FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 677 



Every day seemingly was ordered to accommodate visitors to the big 

 show, and they came in multitudes from all sections of the State. Tues- 

 day, Wednesday and Thursday were the big days in events and receipts, 

 but the fair was in readiness from the beginning and staid intact until Fri- 

 day. Financial returns were in excess of those made last year by about 

 five thousand seven hundred dollars. 



Nearly six hundred entries were made in the pure-bred beef cattle section 

 and the exhibits of these breeds established a new record for the fair. In 

 numbers and show yard excellence the beef cattle show was conspicuous. 

 It was the dominant attraction in the live stock department. Pure-bred and 

 grade fat cattle also made an excellent showing. That most of the stock 

 was shown by Iowa breeders emphasizes the fact that it was in truth a State 

 fair. As usual, the show of swine was immense. It overtaxed the very 

 unsatisfactory facilities for housing and showing this class of stock. About 

 two thousand five hundred hogs were shown. The sheep pens were full, 

 and the exhibits of the various popular breeds was larger than ever before 

 at Des Moines. Dairy cattle, consisting of Jerseys and Holstein-Priesians, 

 more than sustained the reputation the fair enjoys for attracting high-class 

 dairy animals. St. Louis is responsible for the dearth of entries in the horse 

 department. This was the one weak spot in the live stock show. Displays 

 of farm crops, butter, cheese, poultry, fruit, honey, pantry stores and sun- 

 dry products for sale were up to the Iowa standard, and as heretofore the 

 exhibits of agricultural machinery were scattered all over one section of the 

 grounds and occupied all the available space in the inadequate machinery 

 building. It is becoming a perplexing problem at some of the fairs to 

 accommodate the big displays made by implement manufacturers, and 

 Iowa's efficient State fair management is keenly alive to this situation. 



Agricultural, horticultural and dairy displays were made in the handsome 

 new building erected the past year for these exhibits. It is 100x300 feet, has 

 compressed brick walls, is roofed with slate and painted sheet iron, and is 

 situated at the base of the fair grounds hill about two hundred yards north 

 of the live stock pavilion. It has been christened the Agricultural, Horti- 

 cultural and Dairy Building, and was erected at a cost of $50,000. From an 

 architectural viewpoint it is an admirable building, as light as outdoors aad 

 as well ventilated, but it undoubtedly was a mistake to floor it with the 

 material used, which seems to be a mixture of tanbark and sawdust spread 

 on clay. Concrete is the right kind of floorine for all buildings of this char- 

 acter. Certain advantages may be derivable from earth floors, as when it is 

 desired to drive stakes to hold particular exhibits in place, but concrete 

 floors are cleaner and better. It is impossible to keep the atmosphere free 

 from clouds of choking dust in buildings provided with dirt floors. 



Iowa's State fair equipment is not first-class. Its live stock pavilion and 

 the agricultural, horticultural and dairy building are practically the only 



