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: WILL OPEN AS SCHEDULED F. J. PONS ANNOUNCES CHARLESTON MEETING WILL BEGIN AT ADVERTISED TIME. Extra Force of Artisans Engaged to Ensure Completion of Plant at Early Date Track to Be Ready for Working of Horses by January 3. Charleston, S. C, December 2S. Work is being rapidly pushed on the new plant of the Charleston Fair and Racing Association. The few rainy days and Christmas holidays retarded progress a little, but a double force of men have been put to work to make up for lost time. F. J. Pons, general manager of the association, wishes to assure everybody that notwithstanding the false rumors that have been spread broadcast throughout the country by maliciously inclined persons, the meeting of the Charleston Fair and Racing Association will open on the date advertised, January 10. There are now employed ou the construction work 700 men. Among them are artisans of every description, carpenters, plumbers, painters, electricians and teamsters, all busily engaged in their respective employment. The filling in of the track will be completed by Saturday night. The road graders are already at work grading the track which will have a three-foot grade from the outer to the inner rail. Carpenters are busy placing both the inside and outside rails and by January 3, at the latest, horses will be able to make a complete circuit of the track. The grandstand is practically completed, the 1 oof being in place and all that remains to be finished is the inner fittings of the restaurant, lunch counters, etc. There are now completed 719 stalls and work has been started 011 250 more that will be finished bv January 5. Three double story kitchens have been built and are now in operation. All of the stables and buildings are lighted by electricity and city water is pied to all parts of the grounds. The big barn, which is one of the largest in the country, lias been finished. It is constructed from the plans of J. 0. Holder, who before becoming a turfman, studied to become an architect. In these plans he Is combining his technical skill with his experience as a horseman, and the result will bo ideal equine quarters. AH horsemen who have seen this stable claim that it is the most up-to-date and scientifically arranged structure ever built to houso thu thoroughbred. It is 000 feet long and 90 feet whip, with a 30-foot aisle down the center and surrounded by a 12-foot shed. It contains 175 stalls 10 by 12 feet, with sleeping quarters for the help and storage rooms for the feed overhead.
