4G3 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



BAY COUNTY. 



The very able and exhaustive article furnishetl for the Keport of 1877, ia 

 relation to the history of Bay county and the Bay County Agricultural Society, 

 relieves me of any labor in that direction further than to say that the erroneous 

 idea in regard to the worthlessncss of Bay county lands for agricultural pur- 

 poses, \vhich had gained general credence tliroughout the country previous 

 thereto, has, since that report was published, been more fully refuted, and the 

 fact has been established beyond a peradventure that the lands of Bay county 

 for agricultural purposes are equalled by few and excelled by none of any of 

 the counties in the State. Not only has this fact been demonstrated by the 

 opening up of new territory to agricultural development, and the increased 

 demand for farming lands, but also by the enormous and almost unprecedented 

 yields of wheat and other cereals, and vegetables, reported and exhibited at 

 our county fairs the past two years. 



Since the report above alluded to was published our charter has been some- 

 what amended to comply with the suggestions therein contained, and other 

 important objects have been accomplished which has not only proved of 

 immense pecuniary benefit to our society, but establishes it on a sound and 

 secure basis and places it beyond the possibility of failure in the future. 



A special act of the Legislature passed at its last session enabled Bay county 

 to receive our agricultural society's grounds and buildings in trust for the 

 society and assume the indebtedness on the same. This question was submitted 

 to a vote of the people of the county, and resulted in favor of the measure by 

 an overwhelming majority. In pursuance of this result the proper documents 

 were presented to the Board of Supervisors of the county and accepted by an 

 almost unanimous vote. This action has relieved the society from any pecu- 

 niary embarrassment, and we are gratified to be able to report that the Bay 

 County Agricultural Society is in a healthy, vigorous condition, possessed of 

 handsome grounds, beautifully situated, with a fine half-mile track in perfect 

 condition, with grand stand, judges' stand, speaker's stand, etc., and also with 

 beautiful new and substantial buildings for fair purposes, viz : Agricultural 

 Hall, Floral Hall, President and Secretary's offices, three refreshment build- 

 ings, stables, sheds, pens, etc., all of which are of admirable adaptation, and 

 this too with no burthen of debt resting upon them. 



The board of supervisors have also, with great generosity this year, ordered 

 a slight tax spread upon the rolls, which, although so small to individual tax- 

 payers, yet, in the aggregate will materially benefit the Society. 



It would be unjust in me to close this portion of my report without saying, 

 that in all the measures which have so essentially tended to the advancement 

 of the Society's interests, and to whatever of success it has attained, it is 

 mainly indebted to the untiring exertion and indefatigable zeal of our retir- 

 ing president, Hon. Isaac Marston. "We are enabled to say this much, with- 

 out any intention in the least to detract from the self-imposed and unrequited 

 labors of the gentlemen wlio have been associated with him, as officers and 

 directors. 



The ninth Annual Fair of the Bay County Agricultural Society was held 

 on the Society's grounds at Bay City, from September 23d to the 26th, 1879, 

 inclusive. 



