EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IV 273 



ing- soldiers and civilians of foreign countries as well. Visitors from 

 other fowns were told how they could help organize Red Cross clubs 

 and help in this worthy work by furnishing- supplies or making bandages 

 or knitting sweaters and mufflers for distribution where they are needed. 



The public health department had a large exhibit, explaining how one 

 may avoid many infectious and contagious diseases. By lectures, charts 

 and graphic illustrations, they impressed upon the attention of visitors 

 the necessity for more thoro study of preventive measures for both chil- 

 dren and adults. There were daily lectures on health subjects, food 

 conservation, canning demonstrations, and numerous otlier topics of in- 

 terest to the mother and home-maker. 



Lovers of art and flowers found much to enjoy in the exhibits of paint- 

 ings, drawings and statuary in the art exhibits. The Floral Hall was 

 nicely, filled, the showing being- especially strong- on gladioli. There are 

 a number of florists and suburban farmers near Des Moines who make 

 a specialty of this attractive flower, and who put on large and very 

 beautiful exhibits of the different varieties. 



The Exposition Hall was well filled with exhibits of merchants, and 

 also with fancywork competing for prizes, and exhibits of many articles 

 dear to the feminine heart. 



The fair wound up Fi-iday with a big crowd which came to witness 

 the automobile races. These races were held on the first Friday of the 

 fair and again on the last Friday, and brought in many out-of-town 

 visitors, as well as a large number from Des Moines. Some of the best 

 dirt-track drivers of the country were on hand. Fast time was the rule, 

 and a large number of Interesting races resulted. No, serious accidents 

 v/ere reported, but there werei several wrecks, and plenty of thrills in 

 every race for the folks who like that sort of thing. 



On Thursday afternoon, the prizewinning horses and cattle paraded 

 thru the grounds and in grand review past the amphitheater. It was 

 advertised as a "million-dollar live stock parade," and it was undoubtedly 

 that, and perhaps more, in view of the present prices of pure-bred stock. 

 This parade of the prize-winners has come to be one of the features of 

 the Iowa State Fair every year, and many visitors attend on that day 

 of the parade in order to witness it. 



Iowa is not noted .as a mining state, but the Geological and Survey 

 Department had figures showing mine products to have a total annual 

 value of approximately $27,000,000. Coal was credited with a valuation 

 of $13,577,608; clay products with $6,749,088; stone and lime with $577,295; 

 gypsum with $12,781,128; mineral water with $18,534; sand and gravel 

 with $720,795 ; cement with $4,119,952, and other products with $19,300. 

 The exhibit showed the different kinds of products both in the raw state 

 and in the finished form, as well as the process of Tnanufacturing-. 



The Iowa mines and mining industry department called attention to 

 the extent of the coal mined in the state, and the economy in using it In 

 preference to shipped-in coal. The product is mined in twenty-three 

 counties, and 17,000 men are employed at Iowa mines. A total of $15,- 

 000,000 annually is paid in wages, while* the total tonnage amounts to 

 nearly 8,000,000 tons. It was pointed out that United States government 

 tests show Iowa coal to be equally as good or superior to much shipped- 

 in coal, and that tests at the Agricultural College, at Ames, show it to be 

 exceptionally high in heat units. 

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