138 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



show from going on and also necessitated a refund of admissions. The 

 receipts of the afternoon and evening shows in front of the grand stand 

 showed an increase of $3,200.50 over last year. The total receipts from 

 all ticket sales at outside gates, grand stand and stock pavilion show a 

 decrease of $2,136.25 from last year. The receipts of fair from the various 

 departments and sources, other than ticket sales, were $59,916.16, or an 

 increase of $1,948.81 over last year. 



The total expense of conducting the 1914 fair was $170,436.18, which 

 was an increase of $23,696.16 over the cost of the 1913 fair. The principal 

 items of expense accountable for this increase are as follows: There was 

 paid out in cash premiums in all departments this year, $66,024.85. This 

 was an increase of $4,954.95 over the amount paid out at the 1913 fair. 

 This increase was due to new classes added and the increased number 

 of exhibits, especially in the live stock departments, which necessitated 

 the awarding of a greater percentage of the premiums offered than in 

 former years. 



Advertising the fair cost $13,117.94, an increase of $1,299.60 over last 

 year. This item, however, only exceeds the advertising budget approved 

 by the board by $177.94. 



This year music and attractions cost $26,374.55, which is $6,766.85 more 

 than was expended for music and attractions for the 1913 fair and $364.90 

 less than for the 1912 fair. 



The increased cost of music and attractions over last year is due to 

 the contract made with Lincoln Beachey about six weeks prior to the 

 opening of the fair, after contracts had been closed for all attractions 

 which the management had expected to employ. 



The question is sometimes asked and has been freely discussed at the 

 annual meetings of the American Association of Fairs and Expositions 

 whether the racing amusement features of our state fairs are becoming 

 top heavy. One of the speakers assigned to this subject in 1912 collected 

 data in regard to this from a great many of the state fairs. The figures 

 produced showed that the receipts from grand stand admissions, grand 

 stand concessions and entry fees in the speed department, came within 

 nine per cent of paying the entire cost of the racing and amusement 

 program, including all music. 



"We are pleased to note that the Iowa State Fair did considerably 

 better than that this year. After paying for the entire cost of the speed 

 program, including payroll of employes in that department, all music 

 and attractions, and the auto races, there was a net profit from the receipt 

 of grand stand admissions and grand stand concessions of $2,578. I do 

 not believe any fair-minded man would say that the receipts of the outside 

 gates would not suffer if the management would eliminate the amusement 

 and racing features, yet all are paid for without touching one cent taken 

 at the outside gates. Other items entering into the increased cost of the 

 fair were $2,835 for auto races, which took place on Friday, an added day 

 this year; forage cost $2,463 more; payrolls were increased $2,600 on 

 account of the added day and the help required in the Women and Chil- 

 dren's building, which was a new department this year. 



