346 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Wednesday Eveninrj, Sept. 19th, 1883. 



Committee met at 8 o'clock P. M. 



President Fralick in the chair. 



Roll called : Present, President Fralick, Messrs. Sterling, Hanford, Ball, 

 Lessiter, Dobb, Wood, Hyde, Reed, Smith, Burringtou, Chamberlain, Parsons, 

 Angel, Howard, Young, I3utterfield, Anderson, Baxter, Phillips, and Secretary. 



Committee on Detroit Truck Company matter offered the following, which 

 was adopted unanimously : . 



To the Executive Committee oj the Michigan State Agricultural Society : 



Gentlemen: — Incompliance with your instructions we have made a careful investi- 

 gation in the matter of the complaint of the Detroit Truck Company referred to us, 

 and from such investigation we are satisfied that the officers of the Detroit Truck 

 Company have been misinformed as to facts, and that the complaint was made under 

 an erroneous impression as to the action of the society and its officers. While it may 

 be, and no doubt is, true that one truck company has done more hauling of goods 

 than any other, this was the result not of favoritism or of improper discrimination 

 on the part of the officers of the society or of the railroad company, but of legiti- 

 mate business enterprise on the part of such truck company. A simple statement of 

 facts will be sufficient. On Friday afternoon a large number of cars had arrived filled 

 with articles for exhibition consigned to owners, and marked in care of State Fair. 

 The owners were not here, and could not be found. The goods must be unloaded or 

 taken back to the city and switched onto sidings to make room for other cars con- 

 stantly arriving. The Riverside Truck Company was on hand in the person of its 

 business manager, and volunteered to take the goods and become responsible for their 

 delivery to the superintendents of the proper departments, and wait for payment of 

 charges until the owners should arrive and pay the same. The agent of the railroad 

 company Avas satisfied with the security, and delivered the goods; and by working 

 nearly all night the cars were unloaded, and others were also unloaded as fast as they 

 arrived; and the work of getting exhibits in place was thus expedited at least one 

 day. This company, being always on hand, with ample facilities, was given the haul- 

 ing of such goods as were received when the owner or consignee was not on hand and 

 could not be found after careful enquiry, and further delay would cause great incon- 

 venience. But in all cases where the owner or consignee could be found they were 

 duly delivered to him or to his order. 



The case in point, mentioned in the communication, your committee find is a mis- 

 taken statement of facts. The committee can not say, except from the statement in 

 the communication referred to them, what company usually do the draying for Mr. 

 Penfield. The Detroit Truck Company applied for the goods, as they stated, on a 

 general verbal order to get and deliver goods for Mr. Penfield; Avhile the Riverside 

 Company presented a written order from Mr. Penfield for those particular goods; 

 and the agent of the railroad company delivered the goods on the written order, and 

 not of his own notion nor according to instructions received from Mr. Sterling or 

 any officer of the society. 



The Riverside Company applied for the privilege of a tent on the grounds where 

 they could keep a clerk, take orders, and promptly deliver goods. The privilege was 

 granted, and would have been, and still will be granted to any reliable truck com- 

 pany applying for the same. 



In conclusion your committee will state that they are fully satisfied, not only that 

 no undue favoritism has been shown, and no improper discrimination made in favor 

 of or against any truck company by the officers of the society, but that every effort 

 has been made to avoid any reasonable ground for complaint. 



Respectfully submitted. Signed by order of committee. 



HENRY FRALICK, Chairman. 



Detroit, September 19th, 1883. 



A protest against the award of the viewing committee in Division B, class 

 12, to pair of matched horses of all work, five years old or over, signed I. 

 Hendricks and John White, was read by the secretary. 



Moved and supported that the protest be referred to the superintendents of 

 horse department. Carried. 



Moved and supported that the chairman of the business committee shall 

 have charge of the grand stand, and shall decide when admission will be 

 charged. Carried. 



