640 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



As a result the attendance was light compared with the preceding days, 

 but there were enough people to fill the stock pavilion and other build- 

 ings and those who attended for the purpose of studying the various ex- 

 hibits found it an excellent time. A few years ago a rainy forenoon 

 would have emptied the grounds. Now there are enough buildings to 

 take care of thirty or forty thousand people without a great deal of 

 discomfort. If the principal buildings were connected by wide covered 

 walks the fair, barring the race track features, would be almost inde- 

 pendent of the weather. * 



The citizens of Des Moines never discharged their duties to the fair 

 visitors better than this year. A week before the fair opened a number 

 of the principal down-town streets were much torn up and incompleted 

 paving made it difficult to get about; street cars to the fair ground could 

 cross but one bridge; everything was topsy-turvy. Before the fair 

 was under full headway the paving was completed, the bridges were 

 open and the streets well cleaned. Notwithstanding the difficulties 

 under which the city labored, fair visitors never found the streets in such 

 good condition. The commercial organization maintained informa- 

 tion bureaus at the principal railroad stations where visitors were given, 

 addresses at which they could obtain lodging, and a card bearing plain 

 directions for reaching them. This work was done free and solely for 

 the accommodation of visitors. A large number of extra policemen and 

 detectives were employed to prevent thieving and disorder and to pro- 

 tect people from exorbitant charges in barber shops, cafes, etc. Des 

 Moines did everything possible to make folks understand that they were 

 welcome guests. 



The amusement features were excellent. Each evening a show of 

 fireworks was given before the grand stand, and a live stock and acro- 

 batic exhibition in the live stock pavilion. That these were largely 

 attended was evidenced by the fact that to secure seats, it was necessary to 

 apply before noon of each day. One of the evening shows was closed 

 about half an hour before the other, thus avoiding congestion at the 

 street car and railroad stations. The side shows, if not particularly 

 elevating, were clean; there was nothing of a particularly objectionable 

 character. The Iowa State Fair has clearly demonstrated that nasty 

 side shows are not necessary to a successful fair. 



A few j'ears ago such a crowd as was present on one of the big days 

 last week would have so filled the various places of interest as to make 

 it almost impossible to get anywhere or see anything. Under present 

 conditions there seems to be plenty of room, except during the rush for 

 refreshments at the noon hour and evening jam at the street car and 

 railroad stations. One hardly realizes there are so many people on the 

 grounds until the gate receipts are published. The reason is that the 

 exhibition features have so multiplied that the available space is almost 



