The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-19
THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS
A Description of the Work Now Being
Pushed Forward by the State Board.
The New Grounds VIII Rank With The Finest
Ia the C,untry-The Track snd uiliinGs
Famous Her es Now on the Ground

The passenger feels the air brakes applied,
the train Stacks mp and he siights at the
south main entrance of the new State fair
grounds, which Is now q station OIL the
timetable. The trains leave the Mass
nchusetts-avenue station at o'clock in the
morning and are now doing good business.
The fair ground presents o scene
of great activity, with between two and
three hundred mon at work. and many OF
them go back and forth during the day.
Those who live On the grounds find board
and lodging in the four airy structures OF
boards and canvas, dignihed with the
names Of hotels One bears the stately
name of the Palace" The proprietors
have their families with them and the
women do the cooking. 1t Is said the fare
IL very wholesome and creditable to this
camp-like mode of living. and Is cheap.
When a man works as hard as those en-
ployed on the fair ground. according TO
Hon. Hiram Rowland, the "boss" there
"ain't much profit left at 60 week"
In company with Mr.. Rowland and Mr..
Baeley, secretary of the State Board of
Agriculture, o Journal reporter visited the
fair grounds. few days since. The fair
weather of the past ten days has permitted
the work, in all branches, TO proceed very
rapidly. AS the date of the first race meet
ing is July 10, less than a month. the chief
interest centers in the Building and finish
ing of the tine mile track aud the amphi-
theater. My. Rowland. Mr.. Bronson. Mr..
Bruce Carr, and others Interested. have
every confidence that all will be In readi-
ness. A large amount OF work was done on
the grading. in spite of the long. wet
son of seeping clouds and falling torrents
of water. Following the track in the d.
rection of the races. the observer finds
I'LL az the curve, graded To give the proper
declivity according 10 the law OF gravity.
This fill and grade will be ready for the top
soil in two or three days work. Continuing
on around, the observer finds procession
OF teams drawing 5craDers full OF gravel
and dumping 1t where lt Will be out OF the
way and handy whom wanted Here At
point directly north or the ampbitheater,
It is necessary 10 make cut In the swell
of the former wheat field. This work was
expected TO be finished by the latter part
of the week. When completed the view of
the spectators In the amphitheater will
not be interfered with. While the course
Is absolutely level there IL u knoll on the
north, within the track. which needs TO be
reduced. 1t Is the intention to provide for
an uninterrupted view of the course from
the amphitheater
As arranged, the spectators in the amphi-
theater. from their perch twenty feet from
Ne
One cannot look without picturing n race.
The cry, Now they OIL, shares with the
eye the attention of the people as the fleet
steeds speed away. The first quarter finds
the regular order of the start broken. but
tho favorites of each are not so far away as
not 10 be distinguished by the naked eye.
Still, thousands OF glasses are leveled at
the smoothly moving racers as the half
mile post, directly opposite. Is passed. The
third quarter requires sharpening of the
focus TO preserve the recognition, but the
interest intensiies the home stretch
brondens before the drivers for the final
effort. The, speeders are now APP
preaching. but there is no strain
ing forward TO see upon the part
of the people. Tie amphitheator
stands at an angle TO the straight homo
stretch of the track, and ones neighbOr Is
not in the line of vision. The cheers and
shouts that greet the victor suggest them
selves as the mind pictures the racers pass
ing again under tho wire.
Continuing the obsery alton, the reporter
found that the grade OF the course sup
ported q railroad track, on which was
standing train OF hat cars loaded with q
rich-looking black loan. A corps OF SHOW
elcrs was busy throwing the dirt upon
either side of the train upon the course.
THAT SOIL" said Mr.. Rowland, comes
from nsar Sheridan. and is really the veg
etable mould of what was formerly @
swamp. Drainage left 9 rich ami elastic
soil, which Is essential 10 good race
of two spade-blades. We receive forty
carloads "A day."
The transported soil Is spread upon the
track TO the depth of n foot. It is TO be
rolled and packed, thus making firm but
elastic surface.
The west curve of the course bounds
level stretch of field, and permits the OBJ
servstion from the amphitneater that the
last quarter widcns to magnificent course
of eighty feet There will be room for
every horse TO gather every energy for the
final struggle, while thousands of eyes aud
multitudinous voices encourage the VIC
tors. This part of the track Is all ready for
the super.soiling. lt will require persistent
rolling and working of the track when she
covering Is on To put 1t In the required con-
dlti0n.
The amphitheater is being erected upon
stone anu cement pillars These. with the
heavy beams, indicate reassuriDg stabil-
Ity. The frame work is about up, and IN a
few days the structure will be under roof
On the other side of the course to the north
are the hne horse barns, lettered A. Is, e.,
ID, l., etc. Three moro are 10 be Dnilt Civ
ing accommodation for two hundred horses.
The stables already have some famous &C.
cUpants. Delineator Is there. having u rec
ord of 2:lS. which, ct the time was the
worlds record for his age. Jack Shields
221s4, has arrived from Chicago, and occu-
pies STALL McGinty. n celebrated colt, IS
also guest of the fair grounds, besides
thirty or forty other promising yOunstcrs.
etfalKnt. smooth country ROAD nHOruS q
place for exercise and training while awa ait
ing the finishing of the track.
The first thing shat strikes the visitor
entering from the south side Is the extens-
i've grove OF line old forest trees The
naples. and the ash. and other stately
kings of the primeyal forest give the con-
tiguIty of shade that tho poet prayed for.
The ground as yot is uneven. but IL covered
with grass. with no weeds or small bushes.
Eventually the whole of the grove will be
graded and swarded, and will receive the
care of the landscape gardener.
1T IL our purpose" said Mr.. Rowland. Ito
make the ground as much like park as
possible. Walks and driyeways will break
the surface of green with winding paths.
The fence will be IN part of wire. high
enough and barbed enough at the top To
prevent intrusion. On the entrance sides
the fence will lie of pickets. The posts
are mp, the pickets are here, and In a week
or so fairgrounds will be incl0se,l."
The buildings so far under roof are the
poultry house aud the dairy quarters.
These are neat. roomy and attractive build
ings. The dairy building will have great
refrigerator for the preservation of the
dairy products 10 be exhibited. The ape
cial buildings owned by the exhibitors oc-
cupy an advantageous position at the eds
of the grove south of tho women's bnlld-
ing. Those 80 far erected are owned by T..
=. Myers * Co., Parry Manufac turing
Company. Rauh * son, Bradley. Holton &
Co.. HoQsier drill and Oliver Chilled plow-
works and the Plano Manufacturing Com
pany. Studebaker brothers have a very
snowy building under way. A blacksmith-
shop. bnilt by y. Is. Gaugh. an expert sheer
of Iacing stock, occupies a position near
the speed barns