THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 325 



$58,139.15 was paid out in cash premiums, an increase of $1,874.80 

 Over last year. The other large items of expense were $26,739.45 for 

 music, night shows and free attractions, and $10,471.05 for advertis- 

 ing. 



The net profit of the 1912 fair was $41,732.32, or practically the 

 same as last year. The attached itemized statement sets forth in de- 

 tail the receipts and disbursements of the department for the fiscal 

 year ending November 30, 1912. 



IMPROVEMENTS MADE DURING 1912. 



The cost of permanent improvements added to the grounds during 

 the year 1912 amounted to $71,056.56. This includes $9,625.00 of the 

 state appropriation, for additional land, and $61,3 81.56 of this amount 

 was paid from the balance carried over from last year and the re- 

 ceipts of the 1912 fair. 



Among the principal improvements made this year was the cross 

 section of the permanent horse barn, built of steel and brick at a cost 

 of $27,625.08. This structure is 156x224 feet and stalls 156 draft 

 horses and 132 ponies. It also made it possible to set aside the center 

 section of that portion of the permanent barn facing Rock Island Ave- 

 nue for carriages and fancy turn-outs used by the light harness horse 

 exhibitors. It also provides room for the office of the superintendent, 

 waiting room for the exhibitors, an assembly room for meetings of 

 breeders' associations, shower bath rooms, water closets, and many 

 other conveniences much appreciated by the exhibitors. 



The additional land, consisting of seventy-seven lots which were 

 either bought at private sale or secured through condemnation! pro- 

 ceedings, cost $12,814.05, in addition to the $2,375 expended for this 

 purpose last year. With the streets that were vacated and the re- 

 moval of the street car tracks and loop about ten acres of ground was 

 added to a much congested portion of the grounds. 



About one half of the proposed street car entrance was erected this 

 year at a cost of $5,081.73. When completed this station will make it 

 possible to load or unload six or eight cars at the same time and will 

 greatly facilitate transportation between the grounds and the city. 



Two sections of bleachers, each 192 feet long and seating 5,500 peo- 

 ple, were built at a cost of $5,710.95 and provided comfortable seats 

 for large crowds that witness the afternoon and evening performance 

 in front of the amphitheater, who heretofore were obliged to stand in 

 the paddock. 



Cement floor was laid over the exhibition platforms in machinery 

 hall at a cost of $4,385.55. The agricultural building was floored at a 

 cost of $1,944.30. Additional cement walks cost $1,358.99; combina- 

 tion curb and gutters $494.15; street extensions and grading $1,- 

 609.38, switchboard at distributing station and extensions to light lines 

 $2,510.03; moving and placing in good repair eleven horse barns $2,- 

 277.99; fence enclosing additional ground $618.49; and numerous 

 other- needed improvements fully set out in the attached statement, 

 making a total of $71,056.56 for the year. 



