668 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



not at this time say how much even approximately. The more the better, for 

 it will all go into improved buildings and other preparations for the comfort 

 and instruction of the people in future years. It is now a half century since 

 this gociety was organized. It has had its ups and downs, periods of 

 adversity and prosperity. There is here and there one of the old men who 

 attended the fair when he was a boy fifty years ago, just as there are no 

 doubt boys attending this fair who will attend the Centennial fair to be held 

 in 1954. Nearly all of those who were on the fair grounds last week will 

 have passed over, but we old fellows may amuse ourselves at times by think- 

 ing over the possible magnificence of the Iowa State fair fifty years hence. 



We congratulate the management on the skill with which they have 

 handled the business of the society during the past year. We congratulate 

 the people that, notwithstanding the attractions at St. Louis, they have 

 patronized the fair here so admirably and so profitably as they have done 

 this year. Last fall when plans for this year's fair were up for discussion 

 there was a sentiment in some quarters against holding a fair this year. It 

 was argued that the Iowa people who cared to attend an exposition this fall 

 would prefer to spend their time and money at St. Louis and the attendance 

 at Des Moines would necessarily be light. The record-breaking attendance 

 of last week shows how badly these croakers were mistaken, and sufficiently 

 vindicates the judgment of the directors in deciding that a fair should be 

 held. The fact is that the Iowa State Fair has reached the point where its 

 success both in exhibits and attendance is assured, barring weather of the 

 most unfavorable character from the start. It has become more and more a 

 State institution and is attended as a matter of course by a very great num- 

 ber of the most up-to-date farmers of the State. 



Last winter we urged our readers to lend their influence toward securing 

 an appropriation from the legislature for a building for agriculture and horti- 

 culture. The appropriation was made and the building completed just in 

 time to house these departments and the dairy exhibit for the fair held 

 last week. If there is any member of the legislature or any farmer who saw 

 this magnificent building last week and begrudges the money spent for it we 

 have a pardonable curiosity to know why. It is a beautiful building archi- 

 tecturally, three hundred feet long by one hundred feet wide, with spacious 

 entrances on all sides, well lighted and well ventilated. It is built of hard 

 brick and the construction seems to be strong and durable. There was not 

 time this year to complete the interior shelving and fixtures, but this will all 

 be done before another fair. It is situated only a short distance from the 

 splendid live stock pavilion erected three years ago, and if a person who at- 

 tended the fair failed to seethe agricultural, horticultural, and dairy exhibits 

 it was because he deliberately walked around the new building instead of 

 through it, where the walking was better. 



