TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 239 



had an extra fine exhibit considering the season. This department is cer- 

 tainly handicapped for a suitable space to show its exhibits. 



The dairy department to my mind is not accomplishing what it should 

 in an educational way for the people of this state. We should have a dairy 

 building where demonstration work could be put on, with lectures during 

 the entire fair, and in this way we could receive a great deal of practical 

 education. 



Last, but not least, the agricultural department. Iowa, the greatest 

 agricultural state, ranking more times first from an agriculural stand- 

 point than any other state in the Union, had, I am sorry to say, the poorest 

 exihibit of any of the states surrounding us. This is no fault of the sup- 

 erintendent of this department, for I know the fair management has spent 

 more time and money in trying to bring this department up to the high 

 standard that Iowa is entitled to than in any other department. It seems 

 we cannot get the farmers of our state interested in making entries. We 

 have tried the county exhibits and they have failed. Now we are trying 

 the individual farm exhibit, and I have hopes that in time that will bring 

 out the exhibit. There is a reason for adjoining states having a better 

 agricultural exhibit. It is done largely through land agents who have 

 large tracts of land to sell in these states and they are anxious to attract 

 the land buyer to the resources of their state and in this way sell therh 

 land. Go through the agricultural department of the Iowa state fair and 

 you will not find anyone there calling your attention to the land we 

 have for sale. In fact, Iowa has no land for sale except as it comes from 

 local locations. What we want is a showing of our agricultural products 

 in keeping with our state and other exhibits. 



The erection of one-half of the proposed machinery building this year 

 was greatly appreciated by the exhibitors in this department. It is Just 

 such permanent improvements as these that will continue to make the 

 fair a success. This building, while only one half of the original plan, 

 will house in case of rain 15,000 people; this does much to bring the peo- 

 ple and keep them, knowing that in case of bad weather they can still see 

 the fair without being out in the rain. As I have stated before, with perm- 

 anent buildings and covered walks between them there will be no such 

 thing as failure with the Iowa state fair on account of bad weather. 



I have not gone into the financial success of our last fair; our secre- 

 tary, Mr. Corey, will take that up in his report and give you all the figures 

 on attendance, receipts and disbursements. 



The following committees were appointed bj^ President Cam- 

 eron: 



COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. 



C. W. Hoffman of Decatur county, Chas. W. Bradley of Lyon county, 

 and E. J. Curtin of Winneshiek county. 



COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. 



W, M. Clark of Marshall county, T. W. Purcell of Franklin county, and 

 H. C. Leach of Davis county. 



