NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 187 
in preparing plans for an amphitheater at the Iowa State Fair Grounds. 
Among other things we found that the idea of building a double-deck 
stand was impracticable. We also found that our opinion as to the 
cost of construction had not been placed any too high. The stand we 
found upon the Canadian National Exhibition grounds at Toronto comes 
about as near being what we want as any we saw. It is 1673 feet long 
by 108 feet wide, and seats 16,400 people. It cost complete about $240,- 
000.00. It is of steel construction with cement floors and iron stairways; 
not a piece of wood being used except the sheeting for the roof and win- 
dow and door frames. The plan our architect has prepared is practical- 
ly a duplicate of this building. We have, however, had changes made 
in the entrances and added a mezzanine story, which we believe will give 
us a better stand. We had thoughc the board should recommend the 
building of a stand only two-thirds the size at this time. This would 
give us a seating capacity of about 11,000. By setting it back one hun- 
dred feet from the track we would have additional room for from two 
to four thousand people. I have not yet received the estimate of cost 
from the architect, but it will not be less than $150,000.00. 
As to other improvements, they can be discussed in an informal man- 
ner by the board and some conclusion arrived at upon which to base 
our recommendations to the legislature. 
It is our opinion that a better system of ordering supplies, material, 
etc., should be used. All such ordered should come through a central 
head, presumably the secretary, that a better check may be kept upon 
our bills. 
The revision of the premium list should be carefully looked after. 
I believe we should adopt some plan for the gathering and placing of an 
agricultural exhibit that would be a credit and of far more educational 
value than this exhibit now is. I do not mean to criticise the exhibit 
as made under the present conditions, for I believe it is as good as can 
be made with the present system. As you know, conditions are very much 
different in this department than the work in the machinery department 
where the exhibitor has the advantage of advertising in making a show. 
Under the present system of paying premiums in the agricultural depart- 
ment there is no inducement for John Smith to make an exhibit other 
than for the small prize he may secure, or whatever little honor goes 
with the securing of an award; it is of no advertising value to him. I 
believe that we should set aside a fund for the purpose of employing com- 
petent men to go out over the state of Iowa and gather an exhibit of 
farm products to be shown in the same manner as our state would at a 
national exposition. We could make an exhibit, say of alfalfa, in a space 
twelve by twenty or thirty feet, gathered from all parts of the state, 
with data in regard to the character of the soil, etc., under which it is 
grown; have a competent person in charge of this alfalfa exhibit to talk 
alfalfa at all times during the fair. I believe this w^ould create more 
interest and do more to promote the growing of alfalfa in our state than 
all the literature and addresses that have been made within the past ten 
years. The gathering and making of an exhibit of noxious weeds with a 
competent person in charge would be very educational. An exhibit of the 
various varieties of oats, wheat and the various grasses could also be 
