REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES, o95 



FINANCES. 



The treasury statement at the date of Jan. 11, 1879, is as follows: 



DR. 



To casli balance in treasury, Jan. 12, 1878 $1,550 73 



To cash receipts from all sources in 1878 2,550 31 



$4,101 04 



CR. 



By paid check drawn upon the Treasurer, 1878 $2,G09 99 



By loan to Parvis Pearce, of Clinaax, April G, 1878, two years, at S per cent, 



secured by mor tgao^e 1 ,350 00 



By cash on hand Jan. 11, 1879 141 04 



$4,101 04 



The subject of procuring suitable fair grounds to be owned by the society 

 is an important question for you to consider. We are now, and have been for 

 the past six years, mere tenants-at-will at National Park. While there has 

 been a constant shrinkage year by year in respect to the extent of the accommo- 

 dations placed at our disposal; and from lapse of time and want of proper 

 repairs, the buildings, with one exception, have become nearly untenable, the 

 annual rental has appreciated to such a degree as to become onerous in the 

 extreme. 



The make-shift policy which we have been following in the past, is unwise 

 and entirely unnecessary. The people of Kalamazoo county can provide 

 ample grounds and buildings for a county or state fair if they will. It is all 

 a question of willingness. 



Will they say that it is a matter of no consequence whether we maintain a 

 society or not? That it can be of no practical benefit to any one? That 

 farmers, like poets, are born, not educated in the great school of experience? 

 That agricultural societies, colleges, literature and experimental tests, are use- 

 less luxuries, that can readily be dispensed with? That all these modern 

 inventions, and so-called improved methods in farming, are mere devices to 

 get a living without work ; and that every honest farmer should stay at home, 

 lock his stable nights, and keep in out of the wet ! 



The population of our county may be estimated at 38,000. Of this number 

 the agricultural class comprise fully 19,000. It is safe to say that eighty per 

 cent of the entire population and sixty per cent at least of the agricultural 

 portion, do not contribute in any direct way to the support of the society. 



At the annual meeting, and the several adjournments thereof one year ago, 

 the subject of fair grounds was very fully considered. An application had 

 been previously made to the county board of supervisors to aid the society in 

 this respect. The statutes of Michigan (see compiled laws of 1871, page 706, 

 chapter 71) empower county boards, at their option, to levy a tax of not less 

 than one-fortieth, or more than one-tenth of a mill upon the dollar, of the 

 aggregate assessed valuation of the county, in aid of county agricultural socie- 

 ties. The society asked for an appropriation of the maximum sum allowed by 

 the law, to wit, one-tenth of the mill on the dollar, to be devoted exclusively 

 to the purchase of grounds; the fee of which should be vested in the county. 

 The application failed in the sense in which it was preferred ; but a small sum 

 was voted, which appears in the items of receipts for the past year. 



At the meetings last winter proposals were received from a number of parties 



