208 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the Administration building, just nortli of the building for horses. The 

 place for amusements was also changed to an area east of the race track. 

 The final plans, which you now have, were the result of careful considera- 

 tion on the part of the secretary and members of your Board as well as 

 ourselves. The buildings, as shown, provide for the future needs as far as 

 they can be anticipated at the present time. They are conveniently ar- 

 ranged with regard to each other and with regard to the entrances and 

 stations along the proposed electric line. Those interested in stock will 

 find the buildings for various domestic animals near each other. The 

 Horticultural and Agricultural buildings are near neighbors. The machin- 

 ery occupies another part of the grounds, the parade grounds, half mile 

 track and amusements another portion, while the Manufacturers' and 

 Liberal Arts building and Transportation building are conveniently near. 

 The present Administration building is centrally located with regard to all 

 the exhibits and is in the center of an open spaice which is parklike in 

 character. We hope that this open space, as shown on plans, may not be 

 encroached upon. It is needed to give a proper effect to the various build- 

 ings which surround it, and as a resting place for the visitors at the time 

 of a fair. 



We will again call attention to the fact that the drives, as shown, are 

 designed with easy grades and make all parts of the grounds accessible. 

 The central important drives, leading from the two entrances, are re- 

 tained as at present used. Some steep drives and some that would inter- 

 fere with proposed buildings have been omitted, but their places are taken 

 by other drives that are equally convenient. We have proposed a slight 

 change in the surface drainage of a portion of the grounds diverting the 

 water course, which now follows Grand avenue, to the area included by 

 the race track, at the western portion of which we suggest a small lake. 

 In the wooded area, the water from rains and melting snow can generally 

 be taken care of by surface flow through natural valleys. Wherever the 

 natural flow, however, would cross a drive, a provision should be made 

 for its passage underneath, and an underground conduit should be made 

 from the lower end of the principal valley to the pond shown north of the 

 Transportation building, the line of this conduit following the grades that 

 would be most economical when depth of cut and horizontal distances are 

 considered. We recommend that the wooded area now occupying most of 

 the eastern portion of the grounds be retained as a piece of natural forest. 

 Our country is comparatively new, but, as time goes on, a piece of natural 

 original forest will become an exhibit of continually increasing value and 

 interest. You are fortunate in being able to preserve such an exhibit so 

 near the capitol and metropolis of Iowa. It should become an arboretum 

 of especial interest to those who wish to learn about the trees suitable for 

 your state. 



Planting should be done about the buildings to give them a proper set- 

 ting, and serve as an example for visitors to follow and trees should shade 

 the various walks and drives, but be arranged in such a way as to pre- 

 serve ample open areas and attractive vistas. After visiting the fair, 

 there are a few things we would like to mention, not referred to in the 



