Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1915 — FINE NEW SPEEDWAY FOR CHICAGO SOON [ARTICLE]

FINE NEW SPEEDWAY FOR CHICAGO SOON

Will Rival Track at Indianapolis— To Be Made of Wood as-a Two-Mile Course. On June 10th, next, Chicago will rival and probably overshadow Indianapolis in the way of an automobile race. For several years it has been the dream of motor fans in Chicago to build a speedway. At last itheir prayers have been answered, the ground has been obtained and the contract let. The speedway as planned will resemble the Indianapolis track in shape. It will be an oval course two miles around, built of two by fours set on edge. It will have a seating capacity of three hundred thousand, with anyjle space to double this if the attendance justifies. In looking over the amount of material needed it has been found that five hundred carloads of lumber will be used in the construction of the plant. Five thousand carloads of gravel and crushed stone and two thousand carloads of stone will be necessary for the work. One hundred carloads of steel and thirty carloads of nails are among the other items. This means one billion, one hundred and twenty million nails will be used. W. A. Esson, president of the American Contracting & Supply Co., which has the contract, estimate that there will be fifteen hundred men at work on the job in April and May. The race will be five hundred miles and all the officials are looking for American records to fall at the first meet. A large field of at least 27 can start, and the purse will be the largest ever hung up for a similar contest. ~\