Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-17
PLAN 1OMAKE STATE
FAIR GROUNDS PARK
Des Noines Comes Forward
With Suggestion That City
Use State Property
AMUSEMENT PARK is PROPOSED
Argument is That State Would De-
rive Revenue and Des Moines
Would Be Benefited - Beet Sugar
Discussion at State Farmers lnsti
titute - Smiths Campaign.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-R Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 17.-Make the state
fair grounds summer amusement
park and add to the revenue from the
fair grounds as well as to the attrac-
tions of Des Moines. This is the latest
proposition concerning the state fair
grounds and the reasonabeness of the
thing appeals to everyone to whom it
has been mentioned.
1t has been the regret for many years
that the state fair grounds with all Its
buildings and improvements must stay
idle for fifty weeks out of the year.
Many persons have given some thought
to schemes to make use of the grounds
in way that would bring in remun-
GRAFTON to the state. II considerable
revenue could be obtained from the
grounds and buildings during some OF
the weeks when they are idle this
revenue would go long way toward
making other needed improvements In
the grounds in the way of erecting
more permanent buildings.
Ingersoll Park in the extreme west
ern part of Des Moines does a rush
business all summer long. Ingersoli
park is small, far too small, for the
crowds that congregate there.
The state fair grounds are situated
in the extreme eastern part of the city
and the two parks would not Interfere
in any way with each other. The
amusement features could be entirely
different Furthermore there would be
but little expense necessary to tit the
state fair grounds so that itecould be
used for an amusement park all sum-
mer long and the attractions Woul0
add to the interest during fair week.
Furthermore the idea is not without
precedent, for the Texas state fair
grounds at Dallas, Texas, are used in
just that way.
Just to the right of the street car
entrance to the fair grounds is an open
space that will be available for amuse-
ment attractions. At Dallas, Iexas'
there is a "Chute the Chutes" attrac-
ton. An artificial lake is arranged In
to which boat drops In five years
this attraction has carried 5,OOO,0OO
people without an accident and 1T is
one of the biggest paying institutions
on the grounds. Such an attraction
could easily be arranged on the Iowa
State Fair Grounds. Vaudeville at
fractions could be arranged for in front
Of the ampithea,er or in the big stock
.,ayillion that will seat twice the num-
!. cr of peor!e that the 1ngersoll Park
theater wi.i seat
At present the only revenue the dlrec-
TORS of the department of agriculture
get ont of the state fair grounds out
side of state fair week is the rent OF
the grounds for the Labor day picnic
of the union labor organizations, and
the rental of the stock pavilion Tor
occasional sales during the summer OF
cattle and horses. But this rental IS
merely bagetelle.
The directors of the department OF
agriculture have had prepared elab-
crate plans for the Improvement OF the
state fair grounds and as fast as the
revenue from the state fair and the
generosity of the legislature Will per-
nit it is putting these into erect.
These plans provide for the ultimate
beautifying of the grounds so that the
grounds will be one big park With
the ramshakle buildings used by the
concessions and dining halls removed
and the grounds laid off in -four beds
little more is needed to make the
grounds one of the most beautiful
parks in the state of Iowa and a few
amusements such as are commonly
provided at summer amusement parks
would never fail to provide big crowd
at the grounds and big revenue TO
the state with which to further i'm
nroye the grounds and better the state
fair.
The manager of the new beet sugar
factory at Waverly, Iowa, is to be one
of the speakers at the state farmers
institute in December. The Waverly
beet sugar factory is the first to be
built in Iowa and the year 1905 is It's
first wear. It is thought that the farm
ers of the state will be glad to hear
from the manager of the concern what
success he is meeting with and wheth-
farmer in raising sugar beets. IT the
waverly concern is a success there is
no doubt but there will be other such
factories erected in the state. Il
The executive council has decided
to ask for bids for the removal or
the glass in the floor Of the rotunda
on the first floor of the state house
and for railing to be placed around
it. This will allow Of ventilation on
the basement floor OF the state house
and will also allow Of considerable
more light on the basement floor. Also
the council will ask for bids for the
removal Of the spiral stairway under
the grand staircase leading to the
basement floor and for the building OF
a broad stairway the width of the
grand stairway under it. This will al
low Of still further light and ventil-
alton on the basement floor At pres