FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 669 



These two permanent structures, the live stock pavillion and the new 

 agricultural hall, are examples of what all the principal buildings on the 

 Iowa State Fair grounds should be. The agriculture of Iowa is substantial 

 and enduring and the buildings used for this great annual exposition should 

 be of the same sort. It is not reasonable to expect that improvements of 

 this sort can be made in a day or a year, but it is reasonable to expect the 

 State legislature will appropriate money sufficient to add at least one new 

 permanent building. Now that the argicultural exhibit is housed where 

 people can see it conveniently, it should within two years grow until it fills 

 every inch of space in the new building and thus make other buildings 

 necessary for the horticultural and dairy departments. 



The old horticultural building was this year converted into a rest place 

 for the women and children. The entire building was floored and a broad 

 piazza placed across the entire west side, giving a cool, quiet retreat where 

 the women folks could rest in easy chairs, settees, and swings, and the child- 

 ren could romp and play in perfect safety. For such as were ailing a private 

 room with cots and an experienced nurse were provided. Even with the 

 delightful weather which prevailed the entire week this building was well 

 patronized and many a weary 'mother found it a rest place in fact as well 

 as in name. Situated on a high hill, it was cool and comfortable during the 

 hottest day, and well removed from the noise and dust. 



Each year the management raises the standard of the sideshow attrac- 

 tions a notch higher. While there were the usual line of monstrosity exhib- 

 itors, merry-go-rounds, etc., there was not, so far as we were able to 

 observe, a sideshow or concession which could be seriously criticized as 

 immoral, or tending to corrupt. Too much credit can not be given Secre- 

 tary Simpson and the directors for the improvement they have wrought in 

 the last four or five years in the concessions admitted to the grounds. In 

 this connection it should be said that the city of Des Moines is deserving of 

 great credit this year. The streets were kept clear of not only sideshows 

 but fakirs of all kinds, while the police department exercised greater care 

 than ever before to protect the visitors from pickpockets, confidence men, 

 and other swindlers. The crowds were well taken care of and well handled 

 both in the city and on the fair grounds. 



The display of agricultural products, while very fine in quality, was not 

 up to what it should be for the Iowa State Fair. One reason for this no 

 doubt is that until this year the agricultural display was housed in an old 

 building, considerably removed from the main part of the ground, which 

 did not afford a great deal of room, and which was not seen by any except 

 those who had enough interest to make a special effort in that direction. 

 Now that a new, centrally located building has been provided for this ex- 

 hibit we hope that in the future the agricultural products exhibit will be 

 worthy of the great agricultural State of Iowa. Considering the amount of 

 money hung up for the best county exhibits, it seems strange that there is 

 not more interest taken in these classes. Two hundred dollars is offered to 

 the county making the finest and largest display of corn, seed, grasses, 



