ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 215 



trusted to them the managegment of their annual exposition. It is entirely 

 proper that the management of the fair and institution be closely watched 

 and criticised by the public. Such criticism, given in the proper spirit, 

 is "wholesome and is conducive of better things. 



It is by this public criticism that the needs of the institution are most 

 forcibly brought to the attention of the people of the state, as well as the 

 management. While it is not always possible for the management to 

 put into effect, or adopt, the suggestions brought out in a criticism it 

 will, in many instances, point out a weakness in the condition of affairs 

 that has been entirely overlooked. The Board of Management realizes 

 better than any one else, that the fair and exposition has grown much 

 more rapidly than proper facilities for the care of people and exhibits have 

 idded. There are many improvements which ought to be made that 

 will have to wait until such time as funds are available to pay the cost 

 of same. The sanitary condition of the grounds during the time of the 

 holding of the annual exposition cannot be greatly improved until such 

 time as a sewer system can be built. This time will not come until suf- 

 ficient funds are had to pay the cost of same, and until such further time 

 as the city will construct a large sewer in that part of the city in order 

 that a proper outlet may be had for a fair grounds sewer. 



A universal complaint that is heard most often is with reference to 

 the food served by the lunch stands and restaurants on the grounds. This 

 not only applies to the Iowa State Fair but to all other large fairs, or 

 gatherings, where provisions must be made for temporary restaurants and 

 lunch stands. It is a problem which confronts the managers of all the 

 fairs, and so far as we know no one has yet offered any suggetion that 

 would solve the problem. We believe we can safely say, without fear of 

 contradiction, that conditions in this respect have been greatly improved 

 in the past few years. Permanent buildings for lunch stands and restau- 

 rants will, in my opinion, solve, to a great extent, this very perplexing 

 problem. These can only be had as fast as funds are available for their 

 tuilding. We hope, therefore, that in the future there will be more criti- 

 cism and less fault finding at the close of the annual fair. 



PERMANENT PLAN OF THE STATE FAIR AND EXPOSITION GROUNDS. 



A very important step was taken, early the past year, by the board 

 when they employed a landscape architect to make a permanent plan for 

 the future development of the State Fair and Exposition grounds. Mr. 

 O. C. Simonds of Chicago was selected for this work and has just recently 

 finished the plans. Prior to taking up the work the landscape architect 

 was furnished with an outline, showing the various buildings and spaces 

 necessary to a fully equipped exposition grounds, in addition to the per- 

 manent improvements already made, with approximate areas for each. 

 These plans were deemed of great importance at this time by the board 

 in order that all future improvements might be made to harmonize with 

 some well defined plan. Perhaps the most prominent features of these 

 plans are the model farm buildings and lots, dairy barn, sheep sheds, 

 hog sheds, open air auditorium for public meetings and gatherings of 



