REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 



WESTERN MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL 



SOCIETY. 



The fourth annual meeting of the board of directors for the purpose of 

 completing the business of the past year, was held at Sweet's hotel, Grand 

 Rapids, January 16, 1883. 



Geo. W. Thayer, president of the society, called the meeting to order, and 

 thirteen directors answered to roll call. 



President Thayer submitted the following address and report : 



Gentlemen op the Society: As required by our articles of association and by- 

 laws, we have assembled together to close up the business of the year 1882, and to 

 make necessary preparation for the next, for fifth annual exnibition of our society. 



The reports to be laid before you, covering the time from the date of the last 

 annual meeting, indicate that the last fair of our organization adds one more to the 

 record of successful exhibitions by the Western Michigan Agricultural and Indus- 

 trial society. 



The gross receipts into the treasury for the past year have been greater than in 

 any former year in its history; yet the net earnings of the last exhibition fall below 

 those of previous years, except that of 1880, when, in consequence of a reduction in 

 general admission at the gates to 25 cents, the surplus of 1879 was reduced from 

 $2,974.85 to $1,819.20. The expenditures on the buildings and grounds in repairs and 

 improvements for 1882, exceed those of 1881 by $334.93; the expenses of the fair of 

 1882 exceed those of 1881 by $206.71 ; the premiums paid in 1882 are in excess of 

 those of 1881 by $1,880.75; making a total excess of expenditure in 1882 over 1881 of 

 $2,422.33 ; leaving to the society, as shown by the report of the treasurer, a surplus 

 in the treasury at this date of $4,705.96, or a net gain for the year of $1,278.61. 



The next fair of this society will be the last to be held under the present lease 

 from the Kent county society. At the close of our last meeting a resolution was 

 adopted that a committee of three be appointed for the purpose of investigating 

 and reporting to this meeting what arrangements can be made, either by lease or 

 purchase, for grounds suitable for the use of this society after the year 1883. Such 

 committe was appointed, and it is expected they will submit a report for your con- 

 sideration. The special premiums offered by the Grand Kapids & Indiana railroad 

 company for 1882, brought out excellent exhibits of corn from some of the southern 

 counties. The committee appointed to examine and report upon the fields of corn 

 entered for such premiums, have submitted a full report in writing. I think it but 

 justice to the company that this report should appear in our next premium list. 



The society are under great obligations to the various railroad lines extending to 

 this city; also to the Flint «& Pere Marquette, the Detroit, Lansing & Northern, and 

 the Chicago «fc Grand Trunk for reduced rates for passengers and freight, to and 

 from our fair. Owing to a failure on the part of some official to instruct the various 

 local agents of the Michigan Central branch between Jackson and this city, as to 

 our duly authorized terms for passengers and freight to and from the exhibition many 

 exhibits at the State fair were prevented from reaching us. This created some dis- 

 satisfaction, and to those who made shipments as well; but, upon a presentation of 

 facts, the company refunded the freight exacted from shippers, and did what they 

 could to correct the oversight. 



