TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 265 



hensible sort. The Iowa Fair management has for years exercised a 

 close censorship over side shows and concessions of all kinds." 



The growth and good features of the fair as noted by the Twentieth 

 Century Farmer of Omaha: 



"Iowa's annual live stock show and agricultural exposition was held 

 last week on the Iowa State Fair Grounds at Des Moines. This exploi- 

 tation of the skill and ingenuity of man in the promotion of excellencies 

 in animal creation, in the demonstration of possibilities in soil produc- 

 tion and in the bringing to the attention of humanity in mechanical 

 arts the wondrous faculty of inventive genius combine in completing 

 one of the greatest educational efforts that has ever been assembled 

 under the management of state fair enterprise. The Iowa State Fair 

 has grown within the last few years into an immense aggregation of 

 exhibition interests; its improvement and development of grounds, along 

 lines of exposition convenience, advantage and permanency are the 

 wonder and admiration of its oldest patrons and most loyal supporters." 



There has always been a few criticisms made in regard to over- 

 charging state fair visitors at the dining halls, and for lodging and 

 meals about the city. We believe that it is well to observe what steps 

 have been taken to correct these evils where they existed and note what 

 a few close observers have to say along this line. 



To this end we have secured a report from the Secretary of the 

 Commercial Club which sets forth their efforts to regulate and do away 

 with these over-charges; it also shows what was accomplished in se- 

 curing lodging and meals for the visitors through the Information Bu- 

 reaus. 



COMMEBCIAL CLUB BULLETIN. 



The free information bureau conducted for the purpose of providing 

 lodgings for state fair visitors at a reasonable price has again demon- 

 strated its worth. 



When the bureaus were opened in the Court House and the North- 

 western depot we had listed a few over 11,000 rooms, all at the uniform 

 price of a dollar a bed or fifty cents a person where two persons would 

 go together. Of these fully one-half were provided with two beds in a 

 room, or were what we termed "four party" rooms. This gave us room 

 for accommodating not less than 30,000 persons at the uniform price on 

 any one night. Over 2,000 of the rooms listed with us were in modern 

 homes where the privilege of the bath was extended for the regular 

 price of lodging. Over one-half of those listing rooms agreed to, and did, 

 serve breakfast at a price of not to exceed 35c. 



The check of the assignment cards indicates that during the fair we 

 actually assigned over 28,000 persons, a few for one night only, at least 

 20,000 for from two to four nights each. Of all of the persons provided 

 for in this way but three parties were taken advantage of by persons 

 listing lodgings. These tried to advance rates. In two instances we 

 secured the return of baggage and money advanced and destroyed the 

 cards and in the third instance we recovered the overcharge for the 

 parties after they had used the accommodations. In this way we made 



