Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-16
WILL BE KNOWN AS THE IOWA
STATE FAIR AND ExPoslTloN,n
AND WILL OPEN NIGHTS.
BIG Elk URE
Expense Of Making the Improvements
Contemplated Will Run Well Into
the Observation-Disclosures Of Board
Are Working on Plans.
Des Moines Bureau of
The Ottumwa Courier,

n took the putting of motion and
vote by the directors of the state
department of agricultural to make
the state fair into the Iowa State Fair
and Exposition" but it is requiring a
great deal of brain work on the part
of Secretary Simpson and some Of
the members of the board to make it
In fact what it will be in name.
Every year heretofore the fair has
had a day attendance and such night
attendance as cared to go and see
some fire works limited by the capa-
city of the amphitheatre. Now it is
proposed to have the thing open
nights in all departments but to do
this the grounds must be lighted and
all the buildings lighted. If this Is
done the night attendance will add
about so per cent to the gate receipts
but to light the grounds and buildings
is something more than thought The
directors have been trying to get the
Des Moines Edison Light to furnish
the electricity. To do this the Edison
Light will have to invest about $10,-
600 and they don't care to invest that
amount just for the mere meter rent
for one week out of the year. They
can hardly be blamed.
The department has on the grounds
an Anticipated lighting plant that will
not even light all the streets as they
should be lighted. When an investi-
cation was made of the cost of improv-
ing the plant it VS. found that
new plant would have to be put in
and that this would cost something
like $4,000. To make an exposition
out of the fair 1t will be necessary to
have the buildings lighted on the in
side as bright as day and it will be
necessary to have them outlined on
the outside with electric lights. To put
In the lights. WIRE ETC., in the agricul-
tural building alone will require an.
outlay of something like $4,000 with
$4,000 for the stock pavilion. The de-
partment hasn't got that much money
to. spend on the thing. Over in Ohio
the legislature authorized the fair de-
partment to issue bonds for $250,00
to improve the entire grounds.
Aside from the lighting problem the
board from the profits of last years
fair must this year erect big horse
barn that will cost $4,000 at least.
Water works mains must be put in
that will cost in the neighborhood of
$4,000, all Of which will be under
ground and SO will not add to the at
Effectiveness of the grounds. There
are several other matters that will
cost considerable and will further cut
down the profits remaining from the
success of last year.
State House Lacks Room.
The executive council is to be con-
fronted with problem Of finding quar-
ters in the state house where there
are none. The legislature provided
that the new board Of parole should
have quarters in the state house and
that the state veterinarian should al
SO have quarters in the state house.
AT, the present time there are occu-
pants of Office rooms in the state
house who think they should have
more room and there are no vacant
rooms. The executive council there
fore has something of problem on
its hands.
There Is some talk Of giving the
rooms now occupied by the geological
survey department to the board Of
parole. These rooms are on the base
ment floor in the northwest corner of
the building. There are two rooms
and good vault It will be neces-
sary for the board to have a vault for
the reason that the indeterminate SEN
tence, law provides that the clerks of
the district court following each con-
viction must send to the board copy
of the indictment and list of the wit
nesses an other evidence all Of which
must be filed in safe place. There
are about 400 to 500 Of such every
year and in short time small vault
would be filled. 1t is necessary to have
rooms for room for hearings in ad-
dition to q private room. The rooms
occupied by the geological survey
would supply all requirements.
If this is done it will be necessary
to find room for the geological depart
ment There is talk of putting IL
somewhere in the new historical build
ing or else in the rooms In the brick
residence building across the street
part Of which is occupied by the state
dairy and food commissioner.
Thus far no place mas been discover.
ed for the state veterinarian 1t may
: US uSCSS5dly W give I'LL temporary
quarters with the state board of health
till other rooms can be found.
Curator AIdrich Gratified.
Curator Aldrich Of the Historical
building is feeling very highly graft.
fed over the kindly treatment Of the
legislature in giving him an assistant
1t is the first time that state officer
has been continued in office and be.
cause of declining years given an as
sistant to take the burden Of the drug
gerry work off his shoulders. Mr.. AL
drich though feeble in body is as keen
in intellect as when many years
younger and can direct the work as
ably now as at any time. BY giving
him an assistant the state has only
recognized the great work he has done
in working up the department during
several years of which he worked with
out salary. Furthermore he has put
into the department considerable Of
his own worldly means and his friends