MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 403 



makes this matter much more difficult than formerly. I learn that at some 

 fairs the practice of dealing with people who Jiave privileges is to grant one 

 admission for a certain amount paid for privilege, and if more are required 

 to sell at a reduced rate for that purpose only, and that this system works 

 well. While I have no scheme at present to present I suggest that the 

 Business Committee take this matter up at an early date with a view of 

 devising some plan which shall reduce to a minimum the leakage in this 

 direction. 



The handling of the gates is so closely allied with the ticket arrangements 

 that it would seem advisable to place the care of the gates and admissions 

 to the grand stand in the hands of the Finance Committee, which would 

 place the control of admissions in the hands of one department, and this 

 committee would then be responsible for both the admissions and the care 

 of the tickets. 



FIRE PROTECTION. 



The fire de]Dartment of the city of Detroit sent out a crew with engine 

 which was on the grounds during the fair. The temporary quarters furnished 

 are unsatisfactory to the department, and better provision will have to be 

 made to secure the placing of a crew^ at the next fair. 



POLICE. 



The police department in the city of Detroit very generously supplied 

 officers in uniform for policing the grounds and good order was maintained 

 through their services. The thanks of the Society are due the police de- 

 partment and the officers in charge. Under the by-laws this year the 

 chief marshal had charge of the police. I am inclined to think that the duties 

 in connection with the marshal are sufficient for one man, and that the 

 police supervision should be in the hands of a superintendent of police. 

 I recommend the change. 



While the President is now ex-officio member of all committees under the 

 bj'-laws it is my feeling that he should be named in the by-laws as being 

 associated with the Business Committee with the authority of a vote in the 

 conduct of the business of the Society and the arrangements for holding 

 the fair. 



As you will see from the report of the Business Committee in preparing 

 for the fair of 1906 obligations were incurred far in excess of the ability to 

 pay from the receipts of the fair. I am not questioning the propriety or 

 advisability of making these obligations. It seemed necessary to take 

 chances in these lines, and while the receipts of the fair were large there 

 was reasonable expectation that they would be still larger; on the other 

 hand some of the improvements started cost more than was expected. The 

 obligations have been settled by payment of money and by notes, the amount 

 of the outstanding notes at this date being $79,337.80, besides those secured 

 by bonds, so arranged that they can be carried over until next fair. These 

 obligations are, of course, practically a mortgage on the surplus receipts of 

 the next fair and amount to as much or even more than can be expected. 

 In consequence not many improvements can be made in the way of build- 

 ings during the coming season as we must now catch up before we can 

 go ahead in this direction. 



In settling up the affairs of the Society after the fair the President and 

 Business Committee promised some of the parties who accepted notes for 



