MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 347 



FINE ARTS. 



Officers and members of the Executive Committee of the Michigan State 



Fair Association: 



Gentlemen — As superintendent of art liall I desire to report a very 

 satisfactory exhibit in an ini])ortant department of our fair. Many of 

 the larjrer exhibits in manufactured, goods were not entered for any 

 competition, but for the purpose of making a display. 



In the department of manufactured goods, musical instruments, etc., 

 we offer seventy-four diplomas, one silver medal and |46.00 in cash; of 

 these we awarded fl3.00, no diplomas or medals. 



In the department of art we offer |647.00 in cash and 21 diplomas, of 

 which we awarded, in professional painting, |380.50; in amateur paint- 

 ing, 175.25; in industrial art, ten diplomas and |44.()0 in cash, being 

 a total of 1508.75 and ten diplomas. Six diplomas were recommended 

 ujton non-enumerated articles of merit. 



The decorations displayed by some of the firms in the main building 

 were exceptionally beautiful, and attracted much attention. On the 

 whole the exhibits were fully up to the standard usually shown in this 

 department. INfany local firms caused the superintendent much anxiety 

 by a])])lying for space and deciding at the last moment that "pressure 

 of business" would prevent the exhibit being placed. A portion of the 

 building was set aside for an exhibition given by the Hadley AVagon 

 Co. and formed a new and pleasing feature. The dairy, bees and honey 

 were also accommodated in art hall and the display in these depart- 

 ments could have been made much more attractive had we known more 

 nearly the amount of space required. We think these changes are for 

 the good and that a breaking away from some of the old exhibits is 

 desirable. 



Respectfully submitted, 



F. E. SKEELS, 



Superintendent. 



NEEDLE WOKK. 



To the Officers and membois of the Executive Committee of the Mich- 

 igan State Fair Association: 



Cxentlemen — As sui)erintendent of tlie needle work and children's de- 

 partment. I wish to make the following rei)ort: A\'e had in this branch 

 of the fair 380 entries, of which 125 wvvo in tlie ])rofessional class, 

 ^107.5(1 were offered and f;05.75 were awarded. One hundred fifty-six 

 entries were made in the amateur de]»artment and :$4().75 of the |!70.25 

 offered was awarded; seventeen entries were made in the amateur and 

 ])rofessional class with .^17.50 olfei-ed and .^8.25 taken; in crochet and 

 knit Avork there were 00 entries. ^28.50 offered and 822.50 taken. In 

 chiidreirs work 13 entries were taken, :i;20.00 offei'ed and :i:i0.25 taken. 



The total number of entries in this division was 380, with |!243.75 

 offered, and |!183.50 taken. Much advancement is being made in this 

 class of woi'k and it will be almost necessarv to add some new feat- 



