96 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



While it rained Monday, and looked gloomy enough Tuesday fore- 

 noon to give us all the blues, the gate receipts for those two days were 

 good; but Wednesday was a record breaker and more money was taken 

 in on that day than on any other day in the previous history of the society. 



The attractions were furnished by Paine of New York and Chicago, 

 both for afternoon and evening, and were a success, proving that nlight 

 attractions will pay if you get the proper kind. No doubt the attendance 

 at night would have been much larger had our transportation facilities 

 been greater. However, the street car company did the best they could 

 to handle the immense crowd, but it was a physical impossibility to get 

 the people home before twelve o'clock on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. 



Some improvements will no doubt be made during the year 1903 and 

 perhaps it is not necessary for me to suggest what should be done as 

 the board of directors know as well as I do what is needed. But if I 

 may be allowed to make some suggestions, I would say continue the 

 walks begun this year and build a brick b aiding for the electric light 

 plant. North of the street, running norUi of the live stock pavilion, 

 where the electric light plant now stands the plant is surrounded by 

 wooden buildings and in case of fire in that part of the grounds, this 

 valuable plant would very likely be destroyed and no means left for light- 

 ing the grounds. I think the time has arrived when the Iowa State Fair 

 should exclude all side shows from the grounds. The only excuse that 

 ever could have been made for them was the need of the revenue received, 

 but that is no longer an excuse. 



In severing my connection with the department, I wish to thank you 

 for the honors conferred upon me, and to the members of the board I 

 owe a debt of gratitude for the many courtesies and favors shown me. 

 I shall always look back with pleasure to the many hours that I have 

 labored with you. 



Wishing each one a happy and prosperous life, and to the depart- 

 ment success, I again thank you. 



Secretary Simpson read his report as follows: 

 SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



J. C. Simpson, Des Moines, Iowa. 

 Following the last annual convention and meeting of the State Board 

 of; Agriculture, at which meeting I had the honor of being elected sec- 

 retary, the first work to be given our .attention was the collecting and 

 editing of material for the second annual "Year Book." Desiring to have 

 the copy in the hands of the state printer before the usual legislative 

 rush, this was found to be no small task. The first copy was delivered 

 to the printer January first. Very little typesetting had been done by 

 the time the legislature convened and work on the "Year Book" was 

 suspended, the printing to be done for the general assembly being given 

 preference over it. This is usually the case during the winter when the 



