REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 471 



of cattle; ami the Agricultural Society has been a valuable auxiliary in arousing a 

 spirit of emulation among our stock-breeders. 



The exhibition of grain, vegetables, fruits, dairy and household products in the 

 hall devoted to that purpose, elicited universal commendation of all who visited the 

 fair. It was simply magnificent throughout. A prominent agriculturist and wife 

 from Kansas, who were at the grounds on Thursday, remarked that tliej^ were per- 

 fectlj' amazed at tlie grandeiu- and excellence of the display; that they had attended 

 various State exhibitions in the west, but they never saw an exhibit in tliis depart- 

 ment excelled. 



At the winter meeting of the State Agricultural Society at Detroit one year ago, 

 President Webber congratulated the society upon the fact that since the abolition 

 of horse-racing they had held three of the most successful fairs of the society. Pres- 

 ident Webber tiien adds: "If it (the society) cannot be supported (oidy) upon tha 

 basis of speed trials, the general good would be promoted by its ceasing to exist,"' 



Our system of trials of speed, being restricted to county horses, is less objection- 

 able in my opinion than lists "open to the world."' Still, waiving all questions a> to 

 the fairness or unfairness of these tests, as to whether any considerable number of 

 people are attracted to the fair-grounds simply and solely to see the horses r/o, ought 

 we to offer prizes, much larger in proportion than in any other department, for a 

 class of horses possessing no other known earthlj' merit save the mere quality of 

 speed upon the race-track, and that no intelligent breeder would ever desire ta 

 propagate or perpetuate? 



Wliiie race horses are the capital stock of pool sellers and gamblers, the farmer has 

 but little use for them. Unquestionably the society should lend its influence and" 

 encourage the breeding of solid business horses, adapted to the heavy work of the- 

 farm and transportation of ci'ops to market. 



At a late meeting of the State Teachers' Association, Prof. George E. Cochrane,. 

 Superintendent of the Kalamazoo public schools, read a paper which was well received,, 

 entitled "Tlie exhibition of school material at county and other fairs, as a means of 

 promoting education." The suggestion is eminently a practical one, and ample 

 facilitiee can readily be afforded for such a department if thought advisable. 



THE PROPOSED FAIU GROUND PURCHASE. 



The subject of procuring suitable grounds for the society whei'eon to hold its 

 annual fairs, recurs again at this meeting of the association with pressing signifi- 

 cance. We cannot reasonablj' defer action upon a matter of such vital concern to the 

 life and usefulness of the society. I am pleased to announce that we are now in con- 

 dition to submit this question fairly and openly to the people of the countj% for a 

 clear expression of their views at the ballot box, whether they take any interest 

 whatever in the societ5'; whether, as a time-honored institution of the count}', whose 

 single aim and purpose is to promote and encourage all branches of public industry, 

 and especially in tlie direction of agricultural science and development, they desire 

 its maintenance; whether, as a matter of local pride, in view of what has already 

 been achieved tlirough its instrumentality, the reputation it has already gained 

 abroad and the possibilities of good its future may confer, they would regret its 

 downfall and dismemberment; and whether thej', the citizens of Kalamazoo county, 

 are willing to vote the necessary aid by which, and only by which, fair grounds can 

 be secured and paid for. 



I am safe in the assertion that nearly every other organization of like character in 

 the State has and is receiving aid from the public funds. You are taxed heavily to 

 support the Agricultural College, an institution in whicli we all take great pride; 

 to erect a State house costing $1,500,000, the envy of all our sister States of the north- 

 west ; to maintain public schools, to open up public thoroughfares, and in a multitude 

 of ways, by tax, voluntary subscription or otherwise, paying large sums of monej' for 

 the support of various institutions of a public character, and will you say that you 

 cannot afford to contribute the small amount asked for in aid of the organization so 

 closely identified with the business in which you are all chiefly engaged, whose bene- 

 fits are sliared by all, and the endowment and building up of whicli shall be a credit 

 to the count}', and be transmitted as a rich legacy to your posterity. 



At the last session of our State Legislature the following bill was enacted and 

 became a law: 



AN ACT to authorize the county of K.alaniazoo to raise money by taxation to huy and iniprovo 



ground for agricultural fair purposes. 



Section l. Tke feoplc of the State of Michigan enact: That it shall he lawful for the ciualified 

 voters, who are tax-i)ayers in the county of Kalamazoo, to vote for and raise by tax a sum of money 

 not exceeding twelve thousand dollars, to be used by tUe proper ofllcers of tlie Kalamazoo County 



