Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-21
Des Moines People Have an Idea
That They Alone Bought
State Fair Grounds
BY APPROPRIATION
True That Citizens of Des Moines Sub
scribed Sum Equal to Cost Price for
Improvements-swine Men of State
Much lnterested-Gossip at the
Capital.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines, Sept. 21.-The trouble
over the transfer of some of the state
fair grounds for other ground more
suited for the purpose 1t is trirring up
tempest in tea pot in the city Of Des
Moiles. One newspaper ha,e has rails
ed the question that the executive
council has no legal authority to trans
fer o. sell land that the people of Des
Moines bought for the purposes of a
state fair. Others claim it is outrage
Gus to trade the land off, as it is in
tended to "have the legislature" appro-
pirate 100000 or 100000 and use the
land that is intended ito be sold for a
botanical garden.
1t is probable that few people have
any idea of the merits of the contro-
an idea that because the fair grounds
are here they bought the ground. The
ground for the state fair was pur-
chased by the act of Twentieth general
assembly, which made an appropria-
ton for the purchase of not less than
200 nor more than 400 acres of land
for the purpose The act is chapter
199, page 216, of the laws of the Twen-
tieth general assembly, and provides
that the city where the fair is located
shall raise an amount equal to the pur-
chase price of the land, which money
shall be used for putting up buildings
and improving the grounds. Chapter
119 of the acts of the Thirtieth general
assembly provide that the executive
council can sell not to exceed 100 acres
of the state fair grounds and If 1T is
ssold mnst use the proceeds for buying
other land adjoining.
When the fair grounds was located
the price of land was all about the
same, and instead of giving the state
the level land that is suitable for state
fair purposes, the state acquired lot
of land, amounting to about 100 acres,
that stands on edge. This rough land
is all east of the present ground used
for the state fair purposes. No one
who has ever attended the state fair
has ever seen the land. 1t is about
two miles from the level part OF the
grounds 1t stretches east after one
has ascended the hill ON top of which
is the poultry building, exposition
building and woman's hall. 1t is still
farther east than the ground used by
campers. 1t has never been used as
camping ground. In fact there are fif-
ty acres between what it is proposed to
sell and that used by the campers. If
any one has ever ascended the hill and
started to the east end of the state fair
grounds, he has got tired long before
he ever reached sight of the thirty mine
acres that it is now proposed to sell.
and for which the executive council
has advertised for bids.
This thirty-nine acres aside from be-
ing cut by ravines is absolutely use
less for the state fair and the only
possible use for retaining it in the pos
session of the state is to have 1T as an
argument for getting a 100000 or
100000 appropriation for botanical
garden from the legislature on the
theory that since the state owns the
land 1t ought to be put to some pur-
pose.
The level strip that is located be-
tween the grounds and the Rock Is
land tracks is fast being settled up.
Lots are being sold off and about a
block and half has houses on now.
1t is the only level strip that exists that
can be added to the fair grounds and
it's possession in the opinion OF the
board of directors is absolutely imper-
ative for fair purposes. If the state
waits till there is a cottage on every
lot instead of the lots being held at
5000 each 1T will take about $1,000 and
instead of buying the tract for $4,000,
it will cost the state about $4,000.
1t is improbable that the swine men
Tt is probable that the swine men
of the state will get into the scrap il
It progresses much further. The swine
breeders of the state, representing one
of the largest farm interests there is
in the state, want swine pavilion. The
barns now do not hold the swine that
owners seek to exhibit each year, but
there is no more ground on which to
build. and before swine pavilion can
be erected this strip of level land must
be purchased The swine men will not
be able to live thru another state fair
unless they have better provisions, and
botanical garden dream to cost the
state 100000 is not very sacred
thing when it stands in the road of a
swine pavilion to cost 100000. The
swine men, along with the directors OF
the state fair, are looking at the mat
ter in a very material sort of way.
The fact that the circle is this year
off the ballot is causing some repub-
licans to advocate that there should
be a school house campaign. For many
years the people have been educated to
vote it straight" by putting a "cross
in the circle Now there is no circle.
and the people must be educated on an
entirely different line. There 1till not
likely be school house campaign to
accomplish this education. but an es-
pecial effort will be made thru the use