MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 317 



total failures and the per cent derived from their sales did not add much 

 to our treasury — several stand contracts were cancelled. The total re- 

 ceipts from all sources was $2,548.01. 



Respectfully submitted, 



F. E. SKEELS, 



Superintendent. 



TRANSPORTATION, 



To the Officers and Menihcrs of the Executive Committee of tlie Michigan 

 State Agricultural Society: 



Gentlemen — As superintendent of transportation, I would report as 

 follows: The facilities for rendering transportation services were un- 

 doubtedly amply provided for at the last fair, but unfortunately the 

 weather prevented their being put to a test; from the fact, gentlemen, 

 that our next fair is not yet located, it is not appropriate to offer any 

 recommendations. 



Signed, E. ROWLAND, 



Superintendent. 



The reports were received and referred to the committees on premium 

 list and on rules. 



REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



To the Executive Committee: 



Gentlemen — As will be seen by the statistics to be submitted, the entry 

 list was very large at the last fair. Nearly every department was full to 

 overflowing, making a large amount of work in the oflSce, but the books 

 were ready for the sux>erintendents on time. The keeping open of entry 

 books on fruit until Tuesday a. m., makes a delay in preparing the books 

 in that department. If it is necessary to hold the entries till the first 

 of the fair week, it would seem that they might close Monday night. 



Stock entries might close even earlier than 10 days before the fair. As 

 we now construe the rules to apply to entries mailed on the second 

 Saturday preceding the fair, some are not received till Monday p. m. 

 of the week before the fair, and while nominally called ten days before 

 the fair, it is in reality but five days. 



In the sheep and swine classes I believe a fee of 10 cents per head should 

 be charged for entry fee, and in the poultry class many exhibitors favor 

 a moderate fee per fowl. 



The rules need some revision, namely in wording more explicitly so that 

 there can be no difficulty in understanding the meaning. 



I suggested to the committee on rules last year the advisability of using 

 two coupons on the membership certificate one good on Monday and the 

 other good on Friday. 



This would be for the benefit of the small exhibitor. Many of the ex- 

 hibitors in needle work art, some in fruit, poultry and vegetables can not 

 put their articles on exhibition until Monday morning, hence one coupon 

 is used. On Friday it is quite important that they be on hand to take 

 care of their articles before the gates are thrown open after 4 o'clock. 



