12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



and industry is daily opening new channels, and if we would lead 

 the van and hold out new inducements to keep all such things 

 moving forward in the right direction, we must not take our 

 stand point from the past while the world is rushing past us, but 

 we must try to hold the helm of the future. I would not be 

 understood as recommending a discontinuance of our Fairs, for I 

 believe that under proper and judicious management much good 

 is yet to come from them, but to require a pledge from candi- 

 dates before election, not to hold them annually unless such 

 arrangements and accommodations can be had, as would tend 

 to the dignity and well being of our institution, and further the 

 intention of its incorporation, is simply to make it subservient 

 to one idea, which, however worthy in itself, is certainly a very 

 narrow sphere for us to labor in. 



The efforts of the Trustees during the past year to obtain 

 suitable grounds or buildings for the permanent use of the Institu- 

 tion were not succesful ; whether it is possible to obtain as many 

 lots, or as much space as is required for holding the annual Fairs, 

 and transacting all the incidental business of the Institute, in a 

 convenient and desirable location with the limited means which 

 the Institute can devote to that purpose, is at the present time 

 somewhat doubtful. For more than thirty years the annual 

 Fairs of the Institute have attracted to the city many thousands 

 of strangers, and the opinion has long been entertained that the 

 city authorities, recognising the advantages which the city has 

 derived from the Fair, would furnish the necessary grounds on 

 which the Institute might erect appropriate buildings. This 

 hope is not yet abandoned, the city has it within its power, to 

 put the Institute in possession of grounds admirably adapted to 

 its wants, and the Institute has sufficient means to erect the 

 building. This subject will undoubtedly receive the early and 

 careful attention of the board. 



The past year has called from us one of our most active and 

 efficient members, our late first Vice-President, Mr. J. A. Bunting; 

 a man beloved and respected in all his social relations, a never 

 failing friend, and safe, adviser of the American Institute, and 

 imbued with liberal views of its mission, and purposes, and while 

 I pay this tribute to his memory, and mourn our loss, I cannot 

 but feel that for him it is a gain. 



The Library h-ds under the present management assumed greater 



