404 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



balance due them with the promise that they could be renewed and carried 

 over until after the next fair that the Society would issue second mortgage 



bonds to the amount of S— , which bonds should be used as collateral 



for the payment of notes. I trust the Executive Committee will ajjprove 

 this action of the President and Business Committee, as it seemed necessary 

 to make this promise. 



I feel that the future of the Society is bright and promising, but it will 

 take a little time to develop all that is desired and necessary if paid for from 

 the receipts of the fairs. As you are aware, through a technicality the 

 amount appropriated by the last legislature was denied us by the court. 

 The Society expended the amount appropriated in the line provided by the 

 act making the appropriation and paid the premiums out of its own funds. 

 I think we can reasonably ask the legislature to reimburse the Society for 

 thig amount, and I recommend that a bill be prepared and presented to 

 the legislature for this purpose. 



Holding the fair for nine days has many advantages with some corre- 

 sponding disadvantages. Being one of the early fairs makes it less difficult 

 for the live stock exhibitors to be on hand and get in place at an earlier date 

 than would be possible if they came from other fairs. The exhibitors get 

 settled and in places, and the superintendents are enabled to arrange their 

 exhibits so that before the crowd of visitors begin to appear everything 

 is in order. This is especially desirable in view of the fact that Labor Day 

 occurs during the dates of the fair and is the one day when more city people 

 can attend the fair than any other. The last fair was opened on Sunday 

 in deference to the wishes of many classes of people who could not attend 

 on other d&ys. I think, however, in view of the fact that Saturday is a 

 half holiday and Monday a full holiday, and also in view of the fact that 

 the fair cannot be opened in such a manner as to demand full price for ad- 

 missions, while the expenses continue at about the same rate as on other 

 days, it is my opinion that we would receive as much total net revenue if 

 we closed the gates on Sunday, and at the same time give our exhibitors 

 and superintendents a little let up on the strenuous work necessary dur- 

 ing the fair. It will also be in deference to the opinion of a large number 

 of people that the fair should not be opened on that day. 



I thank you, gentlemen of the committee, one and all, for your co-opera- 

 tion and labor in making possible the results of the year; and I ask of you 

 the same spirit and work for the coming year, which I trust may be one of 

 prosperity for all our people and of success to this Society. 



