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i J J t j j [ j I j j I j . » * j • ; I i 1 | , j ] j I I 5 I I ] I | , I I I , J 7 8 j Washingtons Drainage System Gets Acid Test New Set-Up Has Carried Off Surface Water in Fine Style The heavy spring rains which have been falling in this section have given the new drainage system at Washington Park an acid test, but the system has come off with ; ! "flying waters" to use a figurative expres- sion. However, this saying aptly describes | the rapidity with which the drainage oper- ; ates in carrying off surface water. j It works with equal effectiveness on the track, which was given a new bottom, and 1 in the stable area, where the ground be- tween the barns was plowed, regraded and I seeded to grass. The first improvement to greet those who ship in by rail will be the new unload- i i j ing platform, which assures safety-plus for i 1 horses and which is long enough to permit the unloading of five or six cars at a time, | j | The old wooden platform was torn I down. In its place is a mound or dike of l earth with sloping sides so horses may be led directly out of the cars to the ground , I level without the necessity of traversing ! ■ the entire length of the platform to a ramp ! at the end, as formerly. The new drainage system was installed to ! serve the entire plant, from the farthest j I barn to the parking lots, so even if the 90- year record rains of 1943 should be re- j peated the emergency can be met ade-1 quately. Of particular interest to horsemen I is the vastly improved condition of the footing in the stable area between the I barns, so much used when stable hands are cooling and rubbing horses and performing other daily routine tasks. The drainage here empties into the arteries j leading to main outlet for all surplus water. General manager John D. Jackson ex- * | j plained that the work on the main track : j : consisted of restoring the original cushion J j to a new clay foundation stretching half j way out across the circumference of the ; track from the inner rail.
