PROCEEDINGS AND REPORTS. 543 



There was some machinery entered in Division K, exhibited elsewhere on the grounds. 

 Dennis & Glover exhibited one 2-horse power engine ; Lansing Iron and Engine Works, 

 one pocket mill ; Whitely Bros., Lansing, one saw-mill ; J. C. Haag & Sons, Lansing, 

 one Little Giant picket-fence machine. 



Character of the Exhibit. 



The exhibit was far from being satisfactory, according to my standard, and would 

 have been very poor had it not been for the College exhibit. With the permission of 

 the Chairman of the Business Committee I issued a circular, which I mailed to all the 

 prominent manufacturers and dealers in machinery in the State. A copy of this cir- 

 cular is submitted with the report. I had quite a number of inquiries and a few prom- 

 ises to exhibit as a result of the circular. I also wrote several personal lettei's, and 

 called on a number of people with very little success. A few who promised to exhibit 

 did not arrive. I was very much disappointed at the late arrival of some fine exhibits; 

 machinery that should have been in place Monday was not even entered until Tuesday 

 afternoon ; this made it necessary to rearrange to some extent the exhibit already in 

 the [building, and effectually prevented any classification whatever. That is an 6vq 

 that will be especially difficult to remedy in the machinery department, because the 

 advertising value of the exhibit is all the inducement we offer, and this inducement to 

 the manufacturer of general machinery is not a weighty one. 



The manufacturers of agricultural implements, on the other hand, are fully educated 

 to the value of exhibiting at the State Fair, and add a great deal to the attractiveness 

 of the Fair. A fine exhibit of general machinery would be even more attractive ; it 

 would be of great educational value to the mechanic and to our young men, and is cer- 

 tainly worth making some effort to secure. One of the principal reasons urged against 

 showing at the Fair by manufacturers, is, aside from the expense, the fact that they 

 receive no notice whatever, and the spectators have little or no appreciation of good 

 work and good machinery. The point is also made that usually there is no competi- 

 tion, and consequently little or no interest is taken in the exhibit. While I do not 

 believe this last is true, still I have no doubt if we could awaken a spirit of competition 

 in this line, the exhibit would be much improved. 



I have thus briefly set before you, what no doubt you have all realized in regard to 

 this particular department. My experience is not sufficient to warrant me in recom- 

 mending any special change in the method of conducting it. I do not believe that 

 premiums could be awarded with any justness, neither do I believe they would be of 

 especial inducement to exhibitors. I have, however, thought that the award of a 

 diploma signed by a viewing committee, to every exhibitor who has a meritorious 

 exhibit and who complies with the rule as to time of entries, and in other ways, would 

 be valued as a memento and would serve as an incentive to make an exhibit. If such a 

 diploma was properly worded, no possible responsibility regarding the merits of the 

 machinery shown could be attached to the Society. I would ask your consideration of 



the above suggestion. 



I am respectfully yours, 



R. C. CARPENTER. 



Accepted and referred. 



