102 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



womens' clubs, but a 7'ss ting- place for women and children. The hospital 

 room, of course, being open temporarily for all who may need medical 

 assistance, and for this reason, at least one more room should be provided 

 the coming year; thus giving a room for the ladies and one for the men. As 

 fast as available more seats and rocking chairs should be provided for this 

 building. 



The matron in charge of the building was there day and night from be- 

 ginning to close of the fair. She provided herself with a number of simple 

 remedies, that she might be able to care for the less serious cases needing 

 attention. 



The poultry department was moved to the building formerly occupied by 

 the agricultural display. This building makes an ideal one in which to ex- 

 hibit poultry, it being large, roomy, well ventilated and lighted. I doubt 

 if there is its equal on any State fair grounds. 



The building formerly occupied by the dairy department was remodeled 

 into a first class dining hall. Arrangements were made whereby about 

 three hundred people could be seated at one time, and the meals and ser- 

 vice was as good as will be found in many so-called first class hotels and 

 restaurants. There is no question but that provision should be made for 

 more dining halls of this class on the fair grounds, and the shutting out of 

 some of the less desirable ones. After talking with representatives from 

 many of the leading State fairs, and from my own observation, I am satis- 

 fied this is the best method to pursue in the future with the dining hall 

 privileges upon the State fair grounds. 



About eleven hundred dollars was spent the past year in improving the 

 drainage system. The rain during the fair of 1903 taught us that some pro- 

 vision must be made to take care of the water from the roof of the stock 

 pavilion. With the additional roof surface of the new agricultural building 

 we were satisfied that should a heavy rain fall during the fair, that part of 

 the grounds would be flooded, if provision was not made to care for this 

 water. A large storm sewer was laid from the south line of the fair grounds 

 along Rock Island avenue to the north past the stock pavilion, and to the 

 north end of the agricultural building, with connections from the east side 

 of these buildings. By doing this it was possible to connect all down spouts 

 with the sewer. Several catch-basins were also put in at different points 

 along the sewer at street intersections. 



The open ditch running through the flat in the west part of the grounds 

 was deepened and widened, the city cleaning it out below the grounds. This 

 ditch has been the main drainage outlet for a vast territory to the northwest 

 of the fair grounds, and has never been of sufficient size to carry off the 

 water in a wet season. The city is now at work constructing a large open 

 ditch about four blocks west of the grounds, and this, together with the ditch 

 running through the grounds should prevent any trouble from overflows in 

 the future. Additional storm sewers and drainage facilities should be pro- 

 vided as fast as the funds of the department will permit. 



A heav5^ rainfall one night about four weeks previous to the opening day 

 of the fair washed most of the top-dressing off the race track, leaving it in 

 very bad shape. The entire surface of the track had to be resoiled, which 

 was done at an expenditure of about $575, We have now one of the fastest 

 and best half-mile tracks in the west. 



/ 



