xMICFIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 455 



ORGANIZATION. 



Organized in February, 1849, at Lansing, by the State officers and 

 members of the legislature. Governor Eansom was made its first presi- 

 dent and the first fair held at Detroit in September of that year. The 

 premiums awarded amounted to |808.50 and the other expenses of this 

 first fair were for buildings and rent, $1,114.66, other expenses, |736.70; 

 Total receipts including |400 from the State and $523 from the citizens 

 of Detroit, $3,923.91. At the close of the 3'ear a balance on hand of 

 $1,264.05. 



From its organization the society held a prominent place in develop- 

 ing the industries of the State. Being a mutual organization with no 

 permanent endowment, it became at times financially embarrassed, but 

 its officers were men filled with public spirit and great generosity and 

 self sacrifice, and carried it safely over to times of prosperity. 



It is needless at this time to recount all the benefits that the State has 

 received from this organization, but among others, it was one of the 

 chief factors in securing the establishment of the State Agricultural 

 College and lent its influence to securing the appropriation for the 

 United States Experiment Stations made by Congress. 



It has disbursed for premiums, in round numbers, $400,000. It is not 

 necessary to review its struggles of a few years past, under a burden of 

 debt, during which time it has continued to hold successful fairs and 

 is now nearly free from embarrassment. 



As the fair of 1899 will be the fiftieth annual fair, I recommend that 

 steps be taken to properly commemorate the semi-centennial year of its 

 existence in an appropriate manner at the annual fair. I have now no 

 suggestions as to details, but leave the matter in your hands. 



As a societ}', however, while w^e may "point with pride" to its past 

 record, it cannot live on that alone. If it shall continue to be a factor in 

 improving the agricultural interests of the State, it must each year 

 endeavor to do better work. Progress is the watchword for societies as 

 well as individuals. 



The society was organized as an educator and instructor. Section one 

 of the act creating the society makes it a body corporate "for the purpose 

 of promoting the improvement of agriculture and its kindred arts," and 

 section three requiring a report, says that "it shall embrace such accurate 

 details of the modes of cultivation, of keeping stock and of other im- 

 portant incidents as will acquaint farmers and others with the precise 

 manner in which the valuable results recorded can be again attained." 

 Article seven of the constitution as first adopted, provided that premiums 

 should be awarded "having special reference to the most economical or 

 profitable mode of competition in raising the crop or stock, or in the 

 fabrication of the article offered," and it also required that before any 

 premium be delivered "the person claiming the same should deliver in 

 writing, a statement covering this ground with a view of showing accu- 

 rately the exact resulting profit." 



It occurs to me that the men who organized the society had a very 

 complete and accurate view of the work that such a societ}' should under- 

 take. I am sorry to say that while the provisions I have quoted have 

 been but indilferently complied with, there can be no doubt that if they 

 had and the material thus gathered been published, we should have such 



