REPORT OF SECRETARY-MANAGER 



To the Members of the Executive Committee: 



From the reports received from different sources, it is very evident that the people of 

 Michigan have come to reahze the importance of the Michigan State Fair as one of great 

 educational value. The past year has demonstrated that the support on the part of the 

 State Government was a wise one and it is hoped that the unqualified endorsement of the 

 people will warrant more liberal consideration in the future. The appropriation made 

 by the 1915 legislature of $50,000.00 each year for the years 1915 and 1916, has been 

 apportioned and this year the Michigan State Fair received .$16,000.00, the same as in 

 1915, for the payment of premiums offered to Michigan exhibitors and the same has been 

 apphed on premiums paid. In conversation with many of the Fair Secretaries I am sure 

 that the members of the different Fair Boards throughout the State which have received 

 State aid, endorse the action of the legislatm-e in making such appropriation and feel 

 very kindly toward securing a continuous appropriation at the next session. 



The receipts of our 1916 Fair, as shown by the Auditor's Report, amount to $196,408.67. 

 This is considerable in excess of the receipts in former years. Our expenditures for 1916 

 amount to $153,996.61, which leaves us a net gain of $42,412.08, which is, I am sure, 

 very gratifying to us all. 



The weather conditions during the full ten days of the Fair were ideal; only one after- 

 noon and evening were we interf erred with in any way by rain. We were also fortunate 

 in having no accidents. The Auditor's Report together with the Report of the Superin- 

 tendents of each Department wU give in detail the history of the workings of our Fair. 



$150,000 Bonds: 



In accordance with the recommendation of your Secretary-Manager, which was approved 

 at a special meeting of the Executive Committee held April 14th, 1916, that we make 

 an additional bond issue of $150,000.00 for the purpose of making permanent improve- 

 ments on the Grounds, I wish to report that a second mortgage bond issue made in 1915 

 of $60,000.00 and sold to the Dime Savings Bank was taken up and there was issued 

 $210,000.00 of second mortgage bonds dated May 1st, 1916, and falling due May 1st, 

 1920, $60,000.00 of which was turned back to the Dime Savings Bank at a discount of 

 1%, which left us $150,000.00 of second mortgage bonds for sale, in accordance with your 

 order. 



$25,000.00 of the $150,000.00 bond issue was sold to the American Savings Bank of 

 Pontiac at par and the remaining $125,000.00 of bonds are still in our possession. During 

 the year we have paid $10,000.00 of the bonds falling due and interest amounting to 

 $15,150.00. There are. now outstanding $260,000.00 of bonds sold and $125,000.00 second 

 mortgage bonds unsold, which is plainly set forth in the Auditor's Report. 



Permanent Improvements: 



The Auditor's Report will show the permanent improvements made, which cover the 

 construction of a Woman's Building, Art Building, New Entrance, Post Lighting System, 

 Sidewalks, Stone Roads, enclosing the Machinery Hall and a Lodge for the Grounds 

 Superintendent, the foundation of which was started in 1913, a total expenditure of 

 $43,328.66. The balance of the cost of the permanent improvements made over the 

 $15,000.00 of bonds issued was taken from our 1916 receipts. 



Soon after starting the construction of the buildings, it was discovered that owing to 

 the high cost of material and scarcity of labor, it would be very difficult to go on with all 

 of our improvements. 



Fire at Grounds: 



In regard to the destruction of the five speed barns and damage to Swine Barn K. by 

 fire, which occurred at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, March 18th, 1916, I wish to report 

 that we built three speed barns 30 x 240 feet each, with a capacity covering four of the 



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