242 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1912. 



The foregoing statement shows there will be available about $21,000.00 

 of this year's receipts and receipts up to April 1, 1912. The expenditures 

 necessary to pay balances on contracts, outstanding bills, and the running 

 expense of the department up to May 1, 1912, will amount to about 

 $7,000.00. This is in accordance with disbursements for the past two years. 

 I am not going to attempt to make recommendations for improvements 

 for another year for I feel the board is perfectly familiar with the needed 

 improvements and are better qualified to determine what should be done. 

 However, in order to assist the board as much as possible and to call 

 attention to a few improvements that have been talked over by the com- 

 mittee and other members of the board, I wish to remind you of the 

 following : 



I believe the board should consider the advisability of putting in cement 

 curbing around the exhibit spaces in the machinery building. From 

 the present outlook it will be impossible to floor this building for a year 

 or two at least. This curbing will give uniform height to all exhibit 

 platforms and will do away v/ith the expense of putting in 2x6 temporarily 

 around the platforms as was necessary last year. This curb is con- 

 templated in the completed floor and will be a permanent improvement 

 if made at this time. There are 4,600 lineal feet of this curbing and it 

 would cost 15 cents per foot, or $790.00. 



The board should also give serious consideration to the placing of a 

 cement floor in the agricultural building. We are all familiar with the 

 condition that has existed in this building for years, especially the last 

 year when the grounds were extremely dry and dusty. On account of 

 the central location of this building, and the large crowds that continu- 

 ally pass through it, it has been impossible to keep down the dust or to 

 preserve the exhibits in good shape. There is a total of 2,000 sq. ft. of 

 floor space, and at the best estimate received it would cost .06c per sq. ft, 

 or $1,920.00. 



For 5'our information I am also presenting an estimate on some other 

 cement work that I secured estimates on: 



To combination curb and gutter on south side of Grand Avenue 

 from N. E. corner of Machinery Building to Grand Avenue 

 entrance, and on north side of Grand Avenue from bridge to 



entrance, 1,400 ft. at 40c per foot $ 560.00 



To combination curb and gutter from a point N. E. of Agricul- 

 tural Building on Grand Avenue and south on east side of 

 Rock Island Avenue to Capitol Avenue, 600 ft. at 40c per foot. . 240.00 



To cement driveways on north side of Machinery Building, 



3,000 sq. ft. 

 To 20 foot walk along north and east sides of Machinery Build- 

 ing, 19,000 sq. f t 1,980.00 



I believe we will all agree that the club dining hall is too small to 

 properly accommodate the help that avail themselves of its privileges. 

 It has been suggested that the space under the porch east of our kitchen 

 and immediately north of the present room be excavated and fitted up 

 for the board table. This could be done at a small expense. 



It has been suggested that we could, for the expense of the apparatus, 

 install ten or a dozen shower baths in the room west of the closet under 

 the seats in the swine pavilion, for the use of the exhibitors and help 



