Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-31
WHAI STATE FA|R
GROUNDS Med
Legislature Will Most Likely
Again Recognize Deficiencies
When 1t Convenes
BUILDINGS AN IMPORTANT ITEM
The Character of Them and the Inn
provements Determine to Large Ex-
tent the Character and Standing Of
the Fair-Exhibitors Want Fire.
proof Buildings.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines July 31.-The success
that is awaiting the state fair this
year may nave something to do with
what the legislature will do and will
be asked to do for the fair when 1t
meets again There are great many
things needed before the fair grounds
are really first class in every respect.
The legislature has recognized this In
the past and there is no question will
recognize it again when it convenes.
There are, of course, few legislators
who believe the state fair takes too
much money, but these are men who
have not visited the fair and made
close enough a study of the work it Is
doing. Ohio has fourteen large per-
manent buildings on it's grounds, all
of which were built by legislative ap-
preparations. Iowa Is as far along as
any Of the western states in the mat.
ter OF permanent buildings and inn
provements. The directors Of the fair
will undoubtedly ask the legislature
for more buildings at the session In
1906. What is needed is two good
horse barns, cattle barns, hog barns.
an amphitheater, machinery hall ana
improved walks and drives. All OF
the buildings it is claimed should be
permaaent, fire-proof buildings The
machinery hall should be a. long pa
vilion, in fact merely a roof of steel
over brick concrete floor It is believ-
ed that the stock barns should be two
at least in number for each of the
kinds of stock as the smaller the build
ing the better the light.
The character Of the buildings and
Improvements to very large extent
determine the character and standing
of the fair. The two fine new perma-
nent buildings, the stock pavilion and
the agricultural and horticultural hall,
have added immensely to the attend
ance and standing of the fair, accord
ing to the officials. Exhibitors will
put their costly exhibits in a fire proof
building much more readily than in a
frame shed. There are in the neigh
borhood of half million of dollars
worth of valuable draft horses on ex-
thibit at the fair each year. There are
probably $2,000.000 Of exhibits Of all
kinds, according to estimates of the Of
ficials of the fair. Besides the fire
risk the exhibitors of fine horses say
that more people will go to look at the
horses in fine brick building with
nice brick or concrete sidewalks lead
ing UP to it, than will go to see an ex-
hibit in a less pretentious building.
In addition to these reasons for
wanting more improvements at the
state fair grounds the fair officials
believe that while this year will touch
the high water mark as to the number
and quality Of the exhibits it will
come and that other years will un-
doubtedly be larger in every way than
this one The exhibits this year will
be about all the fair can take care
Of and this is the chief argument for
asking the legislature to make an APP
preparation for larger and better build
ings as they will be needed and in fact
demanded in another year by the in
crease in the exhibits.
The date for the closing of the en-
tries is tomorrow. Saturday night
Secretary Simpson of the fair was in
remarkably joyful frame Of mind, as
on that day he got the entries of two
of the best horse men in the country.
They will bring their entire exhibits Of
horses. The state fair perhaps never
had a more encouraging outlook than
at the present time. For the conven-
ience of the visitors this year the asso-
citation has put in a considerable sum
of money for the improvements of the
grounds. About the horse barns
great amount of cinder walks have
been made which will keep the en-
trance to each barn dry in case there
should be rains and entrance to the
buildings can thus be had with much
greater convenience.
There are grave doubts that the dec
orations in the state house will not all
be completed by the time the state fair
opens. The North and south corridors
which are all that remains to be COM
Melted of the outside work, will be
completed by that time and the scat
folding. it is promised, will all be re-
moved There will undoubtedly be
foods of visitors to the state house to
see the decorations and a large number
Of them will likely be disappointed IN
not seeing the house chamber COM
pleted.
The corridors and rotunda will be
viewed by hundreds without trouble,
and it is possible that the supreme
court room will all be completed. The
supreme court room and the rotunda
are both very fine but in the house
chamber the greatest skill it is believed
is shown This will likely be the last
to be completed. Mr.. Phillips. the
foreman in charge of the work, does
| not believe that the house chamber
will be completed. by the time the fair.
opens, tho it will be comrsated soma
time early In the month OF September.