448 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The level stretch, rising to hills of perceptible elevation in the back- 

 ground, affords a setting that is capable of the most impressive treat- 

 ment. Its beginnings have been made, but today the home of the Iowa 

 State Fair is sadly inadequate. The fair is wearing its out-grown 

 garments of a quarter of a century ago. They are frayed as well as 

 shortened. Under the showers of agricultural prosperity they have 

 shrunken until they no longer clothe the trunk, saying nothing of the 

 extremities, of the body of this institution. It is true that one of the 

 most acceptable live stock pavilions in the country gives amphitheater 

 for the display of this section of the show, but another one its equal 

 in size is sadly needed for the horses. The arena must be divided 

 forenoon for the horses, afternoon for the cattle. And by nine o'clock 

 of each morning not a seat was to be had among the thousands of sit- 

 tings afforded by this large amphitheater. On some days thousands 

 sought vainly to enter its portals, so great was the congestion within 

 the walls. 



Standing in the arena with a state senator, we emphasized the OD- 

 ject lesson of the throngs struggling for a glimpse of the live stock 

 under judgment. He replied: "Yes, I see it now, but when the 

 request was made to the legislature for an appropriation for this build- 

 ing, we could not understand why it was needed." It is true that one 

 fine, new brick cattle barn has been erected, but it merely serves to 

 enforce the needs of others by contrast with the old stabling. Never 

 has such an exhibit of horses been gathered on a fair ground, and 

 never has so valuable a collection of stock horses been quartered in 

 such inadequate accommodations. The sheep sheds are mere apologies 

 for housings, while the judging is done under a little stretch of canvas 

 to intercept the suns rays. The swine exhibitors have not even this 

 protection, but show their pigs in alley-ways in pens made by their 

 own hurdles, under the open sky. A few years ago new quarters 

 were provided for the exhibition of swine, but the designers were men 

 of very small faith and built such cramped quarters that resort was 

 necessary to the outdoors. The swine men are making determined 

 demands for adequate housing, and they certainly deserve it, as they 

 annually make here the largest show in the world. Entries consid- 

 erably exceed 3,000 this year, and yet greater expansion was prevented 

 by lack of quarters. The grandstand is lamentably shrunken beyond 

 the needs of the people who desire to witness the racing and the infield 

 performances. In less than an hour on Wednesday its over 6,000 sit- 

 tings had been sold. Moreover, under their breath the fair managers 

 express fear of a collapse of the old frame structure. A new steel 

 grandstand is among the imperative needs. That the present is the 

 age of farming by machinery is aptly illustrated in the acres of space 

 covered by live and dead exhibits of farm machinery implements, 

 nearly all in the open and subject to the mercy of the weather. 



These things should not be. A magnificent start has been made 

 In the live stock pavilion, the beautiful new brick agricultural building 

 and the brick barn; but it is only a beginning. An administration 

 building is among the crying needs of the fair grounds equipment, but 



