662 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



also the attractions. A number of meetings of various l\iuds are called for 

 the grounds, and full information concerning them is furnished in the 

 catalogue. While the fair grounds are thoroughly covered, the compilers 

 have gone further afie'd and submit a very valuable lot of information 

 concerning the city of Des INIcines, its churches, schools, industries and 

 amusements, together with a map showing street car routes, with speci- 

 fic directions for reaching all points of interest in the city by street car. 

 It is a valuable hand-book for all fair visitors. 



In its stock exhibits Iowa has excelled for long years. Occupying the 

 commanding and coveted position at the opening of the v.estern circuit 

 it has summoned herds and flocks from widely severed sections and united 

 them in an initial presentation which has always held the keenest interest 

 for breeders. From Pennsylvania to Kansas, and from Kentucky to North 

 Dakota marks the sweep of the exhibit this year, a scope in itself signifi- 

 cant not only of the popularity of this fair, but of the breadth of the in- 

 terest in the exhibition of pedigree stock. Statistics from the entry books 

 reveal healthy growth. Nearly 200 more horses than last year were stab- 

 led on the grounds, and about half a hundred more cattle. Swine breed- 

 ers of the West made such inordinate demands on the costly quarters in 

 the new swine building shipping carloads of pigs for sale purposes only, 

 that last year space restrictions were imposed, and this, combined with a 

 light pig crop and high priced feed which induced early marketing, oc- 

 casioned a little reduction in the number of entries. The sheep promptly 

 overfiowed into the vacant swine pens, however, showing some little ad- 

 vance in numerical strength. 



Appreciated progress has been made in the rebuilding of the stock sec- 

 tion of the grounds, but the marked contrast between the remaining cat- 

 tle and horse barns of a decade ago, and the commodious, substantial and 

 comfortable brick barns of the rebuilding period indicates the desirability 

 of pushing reconstruction as rapidly as possible. With improved accommo- 

 dations, doubtless yet further increase in entries will follow. 



The enlargement of the judging pavilion, demanded years ago by the 

 popularity of the structure, awaits only sufficient funds. By a judicious 

 division of the arena, alloting it to the horses in the morning and the cat- 

 tle in the afternoon, the dangerously congested condition against which pro- 

 test has been repeatedly made at some fairs, is avoided. The plan obvi- 

 ates one difficulty, but it prolongs the judging until late in the week, and 

 does not afford spectators that variety of exhibition which they naturally 

 expect in an arena of this character. Seats are usually at a premium in 

 this pavilion from 9 o'clock in the morning until the crowd thins for its 

 homeward journey toward the close of the day. During most of the time 

 the seats and aisles are uncomfortably crowded, and regard for the com- 

 fort of the people and the educational value of the exhibition, saying 

 nothing of the demand for increased room at the paid night performances, 

 requires attention as early as possible to the enlargement of this popular 

 building. 



Conduct of such an arena could not be better. Movement is frictionless. 

 Stock is handled into and out of the ring without delay and the work pro- 

 ceeds as rapidly as the heavy classes will permit the judges to work. The 



