8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ments, together with the use of large halls in the Third Avenue 

 railroad depot, in which were displayed the most beautiful show 

 of fruits and flowers ever exhibited in New York. The use of 

 four acres at Harlem was secured, for the operation of " Fawkes ' 

 steam plow," which had attracted general interest throughout the 

 country. The plow, having been detained on the road from Chi- 

 cago, arrived in New York too late to be exhibited, and too late 

 to be of that benefit to the Institute, which was anticipated. 



"With all these favorable arrangements, we were warranted in 

 anticipating a successful exhibition ; but a severe rain storm, com- 

 mencing at the opening, and continuing with great violence during 

 the three days of the fair, prevented visitors from attending, 

 and consequently the anticipated results were not realized. 



We are sorry to say, that the operations for the Thirty-first 

 Annual Fair has resulted in a heavy loss to the Institute, though 

 we trust the public will be benefited by the information difi'used 

 through all branches of society, connected with the great improve- 

 ments of the day. 



The Board of Trustees deem it their duty to urge upon the 

 people of the State of New York, and particularly upon the inha- 

 bitants of this metropolis, where their business is located, the 

 claims which they have to national, State, and municipal pa- 

 tronage. Driven from Castle Garden by the Board of Emigration, 

 and from the " Crystal Palace " by fire, they are now without a 

 suitable place in which to hold the annual exhibitions. There 

 are grounds in this city unappropriated to any specific purpose, 

 on which such a building as the American Institute could erect, 

 would be an ornament to the city, and to whose neighborhood the 

 influx of so reputable a class of visitors as frequent the fairs, 

 would be a benefit, as it would be to all branches of trade in the 

 city, as well as to the public conveyances leading to and from 

 New York. While national. State, and county societies are so 

 rapidly multiplying for similar objects, we trust the American 

 Institute will find a helping hand from our State Legislature and 

 city government, to establish a repository in the city of New York, 

 from which the tide of improvements may flow into channels of 

 usefulness to the agriculturists and manufacturers, and to the arts 

 and sciences. JAS. RENWICK, 



WM. HALL, 

 H. MEIGS, 

 B. AYCRIGG, 

 JOHN A. BUNTING, 

 W. B. LEONARD, Trustees. 



