398 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Homestead, Des Moines, Iowa. 



The corn-belt state fair circuit for 1907 was opened last week at Des 

 Moines, Iowa, having been placed first on the circuit two years ago by 

 the state fair association. Advanced predictions indicated that the fair 

 would eclipse all former records, and in some respects this was the result. 

 Never before did the fair at Des Moines open under more favorable 

 auspices, and seldom has it closed, having to its credit more things 

 accomplished. The attendance was cut somewhat and the pleasure of 

 sight-seeing marred by an unusually severe mid-week storm. Even 

 with this to work against, however, the total receipts of the fair ap- 

 proached within a very few thousand dollars of the record made in 1906. 

 The actual income from all sources amounted to practically $100,000. 



Although there is at the present time some magnificent equipment 

 on the Iowa State Fair ground, the experience of last week revealed 

 more than ever the need of still more. Canvas makes but a flimsy 

 protection to high-priced manufactured goods, and it is marvelous how 

 manufacturing concerns have continued to exhibit under such unfavor- 

 able conditions. There should be erected in the immediate future a 

 so-called manufacturers' building, and the State can make no better in- 

 vestment than to appropriate money for this purpose, if possible, at the 

 next session of the legislature. Iowa's sister State, Minnesota, is far 

 in the lead in this regard in the provision that has been made for 

 exhibiting manufactured goods on the state fair ground. It is like 

 repeating an old tale to bring up again the matter of an amphitheatre, 

 but this year, even with a somewhat lessened attendance compared with 

 1906, revealed the great need for a new structure of this character. 

 It is here where the State has actually been parsimonous. The people 

 are demanding amphitheater accommodations and they are able and willing 

 to pay for it. The receipts from this source, if a suitable structure were 

 erected, would do much toward making other needed improvements, but 

 trailing along as we are now the people are disappointed every day of the 

 fair on account of lack of accommodations in this regard, while at the 

 same time there is lost to the State a handsome annual revenue. The 

 need for the two improvements mentioned is so great as to make it appear 

 entirely feasible that the legislature should meet both at the next session. 



The improvements made from the earnings of the fair and from money 

 appropriated by the State during the past year proved to be exceedingly 

 well adapted to the end which they were intended to serve. The new 

 swine pavilion, for which swine men have so persistently fought for 



