304 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



DISBURSEMENTS, 



Total business orders, including speed $18,661 83 



Total premium orders paid 11.340 81 



Total balance on hand ' 13,530 22 



Total 14.3,532 86 



The expense account was reduced by discharging help which had been 

 engaged with the expectation of a repetition of the 1901 attendance. 

 Eatables were well supplied and hjid the weather permitted the people 

 to have attended, I believe they would have been well cared for. 



I wish to make special mention of the courtesies extended by all the 

 steam railroads, especially of the D. G. H. & M. and the P. O. & N. 



' EXHIBITS. 



The exhibits were very creditable in all departments, exhibitors put 

 up with the inconveniences, sympathizing, instead of criticising the 

 management on account of the continued heavy rains. No complaints 

 came of anyone failing to handle successfully his department. 



STATE AID. 



I believe this society should present to the present legislature a request 

 for another appropriation for the coming two years, 



PERMANENT LOCATION. 



The matter of permanent location. I believe should receive careful 

 thought by each member; the condition of streets and walks last year 

 should stimulate action toward getting settled down where permanent 

 and lasting improvements can be made. The different exhibition build- 

 ings should be connected with suitable walks, good walks from entrance 

 to main hall and grand stand. Again with a home, the unsightly shanties 

 erected by the dozens for privileges, mars the beauty of the grounds. This 

 matter has been brought up from time to time for years past. It is a 

 difiBcult question to solve, the sooner it is worked out, I believe, the 

 sooner it will inure to the benefit of the society. 



It might be good policy to have two locations, one in the eastern, the 

 other in the Western part of the State, holding biennial exhibitions. In 

 doing this it would make it possible to reach many people who are unable 

 to travel so far to visit the fairs — Michigan is a large state. While the 

 railroads make some reductions in fare still it is too high for many to 

 attend. Keasonable state aid which should be extended would make it 

 possible to have a creditable place to hold exhibitions which would not 

 only be a credit to the State, but an everlasting convenience to the ex- 

 hibitors and visitors. Money is appropriated to erect buildings in other 

 states representing Michigan with all its great resources. It should 

 certainly aid in having a permanent location or locations at its own home, 

 as manv from other states annuallv visit our State fairs. 



