ANNUAL MEETING. 89 



which we were to acquire full title to the 134 acres of land held by lease 

 and under option of purchase. I at once, in accord with the provisions of 

 the resolution, appointed Hon. Mason J. Niblack and Hon. M. S. Claypool 

 as the other two memiiers of the committee, to arrange for a loan of 

 $40,000 and to malve the purchase. Tlie money was secured and all details 

 settled, but up to this time we have been unable to meet the wishes of the 

 Board on account of the refusal of the owners of the land to carry out 

 their part of the contract. Nine years ago, when the option was talien, 

 land in the neighborhood of the Fair Grounds was valued at $300 per acre, 

 and upon this basis this option was talien. Today this land, less valuable 

 than that used by the State Fair and less advantageously situated, is sell- 

 ing for $750 to $1,000 per acre. At the time of the execution of the lease 

 and option, it was provided that one-third of the purchase money should 

 be cash, one-third in one year and one-third in two years, and the owners, 

 after refusing to accept the whole amount in cash, which was tendered, 

 were offered and tendered the sum of $13,400 in accordance with the pro- 

 visions of the contract. Again we were refused the execution of the deed 

 on account of our refusal to pay rents that were not a lien against the 

 land, a doubtful claim upon the Board. I am much disappointed that 

 this deal could not have been closed under my administration, for we had 

 arranged to borrow $8,000 at 5 per cent, interest, and with $5,400 from the 

 profits of the late fair, could have met the first payment on the land. I 

 hope to see immediate action talven toward instituting the necessary pro- 

 ceedings in the courts, to compel Mrs. Smith to carry out her part of the 

 contract, as we have been diligent and have exhausted all means and 

 methods to bring about this much desired result. 



In July last, at the request of Governor W. T. Durbin, General Foster 

 and Adjutant-General Ward, I turned the State Fair Grounds and build- 

 ings over to the State for the use of the Indiana National Guard. The 

 annual encampment of the several regiments was held thereon in the latter 

 part of the month, and all pronounced it an ideal camping and reviewing 

 ground. For this we received the thanlis of the Governor and the officers 

 of the several regiments of our State Militia. I believe that this action 

 should be talien annually, and that such changes as will best subserve 

 the interests of the State should be allowed and provided. 



At an early meeting of the Board in 1901. it was ordered that the race 

 tracli at the Fair Grounds be put in first-class condition, and that an 

 effort be made to interest the trotting horse interests in its use as a train- 

 ing center. I at once appointed Mr. M. S. Claypool as a special committee 

 of one, with instructions to use due diligence in fitting the track for train- 

 ing. Mr. Claypool recommended a change from the system followed by 

 the Board for years, asking that he be empowered to purchase a team of 

 good mules and another horse to work with the one already owned by the 

 Board. This power was granted, and at an expense of $678, he provided 

 two good teams, an up-to-date track harrow, and the necessary wagons. 



