Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-26
GATHERED BY THE WAYSIDE

the state fairs. relieving the state agri-
cultural society Of its burden so well
carried. some thirty years ago. pur-
chase was made Of tract OF land then
near Des Moines and now In Des
Moines. The Twentieth general as
sembly appropriated $4,000 for the
purchase Of the ground on condition
that Des Moines would give an equal
amount with which to build some OF
the buildings needed, and this was
done. The land was so far "out OF
town" that 1t was cheap and a tract
was purchased much larger than some
OF the tight wads Of the day thought
would ever be necessary. With some
additions the tract now includes over
SS5 acres. Less than dozen years
ago some persons In Des Moines put
up scheme to have the state sell q
part Of the tract in order to pay for
some extensions which would have
been desirable, to enlarge the race
track. Thanks to the vigorous protest
OF Isaac Brandt and few others this
scheme failed. To-day it can be seen
that sale OF any part of the tract
would be a mistake, for it may be
necessary in another year to rent land
on which to store the Fords and autos.
There were fine men, of great fore
sight and high hopes, who had to do
with the making of the Iowa state
fairs in ths',thirty-two years they were
permitted to wander about homeless
over the Iowa prairies, camping each
year at the place which would offer
greatest inducements. Those who
helped to give the state fair a per-
manent location were men of force
and purpose-men like John r. Shaffer,
Wheeler, Snouffer. Chase. Coffin, Grin
nell Clarkson, Wallace. Cue, Wright,
Hayes, Scott and Larrabee. But they
have had worthy successors who have
built well as the years have passed
men like Cameron, Simpson, Morrow,
Curtiss, Packard and many others, in
Guiding those at present active in the
management of the fair How did the
men of 1885 realize what changes
would be made in the general appear
ance OF the state fair park in thirty
years? Only few of the old build
ings remain. Practically no part Of
the original plan for the layout re-
mains unchanged. The exposition was
permitted ito slip down off the hill.
Permanent buildings took the place of
the old wooden ones The state has
been fortunate, however in that not
one of the old wooden buildings has
ever been destroyed by fire or tornado.
Not one is now used for the purpose it
was intended.
The first fair on the new grounds,
as the writer remembers we'll, was
somewhat married by heavy rains, and
as the ground was new and no walks
laid anywhere this was a serious mat,
ter, but they extended the fair one day
and it came out very we'll. But on
this thirtieth anniversary Of the fair
in it's permanent home some compari
sons may not be out of place.
The attendance at the 1885 fair Is
not of record, but the total receipts
amounted to s3s,ss4, which wouldn'
much more than buy the music for
present day fair. They paid about
$4,000 cash in premiums, which
wouldn't satisfy one department now.
The total number of entries was $685.:
Of which there were horses, 440; cattle,
402; sheep, 1854, and swine. 2ss. Those
who today complain about the poor
street car service might be reminded
that thirty years ago the street cars
didn't pretend to run anyway near the
fair grounds and you had to take a
Rocka Island shuttle train or walk.
And John Shaffer useflr oil lamps and
tallow candles : In his Erffice. the floor
of which wasoof loose boards, and the
roof Of which leaked.
Governor Larrabee, speaking at the
dedication, ,of the. new. fair grounds,
1886, said:
Like the national game Of the
Greeks such gatherings serve pa
triotic purpose. Bringing together as
they do representative men from all
parts ofithe state, men who in great
degree share the same social, political
and financial fortunes, they more
firmly cement the bond of common
brotherhood which ties together the
citizens of one state Here friendships
are annually formed and renewed. here
the brother meets the sister and the
parent meets the son; here is the re-
union Of ALL"
That thought has been kept in mind
at these fairs. Father" Clarkson. in
speech at the same time boasted OF
Iowa productiveness and added that
I'VE could now raise as large an army
49,