The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-28
THE RHODE ISLAND FAIR
The Committee Expects That It Will
Be the Best.
THE IMPROVEMENTS AND PLANS,
The Vaudeville show and Exhibitions OF
Skill wall Add Greatly to tho Enter
tainment Of the visitors-whst some
Leading Attractions Are.

Very few people except those directly
interested have any conception OF the
vast amount of labor and the enormous
expense incurred in preparing for the an :
nual State Fair. The work is not con-
fined TO the one or the two months just
preceding the exhibition, but takes the
time OF one man and several clerks
throughout the entire year to handle the
executive part while in the work requir-
ing manual labor large number of men
are almost constantly employed.
Upon the grounds now all his hustle,
and when they are opened TO the public
in Septembe they will scarcely be recog-
nized. 90 great are the changes
The grade has been raised three and
one-half feet in front of the grand stand,
two OF the stables have been moved over
70 the other side OF the track, and one
hundred new stalls are now being built.
but perhaps the most startling change
Is the tunnel. Those who have attended
the fair In former years remember that
there was no means of getting upon the
space enclosed by the tracks except
through the gates, and that while race
was In progress these could not be opened.
Instead OF the gates fine road bed has
been laid. The track has been tunneled
for pedestrians there is a sidewalk on
either side Of the driveways.
Direct communication can thus be had
at all times with the inner portion where
horses will hereafter be hitched, thus
giving more space to the fair.
The track Is at present receiving the
greater part of the attention. AS is prob
ably known; IL is built OF loan which is
good for training but too soft for fast
time.
A great expense is being incurred in
the carting of clay and the spreading Of
the same upon the track. 1t has TO be all
pulverized and then slowly put on, great
care being taken to mix 1t so evenly with
the loan that the mixture shall make
track which will be hard enough for fast
time aud also soft enough not TO be in
furious to the horses feet.
Twenty seven hundred feet of water
pipe has been laid, and three hundred
more are being put in.
The new stalls are commodious, being
10 by 18 feet, and every fifth one is sup
piled with double door. A six-foot bon-
net extends over the whole length Of the
stall SPACE.
A new supply room is being made in
portion OF agricultural hall, this being
necessitated by the removal Of all the Of
aces to the officers building. In this lat
ter all entries will be taken.
The Union Railroad Company will run
cars to the Park after Aug. l for the ben
eft Of those who wish to make entries
The park has been replatted for space
rental and will be open for inspection,
Aug. /.
or the fair itself, it can be confidently
asserted that it will be the finest ever
held, the committee having spared no
pains or expense to make this fair of
much more than local Importance.
In the agricultural department the pre-
q. Aaw, A2o.. sy,a. u,,I -
fered for the best home-bred colts, 1t being
the especial desire OF the committee to en-
courage homo breeding. The stakes for
the trotting races are the largest ever Of
fered In New England For the amuse-
ment the committee has secured some Of
the best talent In the United States.
The races will begin at 10 each day and
will last for one hour. and at IL the vari-
Gus special performers and the vaudeville
show will begin, the whole entertainment
lasting for six hours The star perform
ers will be Prof. Van Norman. the daring
rider who jumps hurdles, while standing
on two chairs strapped to the horses back,
parachute and trapeze performer ; Mr..
and Mrs. G. II. Jackson, the great riders,
and j. O, Hamlin with all his horses. The
latter has never before been in the East,
and the committee feels highly pleased
that they .b Si asa hi' Globe hs
and Jusfina, and will trot the three
abreast to beat their record Of 2:14
Trainer Gears will have charge of the
stables.
Burke and his trained dogs will also be
on hand to show the height to which
these animals may be educated.
Mcssrs. Van Norman aud Jackson,
Nine. Carno and Mrs. jackson .have
never before been in the East.
The various members of the vaudeville
combination are now being secured.
There will be two stages built in front Of
the grand stand, and two performances
going on at once.
On Governors Day the feature which
took so we'll last year, the flight Of 1000
pigeons, will be repeated.
A silver water set will be given to the
owner of the homing pigeons making the
best records between August aud Sep
tember Is. The pigeons will be on ex-
hibition during the fair. The owners,
too, must be members OF the Federation
OF HominR Pigeons.
such arc in brief the attractions as SO
far determined upon by the committee
and they confidently expect and hope that
they will please both classes--those who
enter their goods aud those who 60 to see
them.