410 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ATTRACTIONS. 



The da.vs havf passed by when the people will be coutent with horses 

 alone. Ther»* must be a mixed lot and no one can say that the attrac- 

 tions for 181)1> were not of sutticient variety to i)lease the people. 



Had the weather been warm enouj;h to have permitted the peoi)le 

 to keep comfortably warm on the grand stand there would not have 

 been standing room. The plan of "variety of attractions" I would 

 recommend to be continued. 



PROMPT ATTENDANCE OF SUPERINTENDENTS. 



It is very important that each superintendent should be on the 

 ground Friday morning jtreceding the fair. There are so many details 

 and ea<'h superintendent has all he can do to care for his own depart- 

 ment, hence it is his duty to be at his post, unless he is unable to be 

 present; if so, he should notify the president, that he may have the 

 department taken care of. 



RENTS AND PRIVILEGES. 



The announcement was made before the fair that all objectionable 

 features would-be i)romptly closed up. I have not learned that any- 

 thing of the kind was admitted. As President Bntterfield, in his annual 

 address ably expressed. ''The Midway at the Columbian Fair, followed 

 by street fairs, allowed exhibitions that were not always consistent 

 with good morals." I believe that the street fairs are as a rule con- 

 ducted with the idea that it is everybody's fair; that anything the State 

 Agricultural Society has ever had looked very tame when compared 

 with the average street fair show. 



The advance payment system adoi)ted by the superintendent proved 

 to be a success, as his report shows. 



SCHOOL EXHIBITS. 



This department seems to meet with much favor, as shown by the 

 large increase in exhibits the past year, occupying more space than the 

 needle department. I believe this a good branch to cultivate, as it 

 brings the children of today in touch with the State society, who bj^ 

 and by will be participants in its management. 



PREMIUM LISTS. 



In my judgment premium lists should be printed and sent out at 

 the earliest i)ossible moment. I believe it would increase the interest 

 and attendance. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



The past arrangements with the several railroad companies should be 

 continued upon the mutual i)lan. A little confusion arose last fall, as 

 the terms given by the railroad companies were not uniform. Under 

 the head of Transportation (premium list, page 107), it says: ''The fol- 

 tewing railroads will transport live stock, imjdements and articles for 

 exhibition, to and from the fair, on the following conditions: 



