SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IX. 977 



was fully $22,000, or twice the surplus earned last year. The depart- 

 ment of agriculture now has $40,000 to its credit and is well prepared 

 to make substantial improvements during the coming year. A new 

 fire-proof steel grandstand, with a seating capacity of 12,000 will be 

 erected at a probable cost of $35,000. The present grandstand is built 

 of wood; it is old and has a seating capacity of only 6,500, which is 

 entirely inadequate for present needs. In addition to this, other improve- 

 ments are contemplated. The legislature will be asked to make liberal 

 apropriations. Two hundred thousand dollars are needed for this 

 work. The hog men are determined to have a swine pavilion which 

 will cost $50,000, and they ought to have it. A state that can attract 

 3,CR)0 swine to its annual fair, as Iowa did this year, should certainly 

 provide a suitable place in which to exhibit them. A horse pavilion 

 is needed as badly as a swine pavilion. A building suitable to accom- 

 modate the horses will cost another $50,000. A large and permanent 

 exposition building commensurate in size and permanency with the 

 extent and substantial character of Iowa's agricultural resources, 

 should be erected and many other minor improvements should be made. 

 It is, therefore, to be hoped that the next general assembly will be 

 favorably disposed toward providing liberally for the state fair. The 

 Iowa state fair has passed its period of infancy. This was done sev- 

 eral years ago. It is no longer a baby, but a full-grown man, ready 

 to broaden out, ready to make its influence for agricultural advance- 

 ment felt as it never has been felt before. According to Secretary 

 Simpson, ten years ago, chat is in 1895, the total cash receipts of the 

 fair amounted to $25,741; this year to $85,423. showing a gain of 300 

 per cent. The attendance reached 162,000 as compared to 125,000 last 

 year, and this was away beyond the most sanguine expectations of the 

 management. 



The horse races went off without a single hitch. The relay races 

 of the "cowgirls" from Montana proved a strong drawing card. The 

 dexterity and rapidity with which these women mounted and dismounted 

 their horses excited the admiration of all. The management has decided 

 to continue this feature another year, but probably on a larger scale. 

 The free entertainments in front of the grandstand were excellent; 

 everything went off without a word of complaint being heard from 

 anyone. The famous Italian military band, of which Signor Liberati 

 is the director, gave the fullest measure of satisfaction. Sunday evening 

 10,000 lovers of music flocked to listen to the sacred concert given by 

 this band. The audience sat spellbound for a period of two hours, and 

 this intense interest in music continued throughout the entire week. 



One feature which the board of directors added to the show this yaer, 

 was an emergency hospital located on the fair grounds. The hospi- 

 tal was in charge of Dr. E. R. Limbocker, of Des Moines, and Police 

 Matron Babcock, also of Des Moines. Several persons were taken to 

 the hospital during the week, where they were cared for. 



The check room for babies was another new feature that attracted 

 a good deal of attention. Many tired mothers with cross babies brought 

 their little ones to the check room to be cared for by competent nurses. 



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