The Alaska citizen., 1917-09-10
PARK BOARD IS PLANNING MANY
 NEW FEATURES

II the plans of the board of park commissioners for Exposition park mature Fairbanks will soon have a race track ot which she cun be proud. one around winch II will be .. pleasure for automobile racers 10 drive lhsteAu of the torture which prevailed for every driver during ey cry moment of the race over the rough track on Monday For il Is planned to have the track completely graded and graveled in order that there will be no such thing as the ,cutting up of the soft ground in auto races And 1t is barely possible that the present half-mile track will be made into a mile speedway, ow- ing to the fact that many people cons der that it is not large enough There is plenty of room to enlarge, and the costliness of the venture will probably prove to be the only obstacle to the making of the larger track
 Two very successful automobile races have been held on the present track, practically everybody in the surrounding country being interested in them. For this reason it is thought that they should be made permanent feature. But the park board considers that it is too much torture for the drivers of the cars to run the track in its present con dItiOn, particularly in the condition which obtains toward the end ol d race when the speedway becomes badly cut up, consequently it is al together probable that the track will be graveled and otherwise placed in first class shape some time before the next automobile race takes place. The park board, in considering the proposition to gravel the speedway, is also taking into consideration the cost of putting the track in condi- ton for each separate race. For the race just over the cost was ap- proximately $125, that amount being practically thrown away in improve ments for the one race. Only few such expenditures would put the track in sucn condition, it is thought, that it would be necessary only to give it the "once over" so to speak, before each race.
 Just when the work of grayeling the track will commence is not known. but it will probably be some time this fall There is a good sized balance in the treasury of the park board just now which, it is felt, would go a long way toward making the more permanent improve ments. Among other things, it is planned to build the track about three feet higher on the outer edge than on the inner side, "dishing" 1t in such manner as to make 1t saucer shaped. This would have the effect of greatly facilitating the hold ing of auto races on the speedway af- ter it is graveled and packed hard. Clay, it is stated, would also go far toward the makeup of an eXtraordi- narily good speedway. One member of the commission yesterday eX- pressed himself as being in favor of making every improvement which would go toward making first class track at the park, no matter if the expenditures involved were more than the amount contained in the boards treasury. From each au- tomobile race the park realizes neat sum, and it is figured that the amount in the treasury, together with the sum which will be realized should race be held next Fourth of July. would be enough to make a first class speedway.
 The work would not be so costly, it is thought, if it were possible to secure the gravel at the park in stead of having to haul it, providing it does not lie at too great depth. And to the end that the depth may be ascertained, a man will probably be put to work prospecting within the next few days. In this manner the depth to gravel can be ascer tained, and if it is not more than three or four feet and 1t is found to be comparatively easy to dig a gravel ,it from which the necessary gravel can be secured with scrapers, it is probable that the graveling of the speedway will be done this fall and the track placed in good condition for all future races.