FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The undersigned Trustees, in compliance with the Law of 

 May 5, 1841, present a report of the acts of the Institute for the 

 year 1855. 



The Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures of the 27th Annual 

 Fair of the American Institute, held at the Crystal Palace, in the 

 city of New- York, in October last, exceeded in novelty, utility, and 

 variety any previous fair, and attracted thousands of visitors. 

 Those citizens who enjoy that extraordinary genius for originality 

 of thinking and invention so distinguishing this new world, 

 availed themselves of the great space and national centrality of 

 that beautiful edifice to come from all parts of the union with 

 their new and improved machinery of every description, with the 

 implements of agriculture and arts. 



This ready response from inventors and mechanics, is a proof 

 of the high estimation with whicli this time-honored institution 

 is regarded ; it is by this and kindred associations that the agri- 

 culturists are to be benefited, by labor-saving implements for 

 cultivating the soil, and prej^aring their products for market. 

 Among the many articles of interest to this class of visitors, were 

 the improved plow, mowing, reaping, and threshing machines, 

 which, contrasted with the crude plow, hand scythe, the sickle 

 and Hail, are improvements of great benefit to the farmer. 



Manufactures of cotton, wool, silk, linen, and iron, were also 

 well represented, and surpassed in style and quality any foreign 

 articles of the kind ; proving the benefit of protecting liome in- 

 dustry, thereby encouraging the mechanic and artisan. 



Notwithstanding the mighty competition of Europe in every 

 mechanical branch, and the millions imported, the progress in 

 arts and mechanics has been rapidly advancing under the foster- 

 ing hand of government ; and we rejoice in this manifestation of 



