MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 351 



PEOCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT THE 

 ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 



FIEST DAY. 



Russell House, 

 Detroit, January 14, 1884 



.] 



The regular annual nieetiug of the Executive Committee of the State Agri- 

 cultural Society was called to order at 8 o'clock P. M., President Fralick in 

 the chair. 



The roll was cahed and the following named members found present: 



President Fralick, Treasurer Dean, Messrs. Sterling, Hanford, Ball, Lessi- 

 ter, Cobb, Hyde, Reed, Smith, Burrington, Wood, Chamberlain, Parsons, 

 Angel, Young, Butterfield, Anderson, Shoamaker, Baxter, and the Secretary, 

 Messrs. Phillips and Rising came in late. 



President Fralick read his address and invited the President-elect to the 

 chair. 



ADDKESS OF PRESIDENT FRALICK. 



Gentlemen of the Executive Committee of the ilichigan Slate Agricultural Society : 



Retiring at this time from the office and duties of president of this society, I will 

 give you a brief review of its proceedings for the last year, and submit some 

 remarks and recommendations which, I believe, will promote its healthy progress 

 and enure to its benefit, and then leave the field for my able and experienced suc- 

 cessor. 



I feel it a cause of congratulation to the officers and members of the society that, 

 notwithstanding some unfavorable weather, our last fair was undoubtedly the 

 largest and best exhibition and in most respects the best fair the society has ever 

 held, although not the greatest in a net financial point. The attendance and 

 receipts, considering that we had two unfavorable days, were very large, but the 

 unavoidably large expenditure for buildings and fixtures reduced the net receipts 

 very much; but after all is paid tlie nice sum of $2,758 will be added to the present 

 surplus, which will then make the round sum of about §26,000, besides the premium 

 on $10,000 of U. S. 4 per cent bonds. TJie report of the treasurer, which is as usual 

 full and complete, will give you the exact figures. This sum makes the society very 

 easy in their finances, but no less economy or careful expenditure of the money of the 

 society should be permitted. The amount of the premiums offered and paid in 1883 

 considerably exceeded those of 1882, and I respectfully recommend a careful revision 

 of the premium list of 1883, and that a reasonable addition thereto be made, either 

 in new premiums or increased old ones, whereby, in the judgment of the committee, 

 the best interests of the society and people of the State will be wisely promoted. 



exhibitors' tickets. 



At our last winter meeting you directed a change made in regard to" entrance 

 tickets for exhibitors and their attendants. A separate gate was set apart, at which 

 all holders of such tickets were required to enter. The rule was very well complied 

 with and enforced, and resulted in undoubted benefit to the finances of the society: 

 for, while the exhibition and the number of exhibitors and help was very much 

 larger than at Jackson the preceding year, the number of tickets issued for their/ree 

 admission was 1,430 less than for the previous year of 1882. I respectfully recom- 

 mend, with some slight changes, its continuance. 



PREMIUM list. 



In the large exhibition of Norman Percheron and Clydesdale horses last fall, there 

 was a considerable embarrassment caused to the viewing committee to classify those 

 breeds of horses by our premium lists, and I recommend their careful revision in that 

 respect, and think a new class or two in that department will be found not only 

 desirable but necessary. 



