STATE AGRICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 345 



FOURTH DAY. 



MicjiiGAN Exchange, I 

 Detroit, January 15, IS SO. \ 



The Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society resumed its ses- 

 sion this morning, pursuant to adjournment, the President, lion. Geo. AV. 

 Phillips, in the Cluiir. 



Present — Messrs. Sterling, Rising, llanford, Ball, Greene, Cobb, Fralick, 

 Hyde, Manning, Smith, Burrington, Wood, Parsons, Angel, Howard, Harri- 

 son, Butterfield, G-dbert, McKay, Shoemaker, Baxter, Kipp, President, Treas- 

 urer, Secretary. 



REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES, 



To the President and Executive Committee of the Slate A(jricultiiral Society: 



Tlie Special Committee to wliom were referred all the recommendations of Judges 

 and Superintendents for discretionary premiums, would respectfully report : Tliat 

 they have carefully examined the list of such recommended premiums furnished by 

 the Secretary, and have found great diflicultj' in arriving at any satisfactory decision, 

 for tlie reason that in many instances no amounts are even suggested, and in other 

 cases the amount is merely suggested by saying we recommend a first, second, third, 

 or fourth premium, naminor no amount, and premiums of each description in the 

 division and class, varying largely in amount, so that such designation furnished no 

 intelligible guide. Again, in many cases diplomas are recommended, when, from the 

 character of tlie exhibit, if a money premium liad been recommended, it is evident 

 that from §1 to $5 would have been the limit of the recommendation. It will be 

 remembered that the diploma of this Society represents a i^remium in no case of a 

 money value of less than $25, and we cannot consent by such awards of diplomas, as 

 are in many cases recommended, to cheapen, discredit, and render nearly or quite 

 valueless this evidence of the Society's appreciation of exhibits at its Fairs. Labor- 

 ing under these disadvantages, your committee cannot flatter themselves that they 

 will in all cases have arrived at conclusions just to either exhibitors, Superintendents 

 or committees, wlio have made such recommendations, and much less at conclusions 

 satisfactory to exhibitors, but they have endeavored, carefully, laboriously, and con- 

 scientiously to perform the duty assigned them. 



Among tlie recommendations of tlie Viewing Committees, which we have not 

 deemed it advisable to concur in, are two or three which require more than a passing 

 notice. 



The Combination Gas Manufacturing Company made an exhibit of gas fixtures, 

 chandeliers, etc., and of several machines in operation, furnishing light for the hall, 

 etc.; and the Committee recommended in addition to $10 in money and a medal, a 

 cash premium of §25. Your Committee regard the $10 money award and the medal 

 of the Society as a suitable and sufficient recognition, the space furnished and the 

 opportunit}' of advertising by allowing the machines to be exhibited in actual opera- 

 tion in one of our principal halls, being all tiiat was asked or expected by the exhib- 

 itor. Messrs. G. S. Wormer & Sons, as has been their custom for j^ears, made a very 

 large and vahuible exhibit of maciiinery, tools, etc., attracting great attention and 

 adding very much to the completeness of the exliibits in thatdepartment, and the 

 Viewing Committee recommended a money award of §50. Messrs. Pingree & Smith 

 erected at tiieir own expense on grounds set apart for their use bj'' the Societj', a 

 building, and supplied it with suitable machinery for the purpose, for the manufact- 

 ure of boots and shoes, and kept it open for inspection, with 35 operatives constantly 

 employed during the entire Fair. Tiiis enterprise was new, very instructive, and 

 added very much to the attractions and completeness of the Fair. The Viewing 

 Committee recommended a money premium of !j;75. 



Your committee do not underestimate or undervalue either of the exhibits above 

 named, but on the contrary would specially acknowledge our obligations to the gen- 

 tlemen for their respective exhibits. The well known character and standing of both 

 these parties, and our appreciation of the motives and public spirit that induced 

 tliem to make their valuable contributions to the Fair, induce us to believe that a 

 monej' award would be exceedingly distasteful to them, and that they will appreciate 

 and value as a much more suitable recognition of their eflbrts in behalf of the Soci- 

 ety, the medal and diploma of the Society, which we have in each case recommended. 



