NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 521 
— had their measure of comfort before the officials of the fair were installed 
in suitable quarters for the convenient and expeditious discharge of their 
duties. These have now been provided at a cost of $30,000. Pictures 
spare the necessity of architectural description. The new building is 
located immediately south of the grandstand and on the main road into 
the grounds, commanding the intersection of the two driveways as they 
join to continue up the hill. It is constructed of brick, atter plans which 
involved much study and which in use have been proved to be well laid. 
The departments are arranged around an open court, and most of the 
offices of superintendents may be entered from the outside as well as the 
inside. A broad piazza extends entirely around the building and furnishes 
suitable resting space and view points from which to watch the kaleide- 
scopic activities of a goodly portion of the grounds. The second story of 
the new building has not yet been finished off into sleeping rooms for those 
whose duties require night as well as day attendance. The basement has 
been rented for a restaurant and the rental renders a fair interest return 
on the investment in the construction fund. Officials pronounce the new 
building quite satisfactory in all respects after the test of this season. 
The tremendous demand for stalls from the constantly increasing entry 
list of horses spurred the board into almost record-breaking building in 
that department. Eventually this equipment will contain eight brick 
barns, joined by roofs with an open court yard in the center. The second 
of these barns was rushed through to completion when it w^as found that 
the department was. fairly overflowed with entries. When the barns are 
all built, stall accommodations for about 800 horses will be provided and in 
substantial construction, light, ventilation and all conveniences these 
barns will leave little to be desired. 
Plans to which the board of agriculture is working contemplate a re- 
quest to the legislature for $125,000 with which to erect a new grandstand. 
The moving of the race track will be necessitated by the present plan and 
the entire cost of the work, including a grandstand of structural iron and 
concrete floors, will likely be around $125,000. Accommodations for 15,000 
people will thus be provided. Moreover, the amazing display of agricultural 
implements cries aloud for roofing, and the board expects to ask for an 
will thus be provided. Moreover, the amazing display of agricultural im- 
plements cries aloud for roofing, and the board expects to ask for an 
appropriation of around $100,000 for the erection of a vast train shed 
affair under which all the machinery and implements may be sheltered 
except those which have been furnished with "homes" by private enter- 
prise. The capital use to which the state funds have thus far been put, 
the impressive and permanent results which have been achieved, and the 
popularity of the improvements with the public certainly afford ample 
foundation on which to rest an effective appeal to the legislature. 
Among the betterments which must come shortly, with a view to the 
best interests of the fair, are an enlargement of the live stock pavilion 
and the erection of seats around the judging arena in the swine depart- 
ment. We built about as well as we knew in the early days of live stock 
judging pavilions, but Illinois quickly had to knock out an end of its 
coliseum and enlarge it about one-third, and Iowa must follow suit. Thou- 
