480 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



STATE GRA>^GE. 



ANNUAL MEETING DECEMBER 8-11, 1896. 

 i[ Abstract of report by the secretary, Miss Jennie Buell, June 30, 1897.] 



The subordinate Granges of Michigan have heartily co-operated with 

 the State Grange in all its projects for advancing organization among 

 people of the rural districts. At the last annual meeting, in Decemt»er, 

 1S9G, twenty Granges were reported as having been added to the working 

 force of the order in the State and several others have been revived or 

 planted since that date. 



A marked feature of the year is the discontinuance of the Grange 

 Visitor, which for twenty-two years had been the organ of the Granges 

 of Michigan. In its place a Grange department in the Michigan Farmer 

 is edited by K. L. Butterfield, the Visitor's last editor. 



The Grange Fresh Air work has been continued under the energetic 

 supervision of the Woman's Work Committee. Three hundred seventy- 

 five children and mothers from the heated districts of the cities have 

 been given from two to four weeks' vacation in country homes. 



Patrons have attended and participated in all the Farmers' Institutes 

 held in the State. They recognize the immense educational advantages 

 involved in the increased appropriation for this purpose and bring to the 

 Institutes their own experience and training in an order thoroughly 

 ■equipped for effective organization. 



Subordonate Granges have sliown their appreciation of the Traveling 

 Libraries by eager applications, and use of them when received. 



Co-operative trade contracts are now made with reliable dealers in 

 nearly all kinds of goods, implements and wares. This line of Grange 

 activity is one that has long been practically dormant in this State but 

 is now a promising feature. 



The last session of the State Grange was much occupied with legisla- 

 tive questions, as is commonly the case on the year preceding the con 

 vening of the legislature. The executive committee was directed to 

 select from the measures considered a limited number and especially 

 press their claims. Accordingly the executive committee selected cer- 

 tain measures as being in the interests of farmers, and advised that they 

 "be presented to the legislature. Later in the session it seemed advisable 

 to call out the support of the Grange on other questions. The bills known 

 as the Anti-color, to Prevent appeals from Justice Courts where small 

 amounts are involved, Traveling Library Appropriation, Farm Institute 

 appropriation, and continuance of Tax Statistician, originated with the 

 Grange and were petitioned for. Other measures petitioned for by the 

 Grange and their passage urged, were the Kimmis county salary and 

 the Wagar State official bills. 



The bills presented in the legislature to repeal the mortgage tax law 

 and to indirectly establish the township unit school system were suc- 

 cessfully petitioned against by the Grange. It also strenuously opposed 

 the repeal of the law providing for the collection of farm statistics and 

 saw the bill defeated. 



