The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-22
LETS CONTRACT FOR
NEW FAIR BUILDING
Manufacturers Exhibits VIII Be
Housed In Finest Building
on the Grounds.

The board Of directors OF the State
Agricultural society met last night at
the Merchants hotel and considered
several important improvements in
connection with the fair of 1894.
The board awarded the contract for
$50, 600 manufacturers building TO be
erected the present season on the fair
grounds, contracted with the St. Paul
Gaslight company for the extension OF
its mains TO the fair grounds, and
adopted general plan for the new
street car loop at the grounds
Nine bids were received for the man
ufacturers' building, and the contract
was awarded to James Leek. OF Min
neapelis, the lowest bidder. The con-
tract price is something less than
$4,000, but with the painting and
walks the total cost viii approximate
the appropriation of $4,000 made for
the new building at former meeting
Of the directors. The structure is to
be by far the best building on the
grounds. 1t Is to be 120x160 feet, to
be built above a stone foundation OF
Twin City pressed brick, with steel
construction and with galvanized iron
roof. The posts are TO be twenty feet
in height and the general architectural
design is to be ornamental. The new
structure is to be of substantial
character, and ii is designed to furnish
permanent home for manufacture
ers' exhibit. Preference will be given
to Tive" exhibits. These are to include
variety ofzartieles in process OF man
ufacture, but space not occupied IN
the new building by exhibits OF this
nature will be devoted to completed
manufactures. The general plan OF a.
manufacturers building was evolved
from a conference with the manu-
facturers of the state, and it is ex-
pected to completely fill the large hall
with their exhibits, to include shoes,
clothing and kindred staples, for the
most part in course of being made, for
the education and information of fair
visitors. The contract calls for the
completion of the new building by
Aug. I, so that intending exhibitors
may be given a full month before the
opening of the 1904 fair to prepare
their exhibits.
Extension of Gas Mains.
The contract with the St. Paul Gas
light company will result in the car
rying of a six-inch gas main from the
present gas limits, a distance Of 1900
feet to the fair grounds, and there will
be two miles of mains to distribute the
gas to points needed throughout the
fair grounds A small electric light
plant now in operation will be con-
tinued, but gas will generally supersede
acetylene gas, Welsbach lights and
gasoline stoves. The gas will be gen.
orally used in the streets and build
ings and will entirely displace gaso-
line stoves for cooking, and which have
proven so dangerous in the concession
department. When the new gas plant
is Installed the management will abb
solutely prohibit the use Of gasoline
stoves at any point within the en-
closure.
The street railway loop is perhaps
the most important improvement TO be
added to the fair egrounds this season.
AS CONTEMPLATED the loop will permit
of entrance to, the grounds from either
st. Paul or Minneapolis, and cars after
making the turn may continue on to
the other 4city, may return to their
original starting point or go into stor-
age inside the loop. Storage facilities
viii be provided for 100 cars, the most
distant being only 400 feet from the
grand stand. In the past the lack of
street car facilities has been one of
the worst obstacles to attendance of
city people at the fair, and with the
improved service it is expected to ma
| terially increase the attendance for
1904 and successive years.
'gThe directors have provided three
| important inducements for attendance
upon the next fair" said Secretary E.
| w. Randall, after the meeting last
night, land it follows that the fair will
be better and greater than any of its
predecessors Everything at this time
points to the greatest fair in the history
| of the United States.
Those in attendance at the meeting
| last night were. President c.. N. Cos
| grove, LIE Sueur; Vice Presidents
c.. r. Smith, ST. Paul; B. F. Nell
son, Minneapolis - Manage w. M.
| Liggett, st. Anthony Park; j. M. In
derwood, Lake City and DR.. ]. c. Cur
ryer, st. Paul, and Secretary E. w.
| Randall, Of Hamline:
i