382 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather conditions, however, the 

 cash receipts for the week were more than suflBcient to meet all expenses 

 as nearly as can be estimated at the present writing. The total receipts 

 were about $98,000, as compared with $101,000 last year and $78,000 

 two years ago. After all expenses are paid it is estimated that the sur- 

 plus will be close to $20,000. Had the weather been favorable the at- 

 tendance would have broken all records. Those who predicted a greatly 

 reduced attendance because of the refusal of the railroads to grant re- 

 duced rates were false prophets. It is possible that more would have 

 come had reduced rates been offered, not so much because of the saving 

 in fare, but because of the more extensive advertising. The railroad ad- 

 vertising, which has been heavy heretofore, amounted to nothing this year. 



It is safe to say that nothing but unfavorable weather conditions can 

 seriously interfere with the Iowa State Pair in the future. Its place as 

 a great State institution is now established and its greatness grows with 

 each succeeding year. The fact of the matter is that the Iowa farmer 

 who wants to keep in touch with the agriculture of the State cannot af- 

 ford to miss the State fair, nor is he doing justice to his wife and his 

 boys and girls if he permits them to miss it. Nowhere in the world can 

 there be found a better opportunity to study improved live stock, farm 

 machinery designed to save and improve upon hand labor, the develop- 

 ment of new grains and grasses, or to meet the people who are making 

 Iowa the greatest agricultural State in the union. A visit to the fair 

 if the time is properly employed is worth many times its cost. 



After once reaching the fair grounds one can be comfortable and spend 

 his time profitably whatever the weather may be. The largest crowd can 

 now find shelter in the many buildings scattered over the grounds. The 

 new swine pavilion alone, erected this year, will shelter many thousands. 

 The need for this new building has been pressing for several years. A 

 few years since when the rain began on Monday and continued until 

 Thursday afternoon the swine barns were flooded and the passageways 

 were a part of the time under six inches of water. It is fortunate, how- 

 ever, that the building of the new barns and pavilion was delayed until 

 this year. Had it been built a couple of years ago it is reasonably certain 

 that insufficient allowance would have been made for the. future and the 

 building would have been inadequate. The present building is almost an 

 ideal structure for the purpose. Some idea of its construction can be 

 obtained from the photographs printed in this issue. It is roomy, per- 

 fectly ventilated and convenient and comfortable for both exhibitors and 

 the public. The barns proper containing the pens are in the form of a 

 great quadrangle open at one side, which is mostly filled by the judging 

 pavilion. There is room to place another string of pens between the 

 judging pavilion and the barns to the north. This structure is located 

 on the ground purchased this year between the Rock Island station and 

 the south entrance, and covers several acres. 



A couple of weeks prior to the fair a correspondent suggested in 

 Wallaces' Farmer that folks who tented during the fair should provide 



