mi) IOWA DEPAKTMEXT OF ACtHIC'l LTUKE 



Friday 3,178 



Saturday 23,831 



Sunday 17,154 



Monday 27,608 



Tuesday 58,105 



Wednesday 58,993 



Thursday 15,557 



Friday 12,416 



Total attendance 216,840 



The weather conditions during the period of tlie fair were most un- 

 favorable. At the opening it was hot and dry, no rain having fallen upon 

 the grounds for over four weeks prior to the opening of the fair; the dust 

 was something awful. While the management had three sprinkling wagons 

 going day and night, the hot winds and sun would dry up the water very 

 fast and the grass was brown and full of dust. On Sunday night it 

 turned cold an;T by Tuesday morning overcoats were in order; then the 

 rain came Wednesday night and Thursday, with a good shower on Friday 

 morning. With all of this, the aggregate total receipts from the 1909 fair 

 are but slightly under those for 1908. The decrease in the ticket sales 

 was $2,SS9.85. In other receipts there was an increase of $1,432.59, bring- 

 ing the total receipts of the fair but $1,457.26 less than for 1908. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



One hundred and fifty-seven thousand, six hundred and fifty dollars and 

 thirty-two cents was expended for improvements at the State Fair grounas 

 the past season. Of this amount one hundred thousand dollars was re- 

 ceived from the state by appropriation from the last general assembly for 

 the building of the amphitheater, new track, etc., the balance must be 

 paid for out of fair receipts. In the past two years $115,950.00 has been 

 expended for improvements out of fair receipts. The improvements made 

 from the same source in the past eight years is over one quarter of a mil- 

 lion dollars besides an aggregate net increase of premiums paid to the 

 amount of $100,000.00. The past season saw many needed improvements 

 added. Besides the steel and concrete amphitheater, the track and speed 

 barns weve moved, swine show pavilion finished, additional sections to the 

 ■liven in the financial report. 



Following is a statement showing amounts expended annually for im- 

 provements in the past eight years and the source from which the money 

 was received. 



From fair From appropriaca- 

 receipts tion bj' the state ** ^* 



1902 $ 26,400.00 $ 37,000.00 $ 63,400.00 



1903 18,000.00 .• 18,000.00 



1904 12,600.00 47.000.00 59,600.00 



1905 12,000.00 12,000.00 



1906 30,000.00 30,000.00 



1907 ;... 41,400.00 75,000.00 116,400.00 



1,08 58,300.00 58,300.00 



1909 57,650.00 100,000.00 157,650.00 



