710 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



amount approximating $18,000 was used in making improvements, and the 

 society became a debtor to that amount. For two or three years the 

 society, from receipts received at its fair, was enabled to pay its insur- 

 ance, interest, premiums and running expenses, and if my memory is cor- 

 rect, a small amount of indebtedness. Then came the year of 1892, when 

 rain prevented a large attendance, and at the close of the fair the society 

 was several thousand dollars more in arrears. With the debt mentioned, 

 interest increasing, the premiums of that unfortunate year unpaid in part, 

 the society has been struggling until by an agreement with its creditors 

 last year, the society disposed of what it considered its equitable rights 

 in the buildings and grounds in Lansing to its creditors, and about $18,000 

 of indebtedness wiped out and the society today owes part of the prem- 

 iums of the unfortunate year and $25,000 with interest, to parties in 

 Grand Kapids. These matters are mentioned that those who think bad 

 management may have brought on the large indebtedness under which 

 the society has been groaning can know for what purpose the debt was 

 contracted. To be more particular, in the year 1892, which has been 

 mentioned, on account of the wet weather during the week, the society 

 ran behind about $6,000. Up to that year the society had been able to 

 meet its expenses, pay its interest and insurance besides paying be- 

 tween $3,000 and $4,000 of its indebtedness. This was during the years 

 of 1889, 1890 and 1891 after locating in Lansing. Owing to the Colum- 

 bian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, no fair was held. The in- 

 terest continued to increase, so that at the end of the year 1894, three 

 years' interest was unpaid, amounting to nearly $4,500, which added 

 to the principal, amounts to about $22,000. With the exception of the 

 years 1892 and 1896, the fair has paid its expenses, premiums, interest, 

 insurance and some principal, so that it can be said the fair has proved 

 fairly successful financially. 



There is no doubt but the hard times of the last few years have been 

 injurious to the financial success of fairs as well as in most kinds of 

 business. Even with state aid, if I am correctly informed only one 

 state fair last fall had its balance sheet on the right side of the ledger. 

 Michigan State Fair paid expenses, and as I am informed by the report 

 of the Business Committee, had a few dollars to spare. The future of 

 state fairs, so far as the financial outcome is concerned, it problematical. 



So many sources of pleasure and comfort are now provided, cheap 

 railroad excursions, especially Sunday excursions, the fad of street 

 fairs which must have its run, all tend in a greater or less degree to les- 

 sen attendance and interest in agricultural fairs. 



Shall the State Agricultural Society hold a fair in 1898? This is a 

 question of much importance and should have very careful analysis. 



The exhibitions of the society have in the past been of a very high 

 order and there is little doubt about future fairs if they should be held. 

 The society is not in a position to hold a fair that will not pay its way. 

 The amounts received at the gates for the last four fairs have not been 

 encouraging. The expenses for the last three years have exceeded or 

 equaled the receipts. Can the premium list be reduced in monied value 

 and still offer sufficient inducements to exhibitors to patronize the fair? 

 If so, where shall the reductions be made? Can the expenses of run- 

 ning the fair be reduced? If so, in what direction? Excepting the 

 secretary and treasurer, all members of the Executive Committee do- 



