186 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



Delegate : What do you charge for a Ford ? 



Mr. Mullen : It will be owing to what is the difference between 

 an automobile and a gun. 



Delegate: Do you charge them inside of your grounds? 



Mr. Mullen: Yes. 



Delegate : "We charge fifty cents. 



Chairman : Is there any one who has any questions they desire 

 to ask Mr. Mullen? If not, we will hear from Mr. Clark, on the 

 subject of "State Aid for County and District Fairs." 



STATE AID FOR COUNTY AND DISTRICT FAIRS. 



BY WM. CLAEK, MAESHALLTOWN. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen: The question of "state aid for county 

 and district fairs" is one on which there can be no difference of opinion, 

 unless it he in regard to the maximum and minimum limits to which the 

 fairs of the state are entitled. 



There is not a person present this afternoon who will not agree with 

 me that the great state of Iowa, blessed beyond any other state between 

 the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Canada and the Gulf of Mexico, in the 

 value and fertility of her soil, her mineral products, factory products, 

 live stock, poultry and general prosperity of her people, that gives less 

 encouragement and aid to the county and district fairs within her borders. 

 I shall not attempt to tell you what other states are doing in the way of 

 aid to their fairs, as I understand your secretary has detailed information 

 on that point which he will give us later. 



The only matters for us to consider at this time are, the best method 

 of presenting the subject to the incoming legislature, and how to get the 

 present law governing state aid amended or repealed and a new one 

 enacted, giving the local fairs sufficient state aid that they may continue 

 their annual fairs at the high standard now attained. 



I am not a pessimist, but, to me, the outlook for the local fairs in the 

 future is far from bright. First, let us look at the financial condition of 

 the county and district fairs of the state, for a period of seven years last 

 past, or from 1907 to 1913, both years included. I am taking these dates 

 because I do not have the official figures of an earlier or later date. I 

 get my information from the annual Year Book of Agriculture, so there 

 can be no question as to their correctness. In 1907 the indebtedness of 

 the fairs of the state was $101,157. In 1913, the last available report, this 

 indebtedness had gradually increased each year until it had reached the 

 sum of $204,954, an increase of 102% in the seven years. Do you wonder 

 that I question the ability of the fairs to continue for any extended period 

 of time, unless the state gives them more encouragement and fiaancial 

 aid. During the same seven-year period the amount paid in premiums to 

 actual exhibitors, not including races or any other form of amusements, 

 had increased from $59,994 in 1907 to $88,186 in 1913, or an increase of 



