324 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



LIGHT. 



I believe this board should again open negotiations with the Des 

 Moines Edison Light Company and see if some agreement cannot be 

 reached whereby they will construct a high tension line from their 

 power plant to the fair grounds for the purpose of furnishing adequate 

 light and power necessary for the fair. The fair can never grow to be a 

 great exposition until such time as the grounds and buildings can be 

 properly lighted. This is impossible with the capacity of the plant now 

 in use, nor is it advisable or practicable to add to the present equipment. 

 In order to increase the capacity of the plant it will be necessary to 

 first enlarge the size of the building, add one or two additional boilers, 

 new engine and new generator. The first cost of these additions would 

 go a long way toward paying for the construction of the high tension 

 line. The line work on the grounds would be the same as before. The 

 cost of maintenance and operation of the present plant would more than 

 pay for double the current we now use. Under this plan we would 

 not be handicapped for sufficient light at the present or in the future, 

 and more especially would escape the great danger of a breakdown at 

 an inopportune time. 



GENERAL. 



In order that it may be made a matter of record, I present herewith 

 the official opinion of Attorney General H. W. Byers upon the right of 

 the board to pay the secretary of the State Department of Agriculture 

 extra compensation for his services as a member of and clerk to the 

 executive committee upon the State Fair and Exposition work; an extra 

 compensation similar to that paid to the members of the state executive 

 council. The opinion follows: 

 Mr. J. C. Simpson, Secretary, State Board of Agriculture. 



Sir: I am in receipt of your communication of some weeks ago in 

 which you say: 



"At a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture on February 21, 

 1908, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: 



" 'Resolved, That the general management of the Iowa State Fair and 

 Exposition be delegated to the Executive Committee as provided in 

 Section 1657-i, Chapter 3, of the Supplement to the Code of Iowa, and 

 the said Executive Committee be and they are hereby authorized to 

 employ a secretary or clerk at a salary of not to exceed twelve hundred 

 ($1,200) per year, said salary to be paid from the receipts of the State 

 Fair and Exposition.' 



"At a meeting of the executive committee on the same date J. C. 

 Simpson was named as clerk of the executive committee and his compen- 

 sation for such service was fixed at $1,200 per annum, payable monthly 

 by warrant drawn upon the treasurer, and that the time of beginning 

 said service to date from February 1, 1908. 



"Does the statute under which the Iowa State Fair is held warrant 

 the above action by the board and executive committee?" 



In response thereto I submit the following: 



