Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-11
1H|SB THE REAL SHOW
Agricultural Meeting in Des
Moines Today DISGUISE the o
Year Book.
Secretary Van Houten Tells Of
State Fair Affairs and Agri-
cultural Conditions.
Most Profitable Year Iowa Farm.
ers Ever Knew in Spite OF
the Drouth.
Special to the Times-Republican.

! Special to the Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 1.-THE state farm
ers' institute which closed last evening
! is regarded as an Introductory to thu
| state agricultural convention which wa:
held here today. This agricultural con
| that it is here that the real work is done
which eliminates in the state fairs ane
the production of the year book of agri
culture AT this meeting today director:
We're elected and the business of tn,
state fair attended to. The meeting wa:
well attended and much interest mani
tested. Tomorrow the board will meet
and finish up the business.
The address of President r. ]. John.
ston. of Humboldt, was read. In open.
ing he said.
1T is with great deal of pleasure
that / can come before you at this time
and truthfuliy say that in my judgment
this has been the most prosperous yeai
the great state of Iowa has ever known
To compare the conditions now existing
with those Of our exceedingly hot and
dry July the results are surprising. IN
deed this has been great year for sur
prices. or rather year of great surpris-
es. In April we had summer, In May we
had winter, in June we had spring, ano
in July ii got go hot and dry ! got weak
in the knees and tried to devise some
good excuse for declaring the Iowa state
fair off. But not being able to IND any
sufficient excuse to satisfy the puDilc,
I said, Well, go ahead, II 1t takes all
our surplus.
He called attention to the crop condl-
lions of the year just closing and said
1.-THE drouth continued so long every
body was surprised to see anything
grow. But the crops grew, and every
thing. including the Iowa state fair'
fiourished like green bay tree. When
September came and went and OCTOBER
showed all the crops matured or nearing
maturity the surprise was greater than
ever, and the possibilities of Iowa's SOL
and climate was the wonder of all. FL
nally the harvest came and all farmers
and gardeners were as much surprised
as were the children of Israel when they
awoke and found mama. Indeed, the
products of Iowa farms under the con-
ditions of the year just drawing to a
close are little short of wonderful. Iowa
people seem to be possessed of such
Judgment and vim that they are bound
to force Iowa to the front"
Mr.. Johnston spoke Of the rise In the
price of Iowa land as one of the wonder
full things OF the year. He thought the
future of breeding thoroughbred stock
very bright, for Iowa lands are too high
for use in raising scrub stock. Long had
he wished that the people of the United
States had the same pride In our stock
as the English people have in theirs. II
wish" he said, 1.-The people of this great
nation of ours. the greatest on earth.
could reverence the presidents roam as
Englands commonwealth have the
queens roam" The government is
building larger quarantine barriers to
hold the thoroughbreds in this country.
1t would be better If we were exporting
them and there is no reason why we can
not export stock If all breeders will join
and pull together and push the great
live stock industry of the United States.
Right here in Iowa at cur last state
fair he believed we had as fine an ex-
hibit Of cattle as was ever seen on the
face Of the earth, and the exhioit Of
horses, hogs sheep, ETC.. was one that
the state may we'll be proud of. He was
happy at the outcome of the last fair.
He advised putting all the surplus but
about $4,000 into permanent improve
ments. More accommodations are need
ed. There should be dormitory for the
breeders who come here. An exhibition
tent for cattle should be provided next
year four times as large as the one used
this year. In conclusion he said:
THE success of our last state fair Is
a matter of congratulation to the man
agement That it was due entirely to
their efforts would be claiming too
much Several causes contributed to
this success. The great Iowa press
helped us more than my tongue or pen
can express. To them shall ever feel
grateful and I wish to now publicly
express my appreciation of their efforts
in our behalf which were freely given
and without compensation. The rail-
roads also did their part we'll; therefore
I have no grievance against them, and
I wish to say that the railroads have
been friends of the Iowa state fair.
The good people of this great agricul-
tural state all put their shoulders 20 the
wheel as never before and / now thank
you from the depths of my heart for
the interest you have manifested in the
fair"
Secretary George H. Van Houten. in
his report read today, discussed the fair,
the crops, farming in general and many
topics of interest, and his report will
form the introduction of the annual
year book to be published.
Regarding crops Mr. Van Houten said
that corn had proved poor yield this
year and he estimated that crop would
be about two-thirds of a yield, three
fourths as to quality and 80 per cent in
feed value. Iowa has many good corn
areas. yet many places are shy of mar
ketable corn. If favorable weather con-
tinues this winter there will be little loss
of stock Shortage of corn may lead to
better methods of feeding.
Small grains are much better than
corn and the high price Of corn will in
duce farmers and breeders to feed more
oats. Wheat can be used profitably for
feed for poultry. There will be slight
increase in the next crop of wheat. But
Mr.. Van Hounten declared that Iowa
farmers had clear field and that they
ought to plant more corn.
AS to broom corn he advanced con-
tinuance of this crop by men who have
had experience and have the necessary
machinery for its cultivation. He said
broom corn brings now from ss5 to s14o
per ton.