The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-17

In the selection of judges a board
should have no political debts to pay.
Friends and neighbors should not be
given a free visit to the fair. The aim
should be to select men wholly able and
experienced and not limit the field
Must Not Specialize.
II am no more interested in one
department of the fair than any 9TH
er. 1t is great pleasure and salts
faction to me to see a good poultry
exhibit. 1 am equally interested in
the exhibit of farm implements and
machinery. I am just as apt to show
a visitor through the ladies' depart
ment, for if there is any one depart
ment we are proud of it is the excel
lent exhibit of hand needlework and
china painting annually shown by the
ladies'. Our interest in live stock has
been manifested by the new buildings
the management is constructing to
house these exhibits. Our faith in
races, which are considered part of
our amusement program, is no less
interesting. Our approval of this de-
partment of the fair was best illus
trated in the many days and weeks OF
hard work we put in last winter to Sc
cure the appropriation for f1re
proof amphitheater that safe and
commodious place might be had
where the women and children as
we'll as the men could sit in ease and
safety and enjoy the amusement pro-
grams.
Last year was particularly inter-
ested in the show of dairy cattle, the
first respectable showing of dairy cat
tie we have ever had. Iowa is a great
dairy state; second, l believe, in the
production of dairy products, and at
that but little attention has been paid
or work done to improve our mllch
cows. Farmers have gone on year
after year milking a few cows-and
when times were hard more cows
would be milk ed-never thinking or
seemingly caring to know if the cows
they were milking were paying pro
fit; dairying was side line with
them. They are just now, through
the efforts of our State Dairy asso-
citation, awakening to the fact that it
costs no more to feed and keep
good cow-one that will pay profit
instead of being indebted TO the farm
at the close of the year. With the
assistance of the editor of one or our
live dairy journals and some live
breeders of our state we were able to
interest the officers of some of the
breeding associations of dairy cattle
to the great possibilities for dairy
cattle in Iowa, and with the help or
these men we were able to get
show of over two hundred dairy cat
tie at the last fair. The show will be
larger next year; of this we are as
sured.
ave began few years ago to build
up a show of commercial horses; this
has been growing each year. From one
neighborhood in the state we had SHOWN
this year over So head of this class OF
horses-an by farmers. The entries IN
this class at the last fair outnumbered
the enrries in a similar class at the
| last International Live Stock show.
| There is just one thing we lack at the
Iowa fair-that is a mule SHOW.
When 1 go down to the Missouri
| State fair at Sedalia, or to the Amer1-
| the magnificent show of mules, and the
prices they ashland get for them, L
| feel that we are losing golden OPP
| portunity in Iowa. We have been watch
| ing these shows for some time and be-
| coming more interested each year IN
our desire to see such show in Iowa
| that results are bound to come sooner
| or later. and if Iowa ever starts IN
Gets No State Aid.
| 1.-THE Iowa State fair received no aid
from the state for it's support, as many
/ of the other fairs do. The maintenance
of the grounds and payment of all ex-
| penses and premiums must come from
the receipts. The grounds are. however
| owned by the state, and special appro-
/ priations are made from time to time
i for new buildings. Appropriations for
/ this purpose made by our state toll
( lows.
/ In 1902, ss7 600 for a stock pavilion
/ In 1904, $4,000 for an agricultural
| In 1907. $4,000 for a hog barn.
In 1902 100000 for an anphitheater.
..In addition to these various sums
the management has put in improve
i ments at the grounds over one-quarter
tof a million dollars, which has come
4 from net profits in eight years And
while doing this the amount paid in
! cash premiums has been increased
YEARLY until the offering now totals
$50. 900. This increase from year to
year has amounted to over 100000
!. additional being paid out in premiums
| in eight years.
ST see no reason why a great fair
: can not be held in your city Such a
/ fair would of necessity have to be
supported by public spirited men, with
the assistance of the town, at any rate
until such a time as your state sees
| fit to establish a permanent state fair
THE grounds at Toronto are owned by
the city, which makes all the improve
Il ments and receives all the receipts
T and pays all the expenses The grounds
q are used for park purposes when the
/ fair is not on.
: "In conclusion / again wish to as
: sure you that it has given me grea'
. pleasure to come to Topeka, to meet