MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 211 



feet and extending our seats from the present box seats to the new line 

 of the Grand Stand enclosure, which would be in the neighborhood of 

 fifty feet. Thus the entire length of the Grand Stand constructed of 

 reinforced concrete, would add several thousand seats to the Grand 

 Stand at a very nominal cost. 



We also need a building in Avhich to house the State exhibits. In my 

 opinion this building should be constructed by tlie State, and all State, 

 Government and County exhibits placed therein. There is no reason 

 wh}^ our Association should supply the State of Michigan with exhibit 

 space free of charge, and I believe it would be well at the next session 

 of the Legislature tosget all of the departments interested and ask the 

 Legislature for at least -150,000.00 for the construction of such a building. 

 I have had some talk with the manufacturers of Detroit, and from what 

 I can learn it is possible to erect a manufacturers' building, nuiking a 

 five-year contract with a sufficient number of the manufacturers for 

 space therein, the receipts from which, covering the five-j'ear period, 

 would nearh' pay for the construction of the building. The exhibit space 

 at the 1919 Fair Avas sold many weeks before the Fair opened, and Ave 

 will certainly need more space for 1920. 



I feel sure I can say without fear of contradiction that there never 

 was a State Agricultural Exhibition conducted along educational lines 

 offering large sums for premiums, and operating at what may be called 

 popular prices of admission, which has cleared enough in net profits to 

 ]irovide funds for the entire erection and maintenance of its iilant; but 

 if Ave are as prosperous each year for the next five years as Ave were this 

 year, and I see no reason Avhy we should not be, as the prospects are very 

 bright for the future, we Avill have made enough during that time to 

 almost duplicate our present plant besides paying the usual ten thousand 

 each year of our bonds. 



A new 11-foot sewer is under construction coming from the east and 

 is less than a mile from our grounds. As soon as it reaches us we Avill be 

 required to connect up Avith it — a much needed improvement in connec- 

 tion Avith our plant. 



We have been notified by the City Plans Commission that Woodward 

 Avenue will be Avidened to 100 feet, which would take 17 feet off the front 

 of our property. This will in all probability disturb our new entrances 

 and we should endeavor so far as possible to require the city to pay the 

 damages. This same Commission was planning on an outer boulevard, 

 taking about 60 feet off the south side of our grounds. We have had 

 conferences on this subject and lirotested, claiming it was not necessary 

 and was unreasonable. Their present i:)lan uoav is to take a strij) of land 

 150 feet otf tiie north end of our property, Avhich Avould include nearly all 

 of the north end of our race track; then swing south to a point near 

 the center of the subdivision at the nortlnvest corner of our grounds 

 and soutli of tlie Fight Mile Road. Action should be taken as to Avhat 

 our position Avill be in the matter. I Avould suggest if they acquire the 

 land, about ten acres lying betAveen the proposed new boulcAard and 

 our north line facing on Woodward AA'enue and turn it OA'er to us, that 

 Ave consent to the improvement; otherwise we would object to tlie jdan 

 entirely. I have -already made this suggestion to the Committee. 



