The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-04
FAIR ASSOCIATION
is GETTING BUSY
Plans for Buildings Have All
Been Completed
WORK SOON TO BEGIN
General Manager R. M. Williams Talks
Enthusiastically of the Prospects
for Great Fair-People
Are Interested.

week. The plans and specifications are
now in the hands of the contractors and
bids will be opened about Wednesday and
contracts awarded.
The plans for the fair are being cast
upon broad lines and Birmingham Is
promised the greatest exhibition in the
history of the state. Never before have
the people shown so much interest in
the success of the undertaking and the
men behind the movement are meeting
with every encouragement.
The fair will open October and con-
tinue to October a. Secretary and GEN
eral Manager r. NJ Williams has been
busy for the past two weeks geeting the
plans together and arranging details for
the actual work at the fair grounds. The
smallest details are being looked after.
After investigating, the proposition
from the Cincinnati Exposition company
to sell to the association a steel grand
stand it was refused owing to the fact
that it only had a seating capacity OF
about 1000 people. 1t is not believed that
this would accommodate one-half the
people who will attend the fair In Biz
mingham.
Modern Grandstand.
modern grandstand is to be erected
that will seat more than 5000 people. 1t
will be 800 feet long and 70 feet deep
with eight divisions of twenty tiers of
seats EACH There will be two sections
of reserved chairs seating 1000 people and
six sections with a seating capacity of
more than 1000
There will be thirty private boxes seat
ing fifteen people each, and two large
public boxes seating twenty people each
for parties. Two large boxes are to be
reserved for the press and two large
boxes for the directors and guests of the
association. A large promenade will be
built at the back of the grandstand.
Beneath the grandstand there will be
a modern and well equipped restaurant
reception room and parlor for ladies and
gentlemen, with all desirable convent
ences
The track Is to be re-surfaced and
otherwise improved making 1t one Of
the finest and best in the whole country
for trotting and running races. In the
stretch it is to be widened to Go feet.
One of the largest show arenas in the
country will be built directly in front
Of the grandstand 1t will lie 200x400 feet.
and will be illuminated by electricity. This
arena will be used especially for night
horse shows, which is to be one of the
principal features o. the fair
Some of the finest horses in the United
States will be exhibited in these horse
shows as well as fancy ricers and drivers
from local stables Many of the finest
horses and lady riders from Tennessee
will be seen in this arena. A clubhouse
is to be built on the curve above the
grandstand.
Exhibition Halls.
The exhibit hall will be 125x200 feet
with large balcony This hall viii, con-
tain $4,000 square feet of floor space.
The mines and machinery building will
be 75x2OO feet and will have a floor space
of 10000 square feet.
A paddock under roof with twenty large
stalls for cooling OUT purposes is to be
built.
There will be an administration office
on the grounds for the secretary and
executive committee
There will be five large barns 200 feet
long with box stalls of modern construc-
ton and 1876 box stalls for show horses
There will be 100 tie stalls for colts and
exhibit horses. 100 stalls fer cattle Of
various breeds, so pens for sheep and 80
pens for hogs.
There are over eighty-six acres in the
tract, which will be entirely enclosed
by nine-foot fence, making over 7OOl
running feet of board fencing. The track
will be enclosed inside and outside with
track fencing, about 1000 running feet.
Smaller buildings are TO be provided
for dairy exhibits, poultry. pet stock and
small aniamls. Booths for all kinds of
and concessions are to be erect
ed on the grounds and a space 30Ox5OO
feet is to be set aside for the use of
midway shows.
No money or pains viii DE spared In
identifying the grounds ana making the
fair attractive to the eye. Grounds are
to be terraced and trees planted. Sparkling
fountains will spring up in unexpected
places.
Street Railway improvements.
The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company has agreed 10 put in two
COO feet switches with platforms 400 feet
long by ten feet wide just outside the
grounds at the two main entrances. The
company has also guaranteed the fair
association ten minutes services each
way.
Various manufacturing concerns in the
north have been invited to make exhibits
and demonstrate their wares. Many fav-
orable replies are being received and the
are that large number will
accept.
General Manager Williams has begun
on the catalogue, which will be the
largest and best ever issued by a fair
The association will control
the printing and the issuing and will dis
tribute over 10000 copies in the southern
states 1t will be ready for the printer In
about three weeks. Those desiring adver-
Using space In the catalogue should make
early application at the office of the asso-
citation In the city hall.
Every business and industry In the
state will be taken care of by the fair
There will be exhibits of
mining, manufacturing, live stock, agri-
culture, horticulture dairying, mercantile