FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 103 



A large number of minor improvements were made, such as placing cin- 

 ders on the streets, painting, electrical work, offices for the superintendents 

 of agricultureand horticulture, water supply, fencing, removingand rebuilding 

 several horse barns, etc. All of these improvements, together with the 

 repairs necessary to make buildings and grounds ready for the fair cost a 

 considerable sum of money. 



1 believe that in the future the board should give more attention than 

 they have in the past, toward beautifying the grounds. There is nothing 

 that impresses a visitor more, than the neat appearance of the grounds. I 

 am aware that it takes money to make all these improvements, but as it is 

 available the streets should be curbed and guttered. This is made necessary 

 from the fact that all the water from the hills on the east part of the grounds 

 runs down through the streets on the flat part. At times this water comes 

 in such volumes as to leave the streets in a wretched condition, it being im- 

 possible to keep them from washing so long as they are not curbed and gut- 

 tered. If the streets have a neat, well-kept appearance, it will add much to 

 the beauty of the grounds. Provision should also be made for keeping the 

 paper picked up during the fair. This work could be simplified by having 

 a rule forbidding the distribution of circulars and bills over the grounds. 

 This rule has been adopted by the Minnesota State Fair Managers, and is 

 rigidly enforced. It would in no way interfere with the exhibitor, or forbid 

 him from handing out literature or circulars from his booth or place of 

 exhibit. Again, I believe it would be a good idea to not allow melons to be 

 sold on the grounds, other than from a regular dining hall or lunch stand, 

 or from a building especially provided for that purpose. It is impossible to 

 keen these melon rinds cleaned up , so long as it is permitted to peddle melons 

 promiscuously over the grounds. 



Much could be added to the appearance of the grounds by replacing the 

 balance of the high tight board fence along the front, with a neat woven 

 wire fence, such as as was put up this year between Grand Avenue and the 

 street car entrance. This would also aid the guards in policing the fence. 

 The entrances should be remodeled, which would add materially to the gen- 

 eral effect. 



I speak of these matters here to call the attention of the board to the 

 minor details, which are often overlooked for the more important improve- 

 ments which are made. 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT FAIR ASSOCIATIONS. 



The reports from the county and district fair associations for the past 

 year show, that they have been generally successful. Seventy-nine reports 

 were received this year, as against seventy-one for the year 1903. Their 

 financial statements show a small increase in the aggregate receipts and 

 premiums paid; also in balances on hand at time of making report. They 

 also show quite an increase in amounts expended for permanent improve- 

 ments on their grounds during the past year. Taken as a whole the re- 

 ports show a maiority of the county and district fairs as being in a good 

 live, healthy condition. 



I believe more of the officers of these county and district fairs should at- 

 tend the fair secretaries' meeting, which is held in this city annually during 

 the week of the Farmers' Institute and Agricultural Convention. They 



