48 



GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF GROUNDS AND 



BUILDINGS. 



A. J. LOVEJOY. Superintendent. 



lo the State Board of Agriculture. 



Gentlemen: — Your superintendent of grounds begs leave to submit the 

 following report of the fair of 1901: 



The general public was, without exception, full of praise of the fair and its 

 unprecedented success from every point of view. The weather was ideal for 

 holding an outdoor exhibition, and the attendance equalled, if it did not ex- 

 ceed that of any previous fair held by the Board of Agriculture of Illinois. 



There should be a clause inserted in the next appropriation bill on account 

 of the fair grounds, providing at least $3,500 per annum for the maintenance 

 of the buildings and grounds. It is too much to expect this item to be paid 

 out of the surplus arising from the receipts of the fair, which many years fail 

 to meet legitimate demands made upon them. 



The very unsightly ditch or ravine running under the street railwaj' depot 

 to the culvert, should be improved by building a sewer throueh the same and 

 covering it over with soil and seeding it to blue grass. This ravine is an 

 eyesore in its present condition and mars the landscape, leaving an unfavor- 

 able impression on the visiting public. 



The damage done by mischievous boys and young men on the grounds 

 during day time is very great and adds largely t > the expense of keeping up 

 the grounds. I would recommend that a day watchman or policeman be 

 employed, at an expense not to exceed ^0 dollars per month, to patrol the 

 grounds between the hours of 8:00 a. m. and7:00p. m., commencing April 1 

 and continuing until November 1 of each year. The custodian has all he can 

 attend to in looking after the force of laborers employed in improving and 

 keeping up the grounds, and should not be expected to do police duty. 



The railroad platforms are out of repair and will have to be renewed soon, 

 to guard against injury to persons using them. 1 would recommend that in 

 the future all pa-senger platforms be built of concrete, instead of lumber, 

 after the style of the Alton platform in the city of Springfield. This method 

 of construction is of course more expensive at the start, but it is there to stay 

 when once put down. 



Your superintendent submits herewith a list of the personal property of the 

 board on the fair grounds, as required by the rules of the board, which list 

 is made a part of this report and filed in the Secretary's office. In connection 

 therewith I desire to say that there is no insurance on any of the personal 

 property of the board now on the fair ground. 



Respectfully submitted, 



A. J LovK.ioy. 

 General Superintendent . 



PERMITS AND PRIVILECJES. 

 JAMES K. DICKIRSON, Superintendent. 



7u the Hon Martin Conrad, President, and Members oj the State Board oj 

 Agriculture. 



Gentlemen:— I have the honor to report to your honorable board my sales 

 and collections as superintendent of permits and privileges during the year 

 1901, in counection with the Illinois State Fair from September 38 to October 

 5, inclusive. 



I contracted concessions, exclusive of a concession to a show which was to 

 pay 30 per cent of gross receipts, and a miniature railroad, which was to pay 

 25 per cent ot gross receipts, to the aggregate amount of $7,882 50, of which 

 sum there remains $2,55.25 which for various reasons could not be collected, 

 leaving amount collected of the concessions contracted, $7,627.25. I collected 

 from the animal show, on contract of 30 per cent gross receipts, the sum of 



