REPOETS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 587 



on the same amounting to $3,385, with interest at tlie rate of ten per cent 

 per annum, using all available means at that time and the following few years 

 in improvements on the grounds. 



Since that time the change in values and consequent stringency in all mone- 

 tary affairs have made it a heavy load for the society to meet its obligations. 

 The indebtedness, however, has been steadily reduced each year for the past 

 five 3'ears until on the 31st day of December, 1878, the total indebtedness, 

 including interest, was $2,700, with a balance of cash on hand of $G58, leav- 

 ing net indebtedness $2,043. 



The twenty-fourth annual fair was held on the society's grounds September 

 2-lth, 35tli, 36th and 37th, 1878, and although the fairs of previous years had 

 been proverbially successful, the officers and managers of the present fair had 

 many misgivings as to its success, owing to some changes in rules in regard to 

 tickets of admission to which very many objected, and the prospect of bad 

 weather. The weather the first day was not pleasant, but before night the 

 entries were in excess of any former year. The second day from 10 A. M. to 

 3 P. M. the rain fell most of the time in torrents and yet the attendance was 

 good. The third day was bright and clear, and although the roads were very 

 bad the Eaton County Agricultural Society's grounds never had so many 

 people on before, and the fourth day was equal to any previous day in the 

 history of the society. 



All the departments were full and overflowing with the choicest exhibits in 

 their several classes, and the fair which, at the beginning, promised to be a fail- 

 ure, proved a triumphant success ; and I feel that I should be direlict in my 

 duty in this connection if I failed to mention the fact that very much of our 

 success was due to the ladies who took a special interest in the fair, those of 

 the country and city vieing with each other in seeing who should do the most 

 in helping on the good work and make the best exhibits. 



The amount of premiums offered for the fair of 1878 was $1,458.50, distri- 

 buted as follows: Horses, $326.50; cattle, $391.50; sheep, 154.50; swine, 

 $132.00; poultry, $32.35; fruit, $40.25; vegetables, $38.50; grain, $35.35; 

 farm implements and mechanic arts, $109.35; household domestic manufac- 

 tures, $69.50; household dairy products, $45.50; fine arts, $53.00; plants and 

 flowers, $30.50. There were 163 entries of horses, 91 of cattle, 94 of sheep, 

 35 of swine, 57 of poultry. The total stock entries 439, end 1,335 miscellane- 

 ous entries. Total 1,674, besides entries for the special premiums. 



Total amount of premiums awarded, $900.50, besides the special premiums 

 offered by different individuals. 



The financial statement of receipts and expenditures for the year ending 

 December 38th, 1878, are as follows; 



Balance on hand December 27th, 1877 $188 76 



Loaned at bank 90 00 



Sale of logs 11 38 



Membership tickets sold. 1 ,239 GO 



Admit one tickets sold 774 00 



Vehicle ticlcets sold 342 50 



Grand stand tickets sold 93 60 



Rent of stands 331 GO 



Pasturage 30 10 



$3,100 34 



