20U IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AORICULTHRE 



influenced the locating committee was its proximity to Roclc Island ave- 

 nue, with the exception of Grand avenue, the most thronged thorough- 

 fare of the grounds. 



Then the animal industry outgrew the pavilion and the enormous, 

 permanent steel and brick swine barns with their own pavilion were 

 planned and placed on the same side of Rock Island avenue to the south, 

 just across the roadway from the Rock Island depot. The vast importance 

 of the swine industry of the state demanded its close proximity to the 

 shipping and unloading facilities. As fate would have it, this secured 

 the location of this mammoth building with its attendant stench, hubbub, 

 and uproar in perhaps as ideal a place as could be found on the grounds. 



About this- time the association evidently awakened to the seriousness 

 of locating large and permanent structures in a haphazard, helter-skelter 

 fashion, and the attempt was made to preserve a portion of the ground 

 lying west of Rock Island avenue and south of Capitol avenue as a sort 

 of privilege area. At the same time, a sort of plan seems to have been 

 evolved for locating the permanent buildings as a sort of rim about this 

 roughly conceived idea. Perhaps this was not the best action that could 

 have been taken, but it certainly was admirable when contrasted to the 

 condition that had been obtaining. And, a further praiseworthy action 

 was taken when the horse and cattle barns began to take on permanency 

 of structure in answer to a well executed plan. I refer to the colony 

 system of brick barns so arranged that when completed the roof shall 

 cover the whole colony, placing under cover ample drives and courts to 

 allow some showing of animals even in the stormiest and most inclement 

 weather. The fact that the whole animal industry is grouped in a com- 

 munity, somewhat removed from the other activities of the fair, and yet 

 so readily accessible to all, is certainly laudable. 



Two things yet remain, however, to complete the community. As yet, 

 the sheep are located in wholly inadequate, temporary tents and sheds, 

 lying to the northeast of the swine barns. This should not be. The sheep 

 industry in the state is growing rapidly. The showing of animals in 

 this department annually has come to be second to none in the middle 

 west. Permanent and ample quarters are demanded by it. 



The logical position for the sheep barns is undoubtedly across Rock 

 Island avenue west of the swine barns. But the space now available there 

 is totally insuflScient and it would seem advisable to secure a part or all 

 of the Redhead tract adjoining the fair ground plot on the southwest, 

 and it should be acquired if only to complete the symmetry of the grounds. 

 If the whole tract were secured, the poultry exhibit might also be brought 

 to this part of the exposition and suitable quarters provided for it close 

 to shipping facilities. Evidently the present poultry building was de- 

 signed and located when the sentiment held that poultry raising was 

 strictly a woman's business and very closely related to domestic art. 

 But this no longer holds true. Today the farmer reckons his profits from 

 his chickens as well as from his hogs and corn. And his wife has been 

 educated to see and recognize the good points in a porker, a horse, or a 

 steer. Certainly these exhibits should not be separated by a quarter of 

 a mile of hills and valleys. And, too, the removal of the poultry build- 



