Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-19
'1HE STATE Is.
OPEN, TODAY
Fifteenth Annual Exhibition
Will Be One of the Best In
States History
MAY DECREASE ATTENDANCE
St. Louis Fair Expected to Make In
roads Upon the Attendance at the
Iowa Fair, But Will Not Detraet
From Its Educational vaIue-Good
Patronage Anticipated.

| Special to Times Republican.
/ Des Moines, Aug. 19.-The fifteenth
annual state fair Of Iowa opened to-
day with excellent prospects for a
successful exhibition. The quality OF
the exhibition is already assured, and
the only element remaining is that OF
attendance. The fair was well adver-
tised during the year and it is beiiev-
ed it will be well patronized. 1t Is too
much to expect that with the St Louis
exposition at hand this fair will re-
ceive the same attention that 1t would
| otherwise have. The management
has been wisely conservative with this
| in view. The weather last year was
about the worst ever encountered by
a fair, but the receipts came up to
within $4,000 of the previous year,
amounting to $63.s79. Even with the
possibility Of running behind in cost
Of the fair this year it was thought
best to hold the fair. on account OF
its educational advantages to the state.
Regarding this phase OF the matter
/
to the state agricultural meeting last
winter stated:
Il have always contended that the
educational advantages resulting from
properly conducted state fair, could
not be measured in dollars and cents.
and that the results obtained were far
more beneficial than most of us are
prone to believe. Many an inspira-
tiou for Improvement In focks and
herds is received at these annual ex-
positions which cannot be gathered at
any other place. The American far
mer, like the manufacturer. il never
satisfied unless he is pushing forward
and trying to do better than his neigh
Dor. Where can he better compare
the products of his own farm than
with what Is shown at our state fair!
"The stockman who does not keep
pace with the improvements continual
ly being made in the different breeds
Of live stock, is no better off than the
merchant, who does not keep posted
on the latest and most improved meth
DDS OF conducting his business; or
the grain farmer who does not take adj
vantage Of every opportunity to i'm
prove his seed and cultivate his crops
that he may receive better and lar
ger yield OF grain per acre. He is in
deed a wise man who cannot gather
new ideas from his neighbor
"As the value Of farm land increases,
so must the farmers knowledge of how
to produce greater results per acre in
crease. A farmer, like professional
or business man, must be close stu
~. IL =. t. <Oll ,fv,ev A
study OF the government census report
for 1900, shows that the increase of
population of the United States for the
preceding ten years was over four
teen millions, or about twenty per cent
Of our total population. Iowa's popu-
lation is shown by the same census to
be a fraction over two million two
hundred thousand. Or about one sixth
of the total increase for the whole Uni
ted States for the ten years just men
toned. The amount Of food consum-
ed yearly by this great increase OF pop
ulation is enormous, and with a yearly
decrease in the acreage OF new agricul-
tural land. but one choice is left, we
must produce more bushels per acre
on land now cultivated, and raise cat
tie and hogs that will take on more
meat, per pounds Of grain and forage
consumed. To accomplish this the
farmer must keep In close touch with
experiments continually being conduct.
ed. and by careful observation of the
results OF his own work. Many i'm
provements for the decrease in the
cost OF production, or increase in yield
per acre, are noted by the exhibits
shown at the annual state fair from
year to year. It the same relative
percentage of increase In the popula-
tion of the United States is returned
from the census of 1910 as that Of 1900
1t will give us an increase OF over
twenty millions, or nine times the to-
tai population of the state of Iowa.
Iowa farmers must do their part to-
ward furnishing food for this great
army of people. Anything that tends
to increase their knowledge along these /
lines is of great Importance. and that
is the purpose of the Iowa state fair"
Secretary Kennedy. of the state board |
Of health is engaged in sending out |
the blanks to the health officers and |
others of the state who are relied upon |
for vital statistics. The amount of /
work imposed upon the health board
by the new law is enormous, and extra
help has been necessary to get thru
with 1t. The blanks go to the health I
officers in 2,240 registration districts
of the state, 1859 district townships
and ISL cities and incorporated towns.
The clerks In the townships are charg-
ed with the duty of making the reports
to the state board of all deaths, and
the health officers in the cities and
towns Then there are about 500 IL
,ensed embalmers in the state who are
being supplied with the necessary
blanks to use in reporting deaths The
which this involves is
great and the compiling Of statistics
Will take much time.
1t will be interesting news to the =