Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-08-11
BIG new BUILDING
$4,000 Carriage Hall Erected at West
Michigan State Fair.
IT'S $4,000 SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR
SPACE WILL BE CROWDED BY
UNExcELLED VEHICLE
DISPLAY.

The increasing attendance during
the past few years at the West Mich1-
gan State Fair, which will be held at
Grand Rapids, Sept. 12-16th, this year,
Is a well deserved compliment on the
part of the people of western and
who comprise the management OF the
fair and who have given SO literally Of
their time and means to building up an
institution that the commonwealth OF
Michigan may be Justly proud of.
Three years ago the increasing de-
mands for additional space In which to
suitably display vehicles compelled the
erection of new Carriage Hall. A
handsome building 100 feet wide and
220 feet long was built containing floor
space # nearly 10000 square feet,
thereby adding to the large building
space already used, and every foot of
this large increase was filled during
1908 and 1909. Last year, after the
Fair had closed the most successful
week of its existence, SO great had
been the demand for better accommo-
dations and larger space for agricul-
tural and horticultural exhibits, which
heretofore had been housed in
cramped quarters, that the Fair man.
agement decided to use Carriage Hall
for that purpose, and this year this
great building will be renamed "Agri-
cultural HALF and will be devoted en-
tirely to farm products.
This left the Fair without adequate
room for the exhibition Of vehicles,
and, therefore, believing hat an ex-
penditure Of 100000 would be justi-
fed by the added satisfaction of all
concerned and appreciated by the pub
lie, new Carriage Hall, an exact du-
plicate of the one erected in 1907, has
been recently completed, and every
available foot Of this 10000 square
feet will be used for the exhibition of
fine carriages and automobiles, and
the patrons Of the West Michigan
State Fair will this year see an exhibit
ton of vehicles that will equal any
exhibition of a similar nature given
anywheve.
A new cement floor has been laid
in Horticultural Hall, and this build
ing is now one of the most modern
and up-to-date exposition buildings in
the middle west. Special premiums
amounting to over $4,000, are offered
this year for competition among the
counties Of Michigan, and without
question the fruit exhibition will be
the finest ever seen in Michigan and
one of the most interesting features
of the fair.
The erection Of this new mammoth
building required so much space and
the space heretofore used for the ex.
hibition of farm implements having
proven inadequate last year. it was de-
cided to move the implement field
north of its former location, and this
increased facility has been added fol-
the better display of farm machinery
which will unquestionably add greatly
to this feature of the Fair.
The changing of the implement field
to a new location brought up another
question. In the opinion of the bust
ness committee Of the Fair the horse
stables were not considered adequate
to the needs of the owners of the fine
horses that the large purses offered by
the speed department bring every year
The speed stables have been torn
down and new stables, modern and
commodious, have been built this sea
son, and these splendid improvements
with a fine, broad cement sidewalk
from the south gate TO Manufacturers
Hall. makes the West Michigan State
Fair the equal of any similar institu
tion in his part OF the country. Nc
State Fair can offer better facilities
both TO the exhibitor and the interest
ed spectator, and with the many added
attractions that the management will
offer this year, will make the Fair OF
1910 bigger and better than any Fair
ever held on the grounds Of the West
Michigan State Fair. We know that
the appreciation of the people of the
state will be shown by even a greater
attendance than that of last year.