The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-29
SAVANNAH'S Big FAIR
only FEW FINISHING TOUCHES
NEEDED ON GROUNDS.
GREAT SHOW IS EXPECTED
RACE TRACK is THE GREAT FFA.
TURE OF THE GROUNDS.

pressed by the Metamorphosis
That Is shown-Barren Fields Con-
verified Into Thoroughly Equipped
Fair Grounds-Prosressi I'm the Ar
arrangements for the Fair.
The track. buildings and grounds for
the State Fair to be held at Savannah
IN November are all practically COM
plete. There is considerable finishing
work of a lighter character to be done.
but there is plenty of time for this, and
General Manager A. B. Moore states
that exhibitors can begin sending in
their exhibits as soon as they see fit
after Oct. l. The buildings are there.
and if the exhibitors have nowhere
else to store their exhibits. they might
as we'll have the use of the space. says
Mr.. Moore.
A handsome sight will greet the
thousands of visitors to the State Fair
this fall. The eighty-seven acre tract
on Dale avenue and Waters road has
been metamorphoeed in a most re-
markable manner since the Fair direc-
tors took hold of 1t a few shor-
been spent In putting the grounds in
shape and building race track which
is confidently expected to become one
of the most noted in the South. Be-
sides this, there are the grand stand
and the several large buildings, the
cost of which alone Was $4,000, so 1t
will be seen that the people OF Savan-
nah have gone to considerable expense
In making preparations for the State
Fair. In round figures, including pre-
MUM list and the necessary running
expenses of the Fair, the total expen-
6itures will exceed $4,000.
The officers and directors Of the
Agricultural Society, who favored
bringing the Fair to Savannah, urged
as one of their strongest arguments
that If Savannah took hold of II the
People of the state might be assured
that 1t would be conducted on a scale
creditable both to the city and the
Agricultural Society. Their confidence
has been well sustained by events
b which have transpired to date. Taking
hold of the enterprise without a
single building or even plot
terprise has absolutely been developed
from the ground up. Save for the ex-
position grounds in Atlanta, there are
no others in the state so thoroughly
equipped and so well suited for their
purposes as the Fair grounds at Sa-
vannah.
There are three large buildings, be-
sides the grandstand and several
smaller buildings for various pur-
poses. Entering the grounds by the
handsome grand entrance on Dale av-
enue, the approach is direct to the
grandstand, where 5000 people can be
comfortably seated and at the same
time obtain a full view of the race
track for its entire circumference.
From the moment the horses leave the
post until their heads come under the
wire at the finish, their feet, even,
need not be out of sight of the specta-
tors. This is something that will be
appreciated by those who have wit
messed races on tracks where the
horses were only partly visible when
on the far side of the track.
The race track is really the feature
of the Fair grounds. 1t is a full mile
standard elliptical track, built strictly
within the regulations. The width Is
fifty feet, except in the finish, where
1t is sixty feet. 1t is inclined in the
regulation manner on the short curves
of he ellipse and has rise of one
foe in each quarter of a mile for the
frs .hree-quarters and drop of three
feet in the finish. Horsemen predict
that the track will prove an excep-
tionally fast one. The sandy soil on
which ii is built makes an excellent
foundation and as the best of clay was
used in giving 1t surface, there Is
every reason to expect satisfaction. A
Morning News representative, who rode
over the grounds yesterday with Mr..
Moore found the track in splendid con-
dition. The clay has packed to just
s4otA m SrtY a
firm footing, without making 1t too
hard, and over this is a light carpet of
impalpable dust just sufficient to make
a good cushion for the feet of the
horses. Several trackmen who have
recently examined the track declare
IL to be their belief that it will prove
the best in the South.
II is really a $4,000 track. but the
cost to the Fair people is less than
half this amount, for the reason tnat
the greater part of the work was done
by county convicts. whose services were
secured from the County Commission
ers.
The exhibition buildings are just to
the east Of the grandstand sitting
back somewhat from the race track,
but near enough for convenient access.
The first building on the left will be
devoted to the educational exhibit. for
the success OF which special effort is
being made, and the woman's depart
ment, the department of fine arts and
similar features. The building Is So
feet wide by 300 in length, being In an
IL" shape. One of the features Will De
q kindergarten department, where visi-
tors can have their babies taken charge
OF and cared for. In fact, the arrange
ment will be so simple that baby
can be checked like any other parcei
and called for when wanted.
In the center of this group Is the
Agricultural and Manufacturers
building, 100 feet wide by 300 long. Here
is where the county exhibits will be
placed. Seven counties have already
been enrolled for exhibits and others
are expected to enter. Quite lively
competition between North Georgia anc
South Georgia is expected for the first
prize of $500. Brooks county has Sc
cured a large and desirable space and
is understood to be straining every
effort to make an exhibit which vii
take first prize. Spalding, Cobb and
Barlow will come from North. Georgia
each determined to get a prize and
profting by the light Of past expert
ence in striving for II. The little coun'
~ Of Camden in Southeast Georgia II
preparing to make very creditabls
exhibit, and Bulloch is expected to rep
resent the wiregrass section of th'
state
Besides the agricultural and mechan
zeal displays in this building, there will
IS f.N <l.lt q