970 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Midway. The fair management had the notion tliat tlie tribute paid 

 by these disreputable exhibitions for tlie privilege of corrupting the 

 people was necessary to the financial success of the fair. Experience 

 has shown how utterly wrong this notion was. Careful examination 

 last week failed to discover even one questionable concession. Has the 

 fair suffered from the loss of this revenue? The answer will be found 

 in the financial statement of last week. The receipts from concessions 

 this year exceeded by about four thousand dollars the receipts of any 

 previous year. It is a sledge hammer answer to those who think it 

 pays to license dirtiness. Legitimate concessions can afford, and are 

 willing, to pay, a double tax when the foul-mouthed, brass-tongued 

 barkers are shut out. And what has been true at Des Moines will prove 

 true elsewhere. Let our county fairs profit by the experience. 



Interest is increasing in the judging contest for boys, the premium 

 being a $200 scholarship at the Iowa Agricultural College. Last year 

 but thirteen boys entered this contest; this year there were just twice 

 that number. This contest is open to any young man under twenty- 

 one who has not been regularly classified in an agricultural college. 

 Each contestant is required to judge two rings each of horses, cattle, 

 and hogs, and two varieties of corn, the award going to the boy whose 

 work grades highest and who gives the best reasons in writing for hibt 

 decisions. The first contest, held two years ago, was won by Ellis Rail, 

 of Birmingham. Iowa, vrho attributed his success to a careful study 

 of Wallaces' Farmer. Last year the winner was Chas. Steen, of West 

 Liberty, another careful student of Wallaces' Farmer and one ' of the 

 prize winners in our boys' corn contests the preceeding year. This year 

 the honor still stays within the "family", the successful contestant being 

 Roy Igo, of Indianola. Second place was occupied by Wm. R. Gross, 

 Avoca; third, Murl McDonald, Shenandoah; fourth, C. Ray Moore, 

 Kellerton. Standing of the others will be found elsewhere. 



The weather for one week at least entirely ignored the weather man. 

 The latter promised fair weather and showers alternately, but each 

 day the sun shone out serenely and the weather was ideal for the sea- 

 son. Rains to the north of Des Moines Wednesday night probably 

 decreased the attendance Thursday from that section. 



The woman's building afforded a haven of rest for tired women, 

 Vv'hile the emergency hospital with physician and nurse in attendance 

 afforded prompt relief to those who met with accident of one sort or 

 another or became seriously indisposed. 



