NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 
503 
The directors did a wise thing when they set the opening of the fair 
two days ahead, opening it Wednesday instead of Friday as has hereto- 
fore been the custom. These two days— every minute of them— were 
needed by the exhibitors to prepare for the crowd which came later. 
During the past two or three years there has been quite a sentiment 
in favor of a two w^eelc's fair. We have not thought the time had 
come for that, but as the number of permanent buildings increases 
and the fair becomes more independent of the weather, the sentiment 
for a longer fair will undoubtedly grow. The addition of some agri- 
cultural short course features would help make a longer stay desir- 
able. Who knows but some time in the future our state fair may de- 
velop into a month's exposition. 
When representatives from the various state fairs, and from the 
commercial clubs and business interests of the different cities went to 
Chicago about a month or six weeks ago and met with the officers of 
the Western Passenger Association, they told these gentlemen of the 
railroads that the conditions were right this year for a great state 
fair if the railroad people would do their part and put in the old rate 
of three cents per mile for the round trip. These gentlemen pointed 
out the necessity of having successful fairs in the west this year and 
the influence this would have on the business conditions of the country 
generally. Some of the railroad people were inclined to be skeptical on 
this point, but after considering the matter carefully they conceded to 
the wishes of the western folks and granted the rate of three cents 
a mile for the round trip. If there remains any doubt in their minds 
as to the wisdom of granting this rate it can very quickly be put aside 
by consulting their passenger receipts to Des Moines last week. While 
the official figures can not yet be obtained, it is estimated that over 
200 000 people came to the state fair. The attendance each day ex- 
ceeded that of the same day last year. On Monday of last week for 
example, the gate receipts alone at Des Moines were $15,015.40, while 
for the corresponding Monday in 1907 they were but $7,279.80; on 
Tuesday this year, $26,181.85, as compared with $19,081.55 last year; on 
Wednesday $24,470.35, as compared with $21,348.75 last year; on Thurs- 
day $18 279.10, as compared with $12,862.90 for the same day m 1907. 
Up 'to Thursday night the total receipts of the fair amounted to $116,- 
911 00 as compared with $83,164.00 for up to the same date last year. 
When 'the total receipts for the entire fair are figured up carefully they 
will be found to run from $125,000. to $130,000, and after all expenses 
are deducted it is probable that the profits will run from $30,000 to 
$50,000, which will be used to further improve the grounds and build- 
ings. 
If anyone wants to know whether Iowa folks are suffering from the 
financial flurry of last winter he ought to be able to find a sufficiently 
definite answer in the foregoing record of attendance. If Iowa was m 
the dumps financially we would not have had a record-breaking, at- 
tendance at the state fair. The Iowa farmer is thrifty and frugal. He 
