TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III 227 



for a one-page advertisement In any of our agricultural journals; that 

 the fair furnishes him this great opportunity to meet the progressive 

 farmer or the agents who handle his goods, the men of advanced thought 

 from every part of the state, who are usually good buyers with ability 

 to pay. 



From personal investigation I find that a great many exhibitors are 

 really amazed at the success of their efforts, the number of orders taken 

 and amount of goods sold — that results are extremely satisfactory, and 

 profits on the venture greatly exceed the expenses. All this can be shown 

 and more; that advertising of this character has a permanent value to 

 the manufacturer in the sale of goods for many years after the goods are 

 exhibited. 



With this showing, the exhibitors as good keen business men cannot 

 consistently or seriously object to a fair and reasonable charge for their 

 space. I think I haye shown that it is not radical or even unreasonable to 

 make this charge; that it will not distress the exhibitors to any great 

 extent, if at all; that as business men they will cheerfully recognize that 

 the proposition is fair and equitable. 



So, considering all the conditions, the arguments that will or can be 

 arrayed for and against the proposition, its inauguration will cause little 

 friction, and I favor a fair and reasona,ble charge for outside space for 

 machinery exhibits. But even in this frame of mind, I would warn 

 against action of such a radical nature as would tend to disturb the pres- 

 ent friendly attitude of machinery exhibitors. 



I am loathe to close this discussion without presenting more definitely 

 the method to be followed and the amount of the charge that should be 

 considered. The price per square foot would seem more equitable, but 

 I have seriously considered a price of twenty-five or even fifty cents per 

 running front foot to suit different conditions, with a minimum charge 

 of five dollars. This arrangement would not work a great hardship on 

 even the largest exhibitor, who usually requires a frontage of 75 to 150 

 feet, while a charge per square foot, even at one cent per foot, and that 

 is as low as could be conveniently considered, would amount to one or 

 two hundred dollars for the big fellows, which would be too much; and 

 without a minimum would not be worth considering from the smaller 

 exhibitor, who in many instances requires only a ten-foot front. 



This arrangement will do away with the unsatisfactory practice of 

 some exhibitors in applying for a great deal more space than their ex- 

 hibits require, to the detriment of late comers who find practically all 

 the exhibit space taken, and in many instances very sparsely occupied. 

 It will have a tendency also to neater arrangement and better classifica- 

 tion of exhibits. 



I will not dwell further on the details of a charge per front or square 

 foot, but will leave this phase of the question for general discussion, which 

 I trust will follow. 



One more point, and I will finish. There is a great awakening in the 

 farm implement industry. Giant corporations are forming and arranging 

 for a titanic struggle for business. Competition fierce and furious will 



