714 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



demands for meats, milk and groceries. There seemed to be every 

 convenience. And it was surely a delight to the campers to arise early 

 in the morning, make a study of certain exhibits in which they were 

 especially interested before the crowds came, and then again, when 

 tired with sight seeing, to retire to their tent and rest, just as they 

 could do at home. 



The new grand stand was another comfort this year. Built of steel, 

 planned for comfort, safety and convenience, more than 17,000 people 

 could be seated there and in the lawn space to the fore, with no chance 

 for accident from an unsafe structure. And the evening concerts in 

 front of the grandstand could be heard and enjoyed, which was not 

 possible when seated in the old amphitheater. The new race track, 

 built further to the west than the old one, proved a better and faster 

 track than the old track. 



THE MACHINERY. 



There were acres of machinery, always interesting and fascinating, 

 monuments to the genius of man and enabling mankind to gather har- 

 vests in a day which otherwise could never be gathered in months, per- 

 haps not at all. The wireless telegraph station on the grounds, sending 

 and receiving messages through the air which v.ere caught by a 

 station located three miles away (might as well have been one thousand 

 miles it would have worked just the same), was observed with deep in- 

 terest and appreciation by thousands of people. There was no thresh- 

 ing machine exhibit this year, owing to an agreement among manu- 

 facturers that they discontinue making exhibits at fairs. 



The evening programs at the stock pavilion were deservedly more pop- 

 ular than ever. The horse show and fine live stock parade in the even- 

 ing's program can scarcely be duplicated by any other show. The splen- 

 did animals, the aristocrats of their class, seem almost conscious of their 

 superiority and move about on such occasions with a grace and dignity 

 and intelligence that has a lesson for mankind. 



THE PRIZE WINNERS. 



We are not able to announce the long, long list of prize winners. It 

 has been a busy task for the judges, as is alv/ays the case, and there is 

 both joy and disappointment among the exhibitors. For the most part 

 however, there is general satisfaction over the awards, as it is one of 

 the principles of the Iowa State Fair management to be absolutely fair 

 in all of its dealings. This has obtained for our fair the confidence of the 

 people. 



THE OFFICERS. 



The officers of the Iowa State Fair and the members of the board of 

 directors deserve great credit for their achievement and for the ability 

 they have shown in keeping the fair clean and wholesome throughout. 



We are all proud that Iowa has once again done credit to herself in her 

 great annual agricultural exposition. Such an occasion is the only oppor- 

 tunity the world at large has of seeing the products which have indeed 

 made this state famous and for which the state is celebrated throughout 

 the whole civilized world. 



