PROCEEDINGS STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 137 



in the cost of this year's fair compared with last year. This saving which 

 the State Board of Agriculture deemed necessary on the account of the 

 reduction in admission fees, and the change in conditions, was brought 

 about by placing each department of the fair on a budget basis. The 

 budget was prepared early in the year by the board members and the 

 Executive Committee, and adopted by the Board at the March meeting. 

 By the close co-operation of the board members, the Executive Committee 

 and the various Superintendents in charge of the departments, it was 

 possible to keep the total expense of the fair, other than premiums, prac- 

 tically within the budget. Considering that this expense amounted to 

 $161,521.00 and only exceeded the budget $2,258.00, or less than one and 

 one-half per cent, and the fact that this was the first year for the budget 

 system in all departments, the Board has reasons to be pleased with the 

 result of this year's efforts. 



The budget for premiums was estimated at $100,000.00. Due, however, 

 to an exceptionally large showing of live stock and other departments 

 having a greater number of entries than usual, a larger percentage of 

 premiums offered was awarded than in previous years. The cash pre- 

 miums paid amounted to $104,521.65 or $4,521.65 more than the estimated 

 budget. A complete itemized statement of the receipts and disbursements 

 and a number of comparative statements are made a part of this report. 



MAINTENANCE OF GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS 



The problem of maintaining the State Fair Ground buildings is one of 

 great concern to the board of directors. The appraised value of the 

 buildings and other improvements as shown by the inventory is approxi- 

 mately $1,000,000.00. Figuring on a basis of two and one-half or three 

 per cent for maintenance, which is the basis used by other fairs and in- 

 stitutions of like character, it requires from $25,000 to $30,000 annually to 

 properly maintain the grounds and buildings. For the past four years 

 the board has been expending, from the receipts of the fair, an average 

 of $20,000.00 for this purpose. Due to the fact that a number of the 

 permanent buildings are just reaching a point where the roofs must be 

 replaced, it will require a much larger expenditure during the next few 

 years to properly preserve and maintain this property of the State. 



It is reasonable to expect that the Iowa State Fair should be self- 

 supporting in so far as the operating expense of the fair is concerned. 

 It should not be expected, however, to take care of all of the maintenance 

 and minor improvements out of the receipts of the fair. The Board has, 

 therefore, recommended in the budget submitted to the Governor an 

 appropriation of $15,000.00 annually for maintenance, repairs and im- 

 provements to buildings on the Iowa State Fair Grounds. 



IMPROVEMENTS 



The improvements and permanent additions made on the grounds dur- 

 ing the last year cost $18,501.75. The principal items were $4,454.35 for 

 completing the cattle barn, $6,534.30 covering cost of transformers, re- 

 building switch board and extensions to light system; $1,310.50 covering 



