SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 41 



for the fifty years behind you, but in a great measure for fifty 

 years to come. 



And this is no reflection on the men who succeeded them. 

 They, too, have done their work well, all of them to this day, 

 with an unselfish devotion to the interests of this institution. 



The Michigan State Agricultural Society was organized in 

 1849, just eight years previous to the opening of this College. 

 At that time Michigan was the twentieth state in population 

 and the fifteenth in wealth by the assessors' books. Today 

 she is the ninth in population and the fifth in wealth. Detroit 

 was in 1850 the twenty-third city; now she is the tenth in popu- 

 lation. 



In 1849 agriculture exceeded in value all other industries 

 in this state. The vast mineral wealth of the state, its silver, 

 iron, coal, salt, and cement had not been developed; its vast 

 wealth of timber was not known as a source of revenue but 

 rather as a hindrance to agriculture. Hence the interest of 

 public men, as well as of farmers, in agriculture. We remember 

 the first president of the State Agricultural Society as the gov- 

 ernor of the state and the members of its Board of Managers 

 were men most prominent in public affairs. 



It has been well for agriculture and for this College that it 

 has always had for its friends those whose private interests were 

 largely in other professions and pursuits than agriculture. They 

 have been better and more courageous friends at times than the 

 farmers themselves. 



I recall how, in the earlier years of this College when the 

 struggle was on to decide whether the College should be a 

 separate institution or become part of the University, John 

 C. Holmes, for many years secretary of the State Agricultural 

 Society, never a farmer but always interested in agriculture, 

 stood in the breach, almost alone, and prevented its absorption 

 by the University. 



The Agricultural Society was organized for the same purpose 



