's fair grounds. The ex-
cursion train was run over the c. &
w. NJ. and pulled out OF the union de-
pot with five coaches. About 800 were
IN the party that wen5 on the train,
and these were joined by half as many
more who drove from the city and the
surrounding country with their own
conyeyances. The day was exceedingly
pleasant, no better could have been
selected for the purpose for which the
visitors were out. No dust arose to
annoy the excursionists and a cool
breeze gently famed the inspecting
party. Many ladies were among the
excurstonists and in the private car
riages from the city. The crowd was
composed OF such distinguished peo-
pie as Ex-Governor Crosby, ex Con-
gressman Belknap, Judges Grove md
Burlingame, Hon. Geo. w. Thompson,
Prof c. G. Swensberg. Prof. VIM.
Cha liners, City Alto. ney Tay lor, Henry
Spring, Aldermen Dunton and Mills,
County Treasurer stebbins, ex-Alder-
man Stebblns, Nathaniel Rice, Fred
Clark, E. B. Fisher, Elias Matter, M.
L. Sweet and /. C. Levi. The passen-
gers were landed at the new depot
built by the C. 4 W. NJ. and G.. R. &
I. on the west side OF the grounds,
from which they passed through the
handsome main entrance and over the
nicely graded and leveled grounds.
The Exposition Duliding.
The first structure Inspected by the
party was the main exposition build
ing. This magnificent structure Is now
completed and ready for exhibitors.
1t is in the form OF an octagon cross
with eight wings extending from the
central rotunda. These wings are
44xSO feet, two stories high, with n
gallery extending all around and con-
Meeting with the gallery around the
flanked by octagon towers. The dis
tance through the building In eight
different directions is 266 feet. 1t has
been painted q. light cream color re-
lieyed with white. The buildings for
speed horses. cattle, sheep and swine.
poultry, dining rooms, ETC., are well
completed. The grand stand is we'll
under way and was pronounced by all
to be thing OF beauty and conven-
ience. It is 36x3OO feet on the ground,
80 feet high and is capable OF seating
5000 people. It is provided with re-
freshment booths under meath. The
track u in fine condition and is being
kept smooth and hard by running a
heavy roller over it every day. The
fp III .tall.s a w fillei with SPITE ly
trcttcrs, many OF which were flying
around the course ut q lively gait.
Laborers were laying plank walk
from the main building to the Others,
which viii be convenient adjunct to
the ground appurtenances. People
can pass from one building to another
without stepping in the dust or mud.
Pure Spring Water Everywhere.
Each building is supplied with pure
spring water drawn from n spri!ss on
the western bluffs and conveyed
through pipes to eve-y building. Fau-
Gets are placed mt intervals through
cut the sto It LIS and the sheep AMI
swine apartments arc provided with
substantial flcors. Hay barns are be-
Eng built in convenient places and will
be completed Mt the opening OF the
fair. One Improvement was fayora-
bly, commented upon by all who
inspected it. This was the en-
closed quarters for inspecting stock
with n view to awarding premiums.
Tho judges viii not be molested by IN
truding spectators. The grounds are
also well adapted for exhibiting stock
in their best possible position and the
convcniences arc favorable for good
view. The grounds age beautifully sit
uated and an exceedingly picturesque
scene meets the eye OF the observer
from which ever quarter he may
chance to look.
A Coarmipg Vista TO the Eye.
Great high bluffs covered with dense
shrubbcry arise in the west, tops OF
towering factories from which CURL
volumes of smoke, giving evidence OF
productive industries OF great value.
are seen at the south. Over across the
purling Grand on the east side are the
beautiful Soldiers Home, the North
Park pavilion and handsome cottages
and residences. while {, II" north lies
beautiful tract OF farming country.
The ground II well bor,lered with
water. the Grand river on the east
and brook OF pure spring water on
tho west. The officers Of this society.
Geo. w. Thayer, president; Martin l..
Sweet, vice president: f. B. Dikeman,
treasurer. and z. V. Cheney, secretary,
nre hustling themselves with the ut
most activity in order to have every
thing In readiness for the fair which
opens September IA.
COMMUNICATED the DesixWers
Architect Green. who furnished the
plans for the buildings and super
yised their erection received many
compliments for the artistic manner in
which they have been planned and con-
structed. Many OF the party who Vie
ifel the grounds yeste day viewei !
them for the first time since the build
sngs were in process OF erection They
seemed completely surprised Mt the ap-
pearance OF the surroundings and ex-
pressed many words OF commendation.
Others had made frequent visits and
Inspected the work in all its stays oil
progress. Nothing but praise was
heard on every hand. The following
opinions are n few Of many:
Judge Grove-"Everything fs grand
and elegant. It IL the grandest thing
Grand Rapids ever had
Judge Burlingame - Spiend1d
Everything IL arranged ae IL should be
Everyth;n0 shows mature thought and