418 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ANNUAL WINTER MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

 HELD AT THE GRISWOLD HOUSE, DETROIT, BE- 

 ■ GINNING MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 

 AT 8 O'CLOCK, P. M. 



Called to order by the President. 



Roll called and the following named members present : Messrs. Peek, 

 Stevenson, Tyler, Whelan, Green, Snell, Kelly, Doherty, Galbraith, Ter- 

 ney, Holden, Ransford, Collier, Taft, Aitkeu, Edwards, Fifield, Postal 

 (president), Watkins, Butterlield, McKay and Mr. Edwards, new mem- 

 ber elect. 



The president read his annual address. 



President's Address. 



To the Board of Directors of the Michigan State Agricultural Society : 



I herewith submit to you my report for the year ending December 

 31st, 1907. 



It is needless for me to state that without the untiring devotion 

 of each and every officer, the gratifying results of this period could 

 not have been obtained, and I desire in this report to commend to your 

 board these oificers for their hearty co-operation in all that seemed 

 best for the ultimate success. 



The Michigan state fair is for the people of Michigan. The state 

 has assisted it. Its commercial and educational value cannot be ques- 

 tioned. The past has demonstrated that the expenditure on the part 

 of the state government was a wise one, and it is hoped that the un- 

 qualified endorsement of the people will warrant a more liberal appro- 

 priation in the future. 



In my report I have covered only in a general way matters of particu- 

 lar interest in connection with last year's fair, and offer to you such 

 suggestions as have presented themselves in connection with our 

 j)revious experience. 



I am inclined to think that in the past we have not given enough 

 attention to details, at our annual meetings, and I hope that there will 

 be a free and full discussion on each and every suggestion and recom- 

 mendation contained in the following report. 



A detailed report of the various transactions of 1907, will be sub- 

 mitted by the pro})er officers. 



The gross receipts as compared with 1906, show a decrease. 



The gate receipts were approximately sixty thousand dollars. 



The advance sale of tickets shows an increase of five thousand dollars 

 over 1906. 



Railroad coupons received amount to twelve thousand seven hundred 

 and sixty dollars, or a decrease of six hundred dollars as against 1906. 



The amount received from concessions was thirty-three thousand 

 dollars, an increase of forty-five hundred dollars over 1906, one-half of 

 this increase came from our proportion of side show receipts. 



