23: lOV/A EEPART?,IEXT OF AGRICULTURE 



AN OVERFLOW IN IOWA. 

 The Breeder's Gazette. 



It was overflow year at Des Moines. Following rather a lean year, 

 with its overhang of shadow of disease and the disaster wrought by a 

 wet harvest and a frosty fall, it was most heartily welcomed. Fair 

 managers like farmers are at the mercy of the elements. Late years 

 have witnessed vast improvements in equipment, resulting in safety 

 for valuable animals and comfort for exhibitors and visitors in all 

 weathers, and in these respects Iowa occupies a post of conspicuous 

 prominence, but all these factors in the greatest success of such an 

 exhibition fail to save from loss when farmers are harassed by such 

 unseasonable weather handicaps as afflicted the Iowa husbandman in 

 1915. The pendulum swung from wet to dry this year, and even a 

 slight tinge of frost the week of the fair in the northern section of the 

 state recalled the blight which fell on the corn crop the last of August; 

 but agriculturally Iowa is so far more agreeably situated than last 

 year that the fact found reflection in an overflow of exhibits and turn- 

 stile records that materially exceeded day by day the totals at the pre- 

 vious fair, and suggested strongly the realization of the ambitions of 

 the managers to reach eventually an aggregate attendance of 300,000. 



The increased gate receipts were necessary. The fair opened with a 

 deficit of $42,000, incurred by ambitious building which carried outgo 

 considerably in excess of the disappointing income. Maintenance only 

 was the plan during the past twelve months. No new building enter- 

 pris3s were undertaken. Members of the board provided personally 

 for the financing of the deficit, and it was hoped that the close of the 

 exhibit would practically see the debt liquidated. Gate receipts for 

 the first half of the period held promise of that desirable eventuation. 



Cars and the camp city are rapidly tending to supply the basis of a 

 paying patronage. The fair week campers are annually gaining in 

 number, and this feature receives every possible encouragement. For 

 the first time the main avenue leading from the city to the grounds 

 was well paved. The badly worn brick had been replaced by asphalt, 

 thur. encouraging city attendance. The auto-owning farmers who cov- 

 ered miles of dusty roads with abundant chuck holes were ready enough 

 for the smooth pavement over which they rolled to the grounds, and 

 were "boosters" for road-building and maintenance. An appreciable 

 part of the attendance came in motor cars, and the efficient police 

 force — the cadets from the Iowa State College at Ames, under com- 

 mand of Gen. Lincoln — were kept busy preventing serious congestion 

 on the driveways. The future holds a big problem, as farmers are 

 rapidly adding motor cars to their equipment and many additional 

 thousands will journey to the fair in such conveyances. 



A material factor in the big attendance built up at this fair is the 

 night grandrtand entertainment. Particularly does it appeal to the 

 city folk and on more than one evening every possible bit of space — 

 f.saling and standing — was occupied. The fireworks spectacle is more 

 appealing than ever, and thrillers of the most sensational character are 



