1S6 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
added to the $23,000.00 expended for improvements in excess of funds 
available at the beginning of the year has necessarily to be paid out of 
the profits of this year's fair. The profits as shown were a trifle over 
$44,000.00, which will leave us with a net balance, after all outstanding 
warrants and bills are paid, of $20,000.00 with which to begin the new 
year. While this is less than we have had for a few years past, you 
must not forget that the board has expended about $100,000.00 in the 
past two years for improvements out of the fair fund. Some little work 
has been done since the fair, such as grading on the sidehill where 
vice-president's office was formerly located, the old secretary's office 
moved to this new location to be fitted up for a "Rest Cottage" for the 
women; the idea being to use the building on the hill for the exhibit 
from the Agricultural College. Contracts have been let for the moving 
of horse barns Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. This will make available valuable 
ground south of the street car loop. The interior of the poultry building 
was painted white and a new roof put on. We also have a plan and esti- 
mate from the Empire Cooping Company for the installation of a new 
system of coops. This, we believe, will give the Iowa State Fair as 
good a poultry building as will be needed for several years. We have 
had prepared a preliminary sketch of a map of the grounds, which we 
would like to have examined and criticized by the board before going 
further with the work for a permanent map of the grounds. 
Our recommendations for appropriations from the legislature for new 
improvements must be taken up and agreed upon at this time. I be- 
lieve it is the duty of this board to fully discuss and present to the 
legislature whatever recommendations for appropriations are necessary 
to provide proper equipment at the State Fair Grounds. The first ques- 
tion is, not what will be given, but rather what is most needed. One 
thing is sure; past experience convinces me that the legislature will not 
appropriate funds for improvements that are not presented to them. The 
equipment at the Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds is far from 
adequate to house the exhibits and care for the crowds. While it will 
probably be many years before it is complete, we should use every means 
to secure additional improvements as fast as possible. I will mention 
here a few of the buildings and improvements that should be made with 
the least possible delay: Amphitheater, moving of race track and speed 
barns, additional land (either on the north or south), completion of 
building for the showing of swine, extensions and additional equipment 
to the light and power plant, sewer system, sheep barn, mezzanine story 
in the Agricultural Building for a pure food exhibit, completion of 
horse barn, completion of proposed cattle barn, a manufacturers and 
liberal arts building, implement and machinery building, a combined 
horticultural and floricultural building, a dairy building, an auditorium 
or open pavilion in which meetings of various kinds could be held. Of 
the many improvements named probably the first to have your con- 
sideration will be the amphitheater. During the past fall our presi- 
dent, architect and myself visited several cities where amphitheaters 
had recently been erected, for the purpose of studying plans and methods 
of construction. These visits, we believe, were not without profit. We 
gathered many excellent ideas which will be of material advantage to us 
