26 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



The most important thing accomplished by the Board, not including 

 the fair itself, has been the purchase of 134 acres of land which has been 

 under lease for fair purposes, giving us a total of 214 acres of most 

 valuable land. The purchase price of the 134 acres was $40,200, and I am 

 strong in the belief that the Board will in years to come find it a wise 

 investment, although we now have to bear tlie burden of indebtedness 

 for it. Time has shown that the State Board made no mistake in taking 

 the fair to its present location. The city of Indianapolis is expanding in 

 that direction and in time promises to entirely surround our grounds, as 

 it did years ago when the fair grounds were nearer the heart of the city. 

 That this later move was a good one has been evident by the fact that 

 land surrounding the present grounds has been selling at from $500 to . 

 $1,000 an acre, a good deal of it having been cut up into small tracts, 

 upon which pretentious suburban homes have been erected. 



The fair now has a^home where it can be expanded for tifty years 

 without outgrowing its location. I believe the people of Indiana this 

 year more than ever showed their faith in our entei-prise, showed their 

 faith in it as an industrial and agricultural enterprise, and made it evi- 

 dent that they feel its force as an educational institution. This evidence 

 came through the remarkable attendance, the highest with the exception 

 of 1876, when there was an extraordinary attraction; in addition to this 

 public support, we had the backing 'of an unusual number and class of 

 exhibitors. The newspapers of Indianapolis and over the State showed 

 their good will in their generous support. To the Indianapolis Commer- 

 cial Club and the Merchants' Association of Indianapolis we owe much 

 of the support given the last fair. There is no doubt but these two busi- 

 ness associations wielded a wide influence in our behalf and made it 

 evident that with their continued support we can accomplish still greater 

 results. 'l am sti'ong in the belief that we can not do too much toward 

 promoting the closest relations with the business men of Indianapolis. ■ 



For many years the most perplexing problem in connection with the 

 fair was that of transportation, but through the energy of the Indian- 

 apolis Traction and Terminal Company this problem reached a perfect 

 solution last September. The service every day of the fair was highly 

 satisfactory. The interurban lines gave fine service and aided the people 

 of the State to get to the fair with speed and comfort. Fine as this 

 transportation has been, there is every indication that it will hereafter 

 be better. By the next fair the bridge over Fall Creek at College avenue 

 ■will doubtless be completed, Avhich Avill give the street railway company 

 three distinct lines to the fair, instead of two. 



All conditions of the fair have reached a point where the enterprise 

 must be materially broadened in scope. With a fine location, the fair is 

 now ready for permanent improvements, and this is one of the most 

 serious problems which the Board must face in the next few years. For 

 many years the Board has been burdened and worried with debt. The 



