164 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



I wish to mention a few of tlie entries in the different de- 

 partments of the fair for 1907: Horses 1,132, cattle 1,146, 

 sheep 586, hogs 2,264. The increase in all departments this year was 

 about twenty per cent over any year in the past, but in our gross re- 

 ceipts of the fair of 1907 we fell short about $6,000 of the banner year 

 of 1906. We think we can account for that — the weather man did not 

 treat us just right, as we had three rainy days, and the new adjust- 

 ment in passenger rates of an advance of one cent per mile for the 

 round trip I am satisfied cut the Iowa State Fair fifteen to twenty 

 per cent of the gross receipts. The people of Iowa are proud of their 

 state fair and they are loyal to it by their attendance. I am glad to 

 see the friendly feeling that has been manifested toward it by the mem- 

 bers of the legislature in the last few years. I know they feel a sense 

 of pride when they visit the fair and see the magnificent equipment 

 they have provided for showing to the world what Iowa can produce, 

 and I hope they will continue this good work until our equipment is 

 equal to our exhibits. New improvements have been built on the grounds 

 the last year as follows: Swine pavilion, horse barn, water works and 

 electric light plant. 



There are several needed improvements that I could recommend for 

 the coming year, but as our means are limited I will not take the time 

 to enumerate them, as they are beyond our reach this year. But there 

 is one important improvement that I would recommend, and that is the 

 building of an administration building for the convenience of all the 

 exhibitors. We have our new and up-to-date horse barns, cattle barns 

 and swine pavilion, but no place for the convenience of the public and 

 the exhibitors. If we had an administration building, standing where 

 the secretary and treasurer's office now stands, large enough to accom- 

 modate all the superintendents of the different departments, people who 

 have business with the various departments would find them all in one 

 building. As the offices now are, located all over the grounds, exhibi- 

 ors do not become acquainted, as they do not come in contact with each 

 other, but with this new building it would be the Mecca of the fair. 



There is one thing which I wish to congratulate the people of Des 

 Moines, especially the Commercial Club and the Greater Des Moines 

 Committee, for their interest in the fair the last year and taking care 

 of the outside people who visited the fair by appointing committees to 

 see that they had a place to stay and giving any information they desired. 



The stand the fair has taken the last few years in keeping out objec- 

 tionable shows and other undesirable features has had the approval of 

 the press and the people generally. It has been the object of the fair 

 management to bring the standard higher, and I am satisfied they have 

 accomplished a great work in this line, as the reputation of the Iowa State 

 Fair stands today at the top for clean fairs. We must provide amuse- 

 ment features for the fair, for it takes all classes of people to make a 

 fair. We do not aim to provide any amusement feature to take away 

 any interest from the exhibits. We have no amusement program in the 

 mornings, which gives the people a chance to visit all the departments 

 of the fair and by 1:30 in the afternoon they are tired and want a rest, 

 and it has become second nature to wend their way to the grand stand 



