254 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



under any pretense, pool selling, offering speed premiums, gambling in any 

 form, immoral or improper exhibitions of any kind, siiould never be licensed 

 or permitted on any fair grounds. 



There should be a general superintendent whose duty it should be to see 

 that good order is kept and the rules observed ; and it should be the impej-a- 

 tive duty of every officer to immediately report to said superintendent or the 

 president any violations of the rules coming to his knowledge. 



No indebtedness of the Society should be incurred except by the persons 

 duly authorized, and all bills or accounts should be certified to by the person 

 making the account as correct if so before submitting the same to the audit- 

 irjg committee. 



The office of the president, secretary, and treasurer, and all the superin- 

 tendents of departments should be at a designated place on the fair grounds 

 during the days of the fair. 



Each department should be in charge of one or more members of the 

 executive committee for directors. 



The executive committee or board of directors should meet on the evening 

 of each day of the fair at 8 o'clock P. m., at such place as the president shall 

 designate, to transact such business as may be brought before them, and hear 

 and dispose of reports of the executive superintendents. 



There should be a good half-mile or mile track on the grounds with two 

 good-sized grand stands, one for ladies and their escorts, and the other for 

 gentlemen. The grounds and buildings should be opened to the public at 8 

 A. M. and close at 6 p. ai. during the continuance of the fair, at which times 

 every officer and employe should be at his post. There should be sufficient 

 police and careful watchmen of all the grounds, exhibits, and buildings, who 

 should be promptly changed at 6 A. m. and 6 p. m., but no one to leave his 

 post until properly relieved. 



Notwithstanding you have good grounds, buildings, offices, and good 

 weather a fair will not be a success, either in exhibition nor attendance, 

 without a good, liberal premium list well considered, wisely and carefully 

 arranged, and well classified, in which every rule should be clearly but con- 

 cisely stated, so that neither exhibitors nor judges need be in any doubt about 

 their proper construction. Nor will good feeling and permanent success of a 

 fair be obtained without its judges and awarding committees are persons of 

 acknowledged ability and impartiality. They should all be selected and 

 engaged prior to the meeting of the fair and when that important duty is 

 carefully and conscientiously performed, and in sufficient time to verify their 

 acceptance of the trust before the commencement of the fair, it saves much 

 embarrassment and annoyance and gives the best opportunity to get the most 

 suitable person for the duties required of them, for a few of the most import- 

 tant judges the superintendents should not be confined to the State for their 

 selection (under and with the advice of the President). The rules should 

 guard them from all interference in their assigned duties. In many divis- 

 ions they are arduous and require much firmness, experience, time, and close 

 attention, but when that duty is faithfully and wisely peformed, all fair 

 minded exhibitors will cheerfully abide their decision. 



I have thus given a brief history of the commencement of agricultural 

 societies and fairs in the United States and State of Michigan, their objects 

 and value in their result which is almost inestimable, and far-reaching, and 

 my idea in brief of the best manner of conducting fairs. 



A word in conclusion : Michigan is comparatively a new State. When 



