98 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Thirtieth General Assembly very generously appropriated forty- 

 seven thousand dollars ($47,000) for the erection of the new Agriculture, 

 Horticulture and Dairy building. A building of this kind has long been 

 needed on the grounds, and it was highly spoken of by all visitors at the 

 fair. This building will stand for years to come as a monument to the wis- 

 dom of the Thirtieth General Assembly, to whom we owe our thanks. 



We have on hand approximately twenty-nine thousand dollars ($29,000), 

 out of which a reserve fund of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) should be 

 kept. Further improvements should be made from time to time, as our 

 financial condition ill permit. New hog barns should be built; brick and 

 cinder walks extended, and a more thorough drainage system should be 

 used. A new power house and pumping station is also needed. A part of 

 these improvements can be made with the funds of the department now on 

 hand and available; the balance should be provided for by the legislature, 

 and an earnest effort made to give our people ample space in which to exhibit 

 the products of the Iowa farm and factory, by providing permanent build- 

 ings of brick and steel construction, in harmony with the stock pavilion and 

 agricultural hall. 



Fakirs and immoral shows are a thing of the past with the Iowa State 

 Fair, and it should be the aim of all future members of this board to conduct 

 its affairs on such a high plane as will meet with the approval of our intelli- 

 gent and law-abiding citizens. 



REPORT OF SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR 1904. 



J. C. SIMPSON, DES MOINES, IOWA. 



Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Convention and Visiting Friends — It is 

 not my desire in submitting this, my annual report, to make it of undue 

 length, thereby exhausting your patience, but will ask your forbearance for 

 a short time, while I endeavor to outline as briefly as possible the affairs of 

 the Department of Agriculture, under whose auspices the Iowa State Fair 

 is held, since the closing of our fiscal year, November 30, 1903. 



In referring to former reports of this department and the Iowa State Fair, 

 it is noted that universally the statement has been made ' 'that the fair just 

 closed has been the most successful in its history." While this is true of the 

 past, I can see no reason for changing the statement at this time. The 1904 

 fair was a success; more so than any of its predecessors. This, from a 

 financial standpoint, as well as the number and quality of its exhibits, 

 which were somewhat lighter in the horse and machinery departments, but 

 in all others were as good, if not better, than ever before. 



Our receipts this year were about six thousand dollars more than last, 

 and six thousand five hundred dollars more than the year before; while our 

 net balance after paying all expenses and premiums was about the same. 

 This, on account of additional expense for attractions and premiums. Our 

 attractions alone costing five thousand dollars more than last year; one 

 thousand six hundred dollars being for the night show, and three thousand 

 four hundred dollars for Dan Patch. To this extra effort in providing star 

 attractions we attribute the success of the fair. Following the two seasons 



