12 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of a similar nature, sucti as stock shows, horticultural meetings, etc., 

 and by attending the Iowa State Fair, which is the university for 

 them all. 



Some of you, I have no doubt, have heard or seen criticisms upon 

 the legislature for apropriating funds for further improving the State 

 Fair grounds, no more, I should say, than you see or hear about any 

 appropriation measure. I ask you, in all seriousness, if you believe this 

 to be a just criticism. How can you expect to build up a great State 

 institution if funds are not forthcoming for improvements? It has been 

 said by some that it is a Des Moines institution. It is no more a Des 

 Moines institution than the university at Iowa City is an Iowa City 

 institution, or the Normal School at Cedar Falls in a Cedar Falls institu- 

 tion, or the School for the Deaf and Dumb at Council Bluffs is a Council 

 Bluffs institution. It is true that the fair is permanently located at 

 Des Moines, but to be successful it must of necessity be located near 

 some city or town. It cannot be moved from town to town with any 

 more degree of success or judgment than you would move the university 

 from place to place each year. 



In the work of improving the State Fair grounds the State has 

 been saved thousands of dollars by the fact that the surplus or profit 

 derived from holding the annual State Fairs has been expended for 

 further improvements. The amount expended from this fund in the 

 past six years has exceeded $120,000. No fund is now needed for the 

 actual maintenance of the State Fair, the receipts for many years 

 exceeding the disbursements by many thousand dollars but there is 

 still great need of immediate improvements to provide proper equip- 

 ment. In addition to the $120,000 which has been expended in improve- 

 ments upon the grounds within the past few years, the department has 

 been able to establish a sinking or emergency fund of $15,000. That the 

 State has no better asset in a State institution than the Iowa State 

 Fair is attested by the immense exhibits which are made and the great 

 crowds of her people who annually attend. I have visited many State 

 Fair grounds and' expositions of other states, and while I can honestly 

 say that the Iowa people have nothing to be ashamed of in their State 

 Fair, I cannot say as much for the equipment upon the grounds. The 

 improvements upon all the State Fair grounds I have ever visited are 

 far superior to our own. Large sums of money have been expended the 

 past few years in equipping the State Fair grounds in Illinois, Ohio, 

 Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Toronto, Canada, Missouri and many 

 other states. The Missouri State Fair was permanently located at Se- 

 dalia only five years ago, and several hundred thousand dollars have 

 been expended in improvements since that time; the buildings are all 

 of brick and steel construction. The equipment on the State Fair grounds 

 of Illinois, Ohio and Toronto, Canada, are all models of excellence and 

 are in keeping with their other State institutions. There is no use 

 fighting the Iowa State Fair; you cannot drive it out of existence. It 

 is as permanently established as the rock of Gibraltar and will be held 

 annually long after the present generation nas passed away. You may 



