424 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



To you, the members of the board, I can only express my warmest 

 appreciation in behalf of myself and our Michigan people for your 

 many personal sacrifices and hearty cooperation. 



In conclusion I am deeply sensible of the honor and responsibility 

 conferred upon me in being again selected as Chief Executive and can 

 assure you that my best efforts will be given for the continued prosperity 

 and success of the institution in v.diicli I feel we are all so sincerely 

 interested. 



Sincerelv yours, 



'feed postal, 



President. 



REPORT OF GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Executive Committee: 



I beg leave to briefly give you the workings of the Agricultural So- 

 ciety for the past year. At your meeting in January, 1907, your in- 

 structions to the Business Committee were that they carefully keep ex- 

 penses down to a minimum, not in any way injuring or hindering 

 the general working of the society. With that end in view, your Busi- 

 ness Committee has carefully pruned every item possible. In June of 

 last year we had the misfortune to lose by fire our electric transformer 

 house, together with sundry electric fixtures and one large transformer; 

 the total loss being about |1,100, This handicapped us to the extent of 

 building a new building at a cost of |88.00. 



We found that our electric lighting system was costing us too much. 

 The reason of this was that we owned none of the material necessary. 

 The transformers and material used in the past were loaned from the 

 Edison Electric Company, and had to be taken down and put up every 

 year. Your Business Committee conferred with the Finance Committee 

 and the result was we bought from the Edison Electric Company at a 

 reasonable figure — we think — all the material on the ground pertain- 

 ing to the electric department, at a cost of $3,149.08. 



SEWER AND WATER. 



At the January meeting, 1906, Ave were indebted to Watson Bros., 

 §3,250.00. This amount has been settled, net |1,862.50. We have this 

 year put into permanent improvements, sewer pipe and tile, |254.08; 

 sanitary tank, |157.70; Avater tank, |300.00 ; pipe, fixtures and ma- 

 terial for water and sewer, |338.41, or a total of |4,319.00. 



ENGINE HOUSE. 



We found it necessary in order to procure a fire engine on the ground, 

 to construct a suitable building. Your committee has constructed 

 such a building at a cost of |855.S3. 



