41 



CONSTRUCTION. 



To the Illinois State Board of Agriculture: 



Gentlemen — Your Committee on Construction begs leave to submit the 

 following report: 



The work of your committee for the past year has been limited, owing to 

 the want of funds available for the purpose of improving the fair grounds, to 

 the remodeling of the school house recently purchased by authority of this 

 board. 



Your committee adopted the plans and specifications drawn by C. W. 

 Shinn, which provided a house for the custodian of the grounds, and a head- 

 quarters for the police and eratemen, with fully equipped sleeping apartments 

 for sixty men. 



The contract for the work was let to Mr. M. W. Howard (excepting the 

 plumbing) for the sum of $2,600. The plumbing was let to Mr. J. M. Rippey 

 for the sum of $385, and a new furnace was bought, costing $160. The build- 

 ing was completed and ready for use by the time of the fair, and was found 

 to be most satisfactory in every respect. 



Your committee also authorized the changing of two rows of sheep pens m 

 the sheep and swine pavilion into a light horse barn, which was done at an 

 expense of $1,000, providing 76 stalls for saddlers and drivers. The change 

 was considered favorably by your committee and all the members of the 

 board who were at hand to be consulted with reference to it, and as we were 

 long on pens and short on stalls for light horses, the change was made. 



It is hoped that before another fair ample provision can be made to erect a 

 live stock show ring with seating capacity of three or four thousand, where 

 both cattle and horses can be exhibited to halter. 



Your committee is gratified by the interest shown by exhibitors of ma- 

 chinery and vehicles in the project of enlarging Machinery hall, and the 

 securing of an appropriation for that purpose. Every effort of this board 

 should be made to bring relief to this overcrowded department of the fair. 



Nothing must be left undone on our part if we hope to retain the enviable 

 position of holding "The Greatest Fair on Earth." 



Very respectfully submitted, 



A. D. Barber, 



Chairman Committee on Construction. 



MUSEUM. . 



To the State Board of Agriculture. • 



Gentlemen— During the last fair a very complete collection of grains and 

 seeds was made from the exhibits there, which was placed in the cases as 

 soon as practical thereafter, and the appearance of the museum greatly im- 

 proved thereby. 



No other additions were made last year, lack of space preventing anything 

 more than replacement of old specimens. 



The only expenses incurred on account of the museum in 1900, were $30 for 

 the work of collecting the specimens named, $15 paid to a young lady in 

 charge of the museum during the fair, and $1.35 for pins for labels, thus 

 leaving a balance of $236.65 to the credit of this account. 



Respectfully submitted, 



D. W. Vittum, 



Chairman Museum Committee. 



