40 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



student was increased seventy-five cents per term when electric lights 

 were placed in rooms. The income of the College from all sources for 

 lights is about $1,350 per year. 



In addition to this income, the College class rooms, library, labora- 

 tories, offices and grounds are all well lighted. 



There was placed in Station Terrace a complete hot water system cost- 

 ing about four hundred dollars. 



The Experiment Station erected a large side hill forcing house during 

 the summer of '96 at an outlay of $600. 



A cold storage fruit house was also erected by the Experiment Station 

 costing $1,000. This buildiug was made to conform to the latest approved 

 plans for such buildings and serves as a model for the fruit growers of 

 the State. 



Perhaps of all the improvements made recently the one appreciated 

 most by students and visitors is the extension of the street car line into 

 the College grounds. The line now enters the campus from the north and 

 extends to the stone walk between Station Terrace and the dwelling 

 house occupied by Dr. Edwards. As the State Board of Agriculture did 

 not deem it wise to allow a corporation any rights on the College campus 

 that portion of the road — 600 feet — on College property was built by the 

 College at a cost of $360. A neat waiting station has been placed at the 

 terminus of the road and a new cement walk has been laid to join with 

 other walks at College Hall. 



Many other improvements of a minor nature have been made during the 

 year, and while there are many other repairs and improvements which 

 should be made, yet on the whole the buildings and grounds are at 

 present in good condition. 



EXCLUSIONS To THE COLLEGE. 



Arrangements were made with the railroads to run excursions to the 

 College last summer. August 17 the Grand Trunk sold excursion 

 tickets from Battle Creek and intermediate stations. Over three hundred 

 persons came to the College on this excursion. 



The D., G. R. & W. ran an excursion from Holland and Grand Rapidw 

 on August 19 and landed about thirteen hundred people at the College. 

 The same road on August 20 ran an excursion from Greenville and inter- 

 mediate stations from the north, and from Plymouth from the east. It 

 was estimated that about fourteen hundred visited the College on this 

 day. 



Nearly all of the visitors to the College with these excursions were 

 good, substantial farmers, who, while interested in the College, had never 

 been on the campus before. As is usual with persons who visit the 

 College for the first time, they were very happily surprised at the beauty 

 of the campus and the number and character of the buildings. The 

 library. laboratories, museum green houses, dormitories, barns, gardens, 

 orchards and farm were- thoroughly and critically inspected. Many very 

 favorable comments were heard from the visitors and all seemed much 

 pleased with their visit. 



It is believed that by means of these cheap excursions many farmers 

 can be induced to visit the College each summer, and as "seeing is believ- 

 ing" in most cases with tlmse who visit the College, may wo not hope that 



