IlEPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. GOl 



since the organization of the latter, and in order to enable the horticultural 

 society to make an attractive i)reinium list, the agricultural society this year 

 voted the sum of $500, which was paid in ])remiums for fruits and llowers. 



The display in each department was remarkably fine, and compared favor- 

 ably witli former exhibitions. Farmers, merchants and mechanics were pro- 

 fuse in tiie exhibition of their various articles of merchandise, and a general 

 feeling of satisfaction was manifested regarding the awards of the various 

 viewing committees. 



The election of officers took place at tlic fair grounds on Thursday, Septem- 

 ber 20, with the following result : 



President — Levi Averill. 

 Secretary— Jama?, Cox. 

 Treasurer — Frank W. Foster. 



Members of Executive Commitlee— John H. Wi they, Henry Fralick, John Porter, Ed. 

 B. Dikeman, Isaac B. Malcolm. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Grand Kapids, Dec. 10, 1878. 



JAMES COX, Secretary. 



MUSKEGON' COUNTY. 



Muskegon would respectfully make her first bow in this department by a 

 report of her agricultural prospects and her society and fair. 



LOCATION. 



Muskegon county is located upon the east shore of Lake Michigan, between 

 the counties of Ottawa and Oceana, and from Spring Lake and the Grand 

 Kiver Valley south it extends northward on the lake shore to the Clay Banks 

 and Flower Creek, and inland or eastward it extends from eighteen miles at the 

 narrowest to twenty-eight miles at the widest point. JMuskegon, White and 

 Black lakes, each opening into Lake Michigan, extend about six miles into the 

 county and lie wholly within the county, while Spring Lake forms two miles or 

 more of the southern boundary. These lakes are all navigable by even the 

 largest A'essels and give the county over seventy miles of lake coast, upon which 

 are at least ten good ports and landings for the shipment of produce. 



Into these lakes flow Muskegon, White and Black rivers, each used largely in 

 lumbering. Four hundred millions feet of pine logs are annually rafted at the 

 mouth of the Muskegon alone and 100,000,000 more on the other rivers and 

 smaller streams not tributary to the Muskegon Thirty or more small streams 

 tributary to those named and the lakes, pass across portions of the county in a 

 southwesterly course. Bear Lake and Little Black Lake and about thirty 

 smaller inland lakes, with the above named streams furnish an abundant 

 supply of water for stock, add to the fertility of the soil, are a protection from 

 early and late frosts, and yield an abundance of excellent fish. 



SOIL 



Every variety of soil may be found in the county. Large tracts of flat 

 meadow land not yet utilized may be found — which will make the best of dairy 



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