52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



put forth during the coming year, as in the past, nothing short of the entire upper 

 floor of the Exposition building will be required for the exhibit in this depart- 

 ment. 



The State Board are under great obligations to the managers of the various 

 railroads centering at the capital of our State for reduced rates to exhibitors and 

 visitors during the fair, and I hope that an effort will be made by the railroad offi- 

 cials of the Belt railway to give us a connection with the fair grounds, so that 

 stock and hea%y machinery can be unloaded at the grounds, and thereby save 

 much annoyance to the exhibitor, and a good return upon the cost of construction 

 of the belt extension. 



The press of the city has generally given to the Board a generous support 

 during the season preparing for the fair, and, while it may seem to the city press 

 that the Board ought to more liberally patronize them in the matter of advertise- 

 ments of the fair, it must be kept in view that the fair is in no sense a private affair, 

 but for the public good, and that there are several hundred papers in the State 

 that would expect an eqtial share in the advertising patronage, and that to adver- 

 tise in all the papers of the State would be an expense too great for the Board to 

 undertake. The press of the State, outside of the city press, has generally given 

 very flattering notices of the State Fair, for which the Board feels very grateful. 



To all the ofiicers and members of the Board — I return my grateful thanks 

 for the high honor you have conferred upon me by selecting me to preside over 

 your deliberations during the year just closed. Your kind and generous support 

 at all times has been appreciated. In my zeal to do all I could for the interests of 

 the Board, I sincerely hope that no word has been uttered to wound the feelings of 

 any, and when the delegates here assembled cast their votes for men to fill the 

 places of those whose terms expire at this session, I most earnestly hope that it will 

 be for men who will work for the advancement of the industrial interests of the 

 whole State. 



Mr. Lockhart moved that the President's address be referred 

 to a committee of three, who shall consider the suggestions 

 contained therein, and report to the Convention as soon as 

 practicable, which was carried, and the President appointed 

 Messers. Lockhart, Reiter, and Xelson as the committee. 



