EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART IX. 431 



"Iowa is a great State," is the oft-repeated expression of the lowan. 

 There is, however, a truism in the expression, no matter in what words 

 clothed or how vain and boastful this self-evident truth is announced. 

 Iowa has in recent years developed in agricultural conditions far beyond 

 the average State. It has not alone developed in its soil producing ability, 

 but it has developed along with this every kindred interest and industry, 

 until its manufacturing and business standing is on the same high plane 

 of prosperity. 



"lOWA IS A GREAT STATE." 



Iowa is today an active producing district of country. Few states have 

 a smaller area of waste lands. Each year its farms are receiving more 

 attention in kinds of crops produced, and better tillage. The voice of the 

 scientific agriculturist and farm crops educator is being heard and his 

 suggestions and admonitions heeded. The State is growing more populous 

 through its division of large farms into smaller holdings. Its villages, 

 towns and cities are building, improving and widening out as the in- 

 creased production from the farms demands. The farm being the basis 

 of all business prosperity, in its increased or decreased producing ability 

 will rest the success or failure of business enterprise, dependent thereon. 

 Again we join with the lowan in the most friendly and earnest expres- 

 sion, "Iowa is a great State." 



Iowa in its State fair grounds and location has planned well. Too 

 much credit cannot be given to the promoters of the new fair grounds, 

 where the fair has been held for several years. The distance from the 

 city of Des Moines is not objectionable; the large acreage is not exces- 

 sive, as the various demands of this show enterprise keeps crowding 

 farther and farther back each year. It is only a matter of a few years 

 at its present rate of growth until the entire space within the gates will 

 be fitted up and occupied with some form of exhibition, concession or 

 State fair building. 



The transportation plans and facilities of street car and railroad trains 

 for carrying the people to and from the fair grounds could not well be 

 improved upon. It is safe, rapid and well handled by every interest 

 concerned in the transportation traffic. The fair grounds depots, plat- 

 forms and enclosures offer protection to the crowds so that an accident 

 is almost an impossibility. 



LIBERTY OF THE SIGHTSEER. 



When the crowds are once within the gates they are free to roam at 

 will over the hundreds of acres of beautifully shaded and grassed lawn, 

 with streets, walks and drives leading to all pai-ts of the fair grounds. 

 No annoying signs, "Keep off the grass," are to be seen anywhere. The 

 stranger within the gates can walk on the beautiful sward to his heart's 

 content; he can lay down, roll over and go to sleep if he chooses; no 

 one to fear, no one to make him afraid. There are, however, in sight 

 everywhere on the grounds, big, uniformed policemen, but their clubs 

 hang peacefully by their sides, and their pleasant, courteous manner in- 

 vites questions, which they delight in answering, and otherwise assist 

 the weary sightseer in finding his objective points of interest on the fair 

 grounds. 



