550 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



porary quarters. Neither the Coliseum nor the new grandstand proved 

 adequate to the demands. The plan of the rehabilitated grounds has 

 been drawn by landscape gardeners, the new suit of clothes has been 

 ordered. The legislature allowed $85,000 this year ".on account." Six 

 acres of land imperatively needed to accommodate the machinery depart 

 ment were taken out of adjoining city lots, at a cost of $12,000. No 

 less than $8,000 will be spent in much needed sanitary toilet improve- 

 ments, and $65,000 was set aside for the new Machinery Hall. The part 

 completed, which is a trifle more than half that covered in the plans, 

 cost $75,000. It stretches its 270 by 570 feet in very attractive archi- 

 tectural fashion, symbolizing in its brick and steel construction the 

 permanency of the industry. It is altogether a comfort to exhibitors 

 and a delight to visitors. 



New horse and cattle barns, a new sheep department, a new and 

 materially larger Coliseum are prospective parts of the equipment which 

 has been outlined on the plans. The amphitheatre at the track is sadly 

 in need of its contemplated extension. Day after day it was inadequate 

 to the demands. Progress has been made toward fitting these grounds 

 with buildings required by the demands of exhibitors and attendants, 

 but it has been slow. In the face of the necessities, the legislative 

 appropriation of $85,000 seems pitiably small. Building is dependent 

 on appropriations and profits; the latter item should be larger this year 

 than ever before. 



The need of machinery was never more apparent in the history of 

 American agriculture, and inventive genius and manufacturing enterprise 

 are striving to meet it. The farmer who fails to study the implement 

 exhibit at the fairs assuredly loses much of the educational benefit to be 

 derived from such exhibitions. Iowa has long commanded an extensive 

 display of farm implements. The exhibit is now divided, so that its real 

 mammoth proportions are not readily apparent, but the new plan contem- 

 plates the concentration of all such exhibits under and near by the new 

 Machinery Hall. The conspicuous feature of this year's exhibit was the 

 silo. Makers have been far behind with orders all season, and the intense 

 interest manifested by farmers in the silos and filling machinery indicates 

 a tidal wave of silo construction. The heavy machinery was well repre- 

 sented. Farm tractors of all kinds were in operation, and the plowing 

 trials with tractors and gangs were well attended. A notable feature 

 was the number of electric and gas house-lighting systems. The auto 

 was much in evidence, in special exhibits and actual use. It was officially 

 estimated that on one day 2,000 motor cars entered the grounds. Farmers 

 drove in from fifty miles away in autos, and they were lined up all over 

 the ground — in the stock departments, about the machinery and up on 

 the hill where 3,000 people were in camp for the week. 



Several of the prominent manufacturers kept open house in large tents 

 or in their permanent exhibit buildings, and all these display places were 

 constantly thronged. The keenest interest was manifested in every device 

 that will lessen human and equine labor, and reduce the cost of pro- 

 duction. 



