246 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



was practically overlooked. Live stock and farm machinery were ex- 

 hibited in large numbers and the world was bidden to come and look, 

 whether it could look in comfort or not. Now there are many places in 

 which to rest, and practically every exhibit can be inspected in comfort. 

 The grounds were an eye treat this year as never before. Likewise, there 

 were benches a-plenty for the weary. Second, only to this attention to 

 physical comforts was the commendable lack of the one time prevalent 

 spirit of gouge and graft. Neither on the grounds nor down town was 

 there any evidence of over-charge, an evil which once flourished unchecked. 

 Prices may seem high, at times, to those who are away from home, but it 

 is to the credit of Des Moines and the state fair that prices were not 

 raised for the occasion, being merely the regular ones now generally pre- 

 vailing. In this respect the Iowa fair sets an example which it is to be 

 hoped will be followed throughout the entire fair circuit. 



The state fair management is entitled to much credit for giving the 

 people a great show free from all objectionable features, entertaining and 

 instructive throughout. The grounds have been ridden of many of the 

 "ballyhoos" and fakers formerly present and conspicuous in all too large 

 number. The Midway attractions were the best and cleanest ever pro- 

 vided. The best of order was maintained. There was but little of the 

 discourtesy which was once allowed to prevail unrebuked. The manage- 

 ment realizes that the people come to a fair to learn and be amused. The 

 exhibits provide the instruction. The vaudeville attractions provide most 

 of the amusement. This year they were commendable in the extreme. 

 Chief among the entertainers was the daring aviator, Lincoln Beachey, 

 whose death-defying flights three times a day not only thrilled the im- 

 mense crowds, but showed the wonderful possibilities of the airship. 

 Aeroplanes are no new sights, but the Iowa State Pair has never had an 

 aviator who lived up to his contract so well or performed such thrilling 

 feats aloft as Beachey. 



Sixty acres of farm machinery! It is a wonderful sight. It was to be 

 seen at the Iowa State Fair this year. Iowa is the biggest and best market 

 in the world for agricultural machinery. The exhibit was in keeping with 

 this immense demand. The mechanical aids to farming are innumerable, 

 many of them almost human in their ingenuity. The splendid Machinery 

 Hall was supplemented by a large, miscellaneous display which never 

 failed to attract thousands and to show the farmers how wonderfully the 

 mechanical genius of man is rallying to his help. 



Among the novel and instructive exhibits, with which the fair was re- 

 plete this year as never before, was the parcel post package display 

 gathered together by the Des Moines postmaster, Mr. L. C. Kurtz. An 

 invitation was extended to various local business houses to submit pack- 

 ages of goods such as they were accustomed to sending through the mail, 

 in the parcel post, and the response was hearty. As a result, several 

 score of packages, prepared for shipment and showing the possibilities of 



