TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART V 137 



In Iowa, with all the natural advantages with which nature has en- 

 dowed her, and the interest the people are taking to make the most of 

 them and continue to exhibit them at our fair, it will not be long known 

 as a fair, but as Iowa's greatest exposition. What I would like to see 

 erected on the grounds is a large machinery building with a track run- 

 ning through the center whereby the machinery could be unloaded in the 

 building. This not only would be a saving to the exhibitors in this de- 

 partment, but would bring other exhibitors that otherwise would not 

 come. Another very interesting thing would be a process or manu- 

 facturers building, showing the process of manufacturing as it is 

 done In the factories. Iowa is fast coming to the front as a manufac- 

 turing state, and in this building people could see the method of manu- 

 factures. Not only would it be interesting but it would be a great ad- 

 vertisement for the products of the state in these lines. The time is 

 not far distant when it will be necessary to cover the walks from the 

 steam and street car stations and to all the permanent buildings on the 

 grounds, and when that time comes rainy weather will cut but little 

 figure with the attendance, for patrons can visit all the exhibits regard- 

 less of the weather. 



The Board of Directors feel very grateful to the press of the state, the 

 exhibitors and the patrons of the fair for the interest they have shown in 

 making Iowa's annual exposition a success. 



Mr. President: We will now listtMi to tlie report of Secretary J. 

 C. Simpson for 1909. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



In Iowa the year 1909 will be remembered by agriculturists for its va- 

 riety of weather during the crop growing season. The rainy weather at 

 corn planting time continued far into June. Thousands of acres of land 

 prepared for corn was never planted. A great deal of corn was planted 

 which the farmer was never able to cultivate more than once or twice, 

 and in some localities, especially in southern Iowa, fields in large num- 

 bers were planted and never cultivated at all. Xor was the wet weather 

 in the early part of the season alone responsible for the poor condition of 

 many of our fields. The lack of rain, in certain portions of the state, 

 during the month of August, was very harmful to the making of a good 

 corn crop. Mr. Chappel, director of the weather and crop service, will 

 read to y^u today his report and fi'ial summary of crops for the year. 

 While I have not received any intimation of what his report will show, 

 I feel quite certain that the government estimate of this year's corn crop 

 is high. While the production of farm crops has not been so abundant 

 for the year 1909 as in previous years, prices have been better all along 

 the line; so that the net income to the farmer for his year's work will be 

 greater. Prices received for cattle and hogs have steadily increased sincr 

 the first of the year. Cattle have sold as high as $9.25; this being, I h<- 

 lieve the highest price paid since 1886. While 1 do not exactly call to 

 mind the highest price paid for hogs, it was around $8.50. Upon thr 



