The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-16
THE FAIR GROUNDS
: BUSY YESTERDAY
Never Before MAS So Much
Work Done at This Date.
NEW KINK IN MIDWAY
fhe Grand Stand Made 0ver--- rack in Fine
Shsps---caf. Under Grand Stand---Free
Attractions .-Soms Brand New
Features.

Features.
The Fair Grounds yesterday afternoon
presented very busy aspect. Prepara-
tons for the greatest of all State Fairs
are being rapidly completed, and perhaps
never before. in the history of the Fair
have the grounds and buildings presented
such an appearance of nearing readiness
on the Thursday before as they did on
yesterday.
Freight cars were already unloading ex-
hibits and a number were already on the
grounds in position, especially the larger
and heavier articles, such as furniture,
buggies, wagons, carriages and farm im-
plements in the main Exhibition Hall,
and exhibitors are busy getting ready
their booths and arranging their exhibits.
The piles of saw dust were no the mid
way, all ready to be spread, SC as 20
prevent dust and mud. Many refreshment
booths were already up along the en-
trance to the midway.
There will be new kink to the midway
this year. it will not run straight along
in front of the Grand Stand as it has
been doing for 10 these many years ig-
noring entirely the exhibitions of stock
back Of the Grand Stand but instead IT
will bend to the right just before reach
ing the stand, and pass behind it, and
there will be big sign to call attention
to the stock department, so that no one
can go away this time and say he did not
know there was any stock on exhibition
at all.
The Grand Stand itself has been thor
oughly overhauled, repaired and made
absolutely safe. The third story has heen
removed, taking off tons of dead weight
and yards and yards square of resistance
to the wind. Entirely new steps have re-
placed the old ones, and the new steps
have been painted dark red.
On both sides of the track, to the ex-
tent of $50 or 900 feet the shows of the
great Gaskill- Mundy- Carnival Com
pany will be placed. These arc the Tiny
Mite, dimnitive horse; The Girl from
Up There; Trained Wild Animals Show
Dog and Pony Show House Upside Down.
Crystal Maze; Moving Pictures; Trip to
Melodia: Down in Dixie; Chinese Theatre
The Gorilla Girl; Streets of Cairo; and
the Stadium 1t has not yet been de-
termined whether the Stadium will be on
the grounds or somewhere down town.
Then inside the race track will be the
free attractions, for which preparations
were being made yesterday. These will
be Youtuskey on the high wire and ln
the Slide for Life, and the Spiral Tower,
furnished oy the Gasklll- Mundy-Lev
Co. Besides these the management will
show the Human Bomb and the Captive
Balloon.
The track is already in as perfect COR
dition as dirt track can be put. +.
ALI Jones, road supervisor of the Raleigh
District, has had the convict road force
at work on it. They have thoroughly
leveled and rolled it, and then they took
sacks and went all around picking UP
every stone they could find Looking at
it now, one cannot see a pebble on all
its, surface
The barn-hke space under the Grand
Stand, for the first time since it ceased
| to be used for stalls for the horses, has
been cleaned and fitted up. and in the
east end a first class la carte cafe
will be run. Yesterday afternoon rs.
Walsh and Mrs. Mangum, who will con-
duct this cafe, were there arranging the
tables, chairs, cooking apparatus, etc.
This is an especially welcome innova
tion.
The prospects for good racing are
splendid and good many horses have
already arrived. A feature will be a half
mile running race for lady MOUNTS for
which the management has offered prizes
of 800 in two moneys. This race will be
put down on the program for Wedncs-
day Secretary Pogue says he has re-
ceived telegram of inquiry as to this
race, conditions, style of riding, restric-
tions, ETC., from the Misses Bridgcrs, OF
Tarboro. Mr.. Pogue states that it Is
practically certain they will enter One or
these young Ia dies has already entered her
horses for some of the horses.
An exhibit in the main hall that will
be of unusual interest will be cngrav-
ing on glass and china with gold dust and
electricity This will be shown by m
expert from Chicago 1t is an entirely
new process.
The exhibit of farm machinery and inn
plements is unusually large and interest
ing this year. especially so perhaps in view
of the general scarcely OF labor. The Vir-
ginia Carolina Chemical Company has
painted up the tent shaped booth
in front OF Exhibition H and will have
an exhibit there for the first time in
several years.
Several car loads of cinders have been
dumped at the railway station to take the
place OF the old boarding there
Altogether things looked lively yester
day, and the general prospects have never
been better, if as good.
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