The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-05-18
Ia What tho State Fair Association
will Havo
WHEN IMPROVEMENTS IRE DONE
Which arc nov Ia rrogress-The
Finest Haif.A Mile Track lathe Coun-
sry-.Everything Being Changed aud
tho Public will not Recognize the
Place when It Is Finishod-Somo.of
the now Ideas.

Tho pubic Will not recognize tue place.
improvements which have been In
progress, since last October will make Of
the grounds almost an entirely now
place. Tho only thing recognizable
abou. it now 10 the main building and
machinery hall. Tho grounds have
beon enlarged, tho cattle, sheep, swine
and poultry exhibits relocated in new
pens, tho track moved and enlarged, a
new monster grand stand bull, aud
ucatly every familiar feature h'the en-.
closure has given way to improved
arrangements and facilities.
Tho cost Of ground added to the on.
closure and Of making tho improve.
ments now in progress, will exceed
$4,000. Those who arc familiar with
the old grounds will not DO ut all pro.
pared for the grand change that has
been MADE. The race course naturally
comes in for the first admiriug COM
ment. II has been moved toward tho
west, so that whore tho quarter stretch
formerly was Is o far within the inner
fence about the track. The new quarter
stretch runs partially over the road
which used 10 run between the grand
stand and tho tcucc.
This change widens tho space be-
tween the east fence and tho track TO
such au extent that besides q much
wider road there, n space forty feet wide
Is lett, and those who do not care to pay
for the privilege OF driving inside the
track can line up along the back stretch.
Trees have been planted twenty feet
apart in this space, and it will be an al
traclive, grassy space.
On the quarter stretch the track is
now eighty feet wide, as agains. forty.
feet before, and on The back stretch IL Is
fifty. The old track was thirty-eight.
The curves are gentle and gradual, al.
most Transition" style. The outer side
Of the track is seven feet higher than
the old one, and a more beautiful half
mile track does not exist anywhere.
There are no trees within it, and moth
ing else to obstruct the view. aud IRON
my. point on it the entire circle is
plainly in view.
The only structures left inside tho
curse are the band stand and the
timers box. Beside the latter is n COM
modious box for the rubbers, weighers
and score card men.
The judges stand has been moved
across the track to the same side as the
grand stand. The open space in front
OF the grand stand is now forty feet
wide. The reporters stand extends
fro NJ the centre OF the front OF the grand
stand. and is a graceful affair supported
on steel brackets.
The new grand stand is an improve
ment only second in Importance to the
new track. Il is substantially built OF
structural steel. and is a graceful affair.
rejecting much credit on its designer,
Mr.. Gilmore Brown. The stand is 800
feet long by IS wide. It has fifteen
tiers OF seats the full length, and will
seat 1000 people. In the middle will
be 500 roomy opera chairs for reserved
scots. Back OF all the seats is a si1-foot
walk. AT the rear it ia thirtv.ei.ht feet
high, and 4 view from that poin. Of the
river and the Ohio hills ia something
worth paying to see. From every seat
IN the stand the entire race course ia in
plain view. The entrance is by two
stairways OF very gradual ascent, one
At each end OF the rear. The seats are
seven inches wider than tho old ones.
and in every way it is moro CONVENIENT,
c%onmodious aud comfortable.
The bar arrangements have been rev.
olutionized. The central 10 feet under
the grand stand is devoted 10 bars fac
ing both toward the track and tho road
outside. North OF this is 4 large room
!or tables and chairs, to be used BY
those who desire to sit down and drink
bottled beer or wine. The bar arrange.
nents are IS complete as in any saloon,
and there is ample room to prevent
possible annoyance to people outside.
South OF the bar is a storage room for
beer. and south Of this the entire space
is devoted to the pool sellers. There
will be no pool boxes or book makers
outside. The space where they former
" stood has been planted in grass and
many trees set out.
West OF the lower end OF the grand
stand. and clear south to the stables,
piles were driven and earth filed in
forty feet outside OF the former river
bank. This makes a wide drive and
room for needed structures. This cives
a wide, safe roadway all around the
track.
One OF the drawbacks OF the former
arrangement was the location OF the
sheep. swine and cattle pens along the
north side between the Frortstreet and
Tenn street gates. These have all been
taken away, and fine. broad prone.
made occupies their place. The pens
and the poultry coops will occupy the
new ground north OF the old pens ives.
Of Penn s:reet. There will bs three
rowa OF GOODS, 200 fee. long, aud row
alter row OF cattle, sheep and swine
pens OF the same length. This ground
was leveled oil at great cost. The filling
OF the track, By the way, required Is, 900
cubic yards OF earth, and tha. alone cos.
nearly 5000.
South oil tho new pens ia a large circle,
surrounded by trees, and in the nue
a stand for tho cattle judges. Tho
stock will be exhibited in this ring.
About 100 trees of good size have
been planted in such n way rs 10 form
avenues for pedestrians and vehicles.
They are all growing nicely. They
reach from the lower end OF the grand
stand TO tho gates and the effect Is beau
.iful. There is still room for swings,
norry-gorounds. aidcshows and all
sorts OF "iakirs." In making tho changes
several oil the permanent booths had 10
be moved from the orchard into now
locations. About fifty apple trees wero
dug up and thrown away. One decided
improvement will be the largo increase
in tho number OF benches about tho
grounds. There has been a demand for
resting places on crowded daya. b.
tween each alternnte mir NJ ,roau ~,Io,,