250 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Our fair grounds, as a rule, are located -with reference to their being accessi- 

 ble from the towns and cities near -which they are established, and by making 

 them desirable for visitors at all times, the best and cheapest means of trans- 

 portation will always be encouraged, and thus our fairs and the public who 

 patronize them will have a mutual benefit. 



The principal object to be attained by uniting the efforts in securing and 

 fitting up a place of resort in connection with the fair grounds near our large 

 cities especially, is, that we may thus be able to secure more extended and 

 beautiful pleasure grouuds for all who may wish to rest a few hours from the 

 dust, heat, and turmoil incident to a life in most of our new and enterprising 

 cities. 



I wish to illustrate by reference to this great and growing city of Grand 

 Kapids, in the prosperity of which we of western Michigan take so much pride 

 and interest. 



Having as stated been personally engaged in some arrangements to secure 

 and establish extensive grounds near the city in some locality which would be 

 convenient and easy of access either on main lines of railroad or by street cars; 

 and then erecting exposition buildings which would not only be useful but by 

 adopting some architectural designs be made ornamental, and then by adding 

 fountains, artificial ponds, trees for shade, and flowering shrubs, we might 

 soon have a park that the Valley city would be proud to claim as its own. 



It is quite evident that this plan is practicable and will be carried out before 

 many years. As evidence of this when the proposition was submitted a few 

 years since to the business men of this city and vicinity, about $40,000 was 

 subscribed towards the object contemplated. By such an arrangement while 

 the city would be accommodated with beautiful pleasure grounds where the 

 young and old, the poor and the rich, could enjoy alike their few leisure hours 

 in the pure air, amidst pleasant scenes, with good music and the glee of happy 

 children to enliven the occasion, we would also have for the Western Michigan 



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Agricultural and Industrial Society, a place for holding our annual fairs, that 

 could not be excelled by any in this country. 



And I trust soon, some advance will be made not only in the manner of 

 conducting our fairs, but that the people appreciating their worth, considering 

 the labors devoted to these objects give them the hearty support to which they 

 are entitled. In alluding to the management of fairs allow me to state that 

 it would seem a decided improvement to have all exhibits arranged in time so 

 that at least four full days could be granted to visitors that they might make 

 more careful examinations, and by comparing the different articles and inform- 

 ing themselves in regard to the means used to produce them and learn many 

 valuable lessons which might take years of experience to ascertain. 



It is safe to state that for a close observer four days is as short a time as 

 should be taken to study all the departments of any of our large fairs. Under 

 the present system more than half of the week of the fair is occupied in 

 arranging and taking down displays, leaving too short a time for visitors and 

 making it extremely laborious for the officer's and superintendents, and fail- 

 ing to afford the pleasure and instruction which is desired. 



I desire to say a few words of commendation to this society, whose efforts to 

 advance the general welfare of the people I have watched with increasing 

 interest; especially its repeated and earnest appeals for the cultivation of that 

 taste and refinement which shows itself so plainly in the beautiful homes of 

 this great and prosperous State, by encouraging the erection of fine public 

 buildings, pleasant school-houses with beautiful surroundings where the young 



