54 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



with a view of obtaining duplicate checks. A few* payroll checks issued 

 are not properly indorsed. In explanation of this the superintendent of 

 grounds, Mr. Deemer, and his assistant, Mr. Whitney, were called to the 

 department and stated that this occurred only where men were employed 

 and money was advanced them or board guaranteed or on payment 

 on Saturday night, checks not being furnished until the following Monday 

 by the department. In some instances the time sheet shows a receipt for 

 the pay. The check issued for money advanced or for board guaranteed 

 or paid is the check not properly indorsed. This irregularity will be 

 obviated in the future. 



The records show that there is uncollected on contracts for conces- 

 sions the sum of $241.50, the amount unpaid for last year being $120 and 

 1917 $282.60. 



The board has expended for improvements, permanent repairs and for 

 real estate purchased, the sum of $105,216.08. Of this amount the sum of 

 $61,867.20 was expended for real estate lying north of the land formerly 

 owned by the state. 



The Thirty-eighth General Assembly appropriated for the purchase of 

 real estate $54,000.00, a balance heretofore appropriated for purchase of 

 land, viz., $167.75, being used. 



The balance of the purchase price was paid by the board. 



The board has expended for other than fair expenses the sum of 

 $12,823.53. Of this amount, $1,173.43 was for curbing on East Thirtieth 

 street, which amount was appropriated by the Thirty-eighth General As- 

 sembly. The board expended for the maintenance of grounds and build- 

 ings the sum of $21,617.51 for this year, for 1918 the sum of $12,217.77 

 was expended for the same purpose. The total expense other than the 

 fair was $163,542.19. The cash premiums paid for the fair amounted to 

 $85,538.31. The grand total of all expenses paid in this year was 

 5388,737.62. The receipts for the period were as follows: 



Receipts from sources other than fair $ 72,817.13 



Receipts from fair other than ticket sales. 109,941.05 



Receipts for ticket sales, including exhibitors' and solicitors' 



tickets 211,633.50 



A cash balance on December 1, 1918, of 50,486.38 



A total of $444,878.06 



The buildings on the grounds are kept insured in companies that ai'e 

 authorized to do business in the state. At the present time the fire insur- 

 ance amounts to the sum of $149,300.00. The tornado insurance on the 

 buildings amounts to the sum of $203,300.00. The premiums for both 

 amount to $4,963.06. 



The contest in spelling by the boys and girls of the public schools 

 of the state brought forth as much enthusiasm this year as that of 

 previous years. A list of the boys and girls winning places. In the con- 

 test is submitted herewith. . ' 



By reference to the tables showing the comparative receipts and dis- 

 bursements of the fair for 1918 and 1919, it will be seen that the receipts 

 for 1919 were $321,574.55; those for the year 1918 were $251,196.62, a net 



