The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-08-24
SCENE OF ACTIVITIES
Fair Grounds Being Completely Re-
r mCdeled and Rebuilt. ..,.

Big things are happening at the new
fair grounds northwest OF town. New
fair grounds is right Even the old
est inhabitants will not recognize the
place, SO changed will it be when the
date OF opening arrives. '.la 81
One big piece of work in progress
is the rebuilding of the race track and
"a bigTforee Of men have the job in
hand under the PERSONAL supervision
Eof J. Fl. HarrisonE Grading is being
accomplished by means of a great
heavy tractor and a grader operated
under. the watchful eye and the prac-
uCed =. hand of Newt. Cox. Frank
Ballinger has big gang of shOVelers
engaged-in the trimming and edging.
The track is being made trifle wild,
Ter at the outer edge. Along the in.
terror the. drainage is being extended
and a new ditch made to come inside
the pole and removed from the race
course by several feet In case of
rain all water will drain to the ditch
and be carried away through outlets
provided.
Soil obtained from the work in pro-
gress is being placed in the low and
worn sections of the track and the en-.
tire course is being Overhauled and
rebuilt.
New fence, painted white, will sur
round the track both inside and out
side boundaries and will be of sub
stantial permanent sort.
Contractor Pearl Sparks lis making
rapid strides on the construction Of
the grand stand. It, is a monster that
includes the site of the old stand and
additional space. 1t Is over two hun
dred feet long and forty feet high
facing the track. The east end of
the stand is built out about fifteen
feet toward the track to give unob,
strhcted view OF the stretch. Space
at the front of the stand has been
provided for a paddock" and this
wifi accommodate at least three thou.
sand people. Here also will be the
judges and the starter At the front
OF the grand stand and overlooking
the paddock" is a space in the grand
stand devoted to boxes and reserved
seats. The seating is otherwise so
arranged as to give plenty of passage
room and convenience for occupants.
Contractor Sparks expects to have
the stand practically completed by
Saturday night.
At least two more horse barns are
to be erected at the northwest corner
of the grounds. Foundation has been
laid for the poultry sheds and the SUI
rerstructure will be placed soon.
Grading has been done for the hog
buildings and some of the concrete
floors are laid and readp for the top
works. These accommodations will
be second to none in the state. Cattle
and horse barns are all complete and
ready. They are permanent struc
lures with brick and tile walls, moth.
ing better in the way OF fair or exhib-
it buildings anywhere in the land.
These buildings are 40 feet wide by
lilo feet in length. They are located
at the southwest corner off, the
grounds. a.-g,a
Time is not given this season for
the erection OF new general exhibit
building and hence the old art hall
standing a little southwest OF the
grand stand will be made to serve
this season 1t is being made over,
repaired and QUILTED for the purpose
this fall and Will serve the occasion
very well for the time being.
Secretary Harry Rosebrook is on
the job every day and Is attending to
forty things at one and the same time.
He is here. there and everywhere and
is in personal touch with the progress
of work in every department.
Hundreds OF people visit the