46 



Large sums of money have been expended on the grounds, 

 buildings and fixtures of the Society, and they are generally in 

 good condition. Another receiving office for entries in the hall 

 is imperatively demanded, and also a farther division of Household 

 Manufactures. No committee can examine two hundred and fifty 

 entries, often of several articles each, and award premiums intel- 

 ligently, in the time allotted. Truly meritorious articles will be 

 overlooked, and injustice done to the deserving. The objects for 

 which premiums are given, as all will admit, is to reward true 

 merit rather than to give a few pennies or a couple of shillings to 

 whatever may be offered. No person is encouraged to produce a 

 good article by a premium for a poor one. If articles are worthy 

 of but twenty-five cents, (about one-twelve thousandth of the 

 premiums) better have a dish of pea-nuts and candy distributed on 

 the spot, and say nothing about them, than hinder the society and 

 exhaust their patience with them. In some departments, the di- 

 visions have been cut up until there is nothing for the committee 

 to do. There is no competition and premiums go begging, from 

 year to year, for a patron, but in the ladies' department it is very 

 far otherwise. 



The premiums on Reports are an unmitigated nuisance ; unjust 

 in principle and pernicious in operation ; unjust, because the offer 

 is only to a privileged few, those that act as chairmen of commit- 

 tees — about one twenty -fifth of the members; and pernicious be- 

 cause they delay the publication of the proceedings about a month, 

 and under their influence our reports have grown smaller and fewer 

 (courtesy will not let us say poorer) until — with very few 

 exceptions — nothing but the bare award is attempted. As we are 

 compelled to offer them, what would be the effect of throwing the 

 competition open to all members, on any of the subjects which 

 head the divisions of the premium list ? 



The amount which single articles receive, is often quite dispro- 

 portionate to what is given on collections. Let a manufacturer 

 or dealer exhibit a large collection, showing to the public the lat- 

 est improvements and best articles which modern skill and indus- 

 try can produce, and he will receive from three to five dollars, the 

 largest sum less than is frequently paid for a single article and 

 often one that has been in common use for years in all parts of 

 the county, and taken premiums for several successive years al- 

 ready. Is this course just or expedient'/ 



