306 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



"knights of the anvil." It was the beginning of a reunion of horseshoers 

 whereby they will become better acquainted with each other, and the 

 conditions surrounding them and their work, and if this affair is kept 

 up, year in and year out, there is not the least doubt in my mind but 

 what it will be one of the grandest avenues ever paved for the purpose 

 of bringing the horseshoers of the United States together. It is at such 

 gatherings as this that we learn the true sentiments of the men in regard 

 to their chosen work, the conditions of the trade, causes of success or 

 failure; in fact, they have real heart to heart talks among themselves, 

 talks that we rarely or never hear at our meetings; but here in the 

 open, where men coming from miles away meet and become friendly 

 with each other, they lay aside all troubles and prejudice and unfold 

 themselves as they really are; strong, large hearted, whole souled me- 

 chanics. 



Now, as to the contest: It was held in a tent, probably sixty by thirty 

 feet large, open on three sides, bleachers being built along one side to 

 seat the spectators. If it had been ten times as large it would have been 

 crowded just the same; as it was, it reminded me a good deal of a 

 crowd at a game of baseball, standing a hundred deep and trying to look 

 over each other's heads in the vain endeavor to see the performance. 

 There were three forges let up in the middle of the tent, equal dis- 

 tances apart, anvils and ^ises in their places, and fuel handy, and as 



A 



contestants were obliged to furnish the iron and their own tools, every- 

 thing was soon ready. j 



ALL READY GO! 



The first day three men participated. They drew for positions and 

 forges, and were given numbers to correspond with those on the score 

 cards, their names being unknown to the judges. After the fires were 

 started and the men were ready, the horses were led in and tied. They 

 were three yearlings, weighing about twelve hundred each. All had been 

 shod before and were supposed to be gentle and stand reasonably quiet. 

 Now they were asked if they were ready, and, answering in the affirma- 

 tive, the word was given, the shoes were removed, the feet dressed and 

 measurements taken for the shoes, which were made out of inch by half- 

 inch iron. The forges were of the small, portable variety, better known 

 as riveting forges, and were far too small for this kind of work, but 

 finally the stock was hot and the actual work of turning began. Here, 

 again, the men ran into a snag. The anvils, being new, and being covered 

 with some sort of paint or varnish, to prevent them from becoming rusty, 

 made the face rather slippery when the hot iron was laid upon this 

 varnish, and it was with difficulty that one could hold the stock in place 

 for the helper to strike upon it, or when running the creaser or fuller, 

 and also when punching the holes. This was considerable of a handicap 

 encountered by the contestants of the first day that the men following 

 on the next day did not encounter, and I think that this condition of the 

 anvils caused, to a certain extent, the difference in the time made between 

 the contestants of the first day and that of those of the following day, 



