REPORT 



OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL FAIl 

 OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Board of Managers of the Thirty-second Annual Fair of 

 the American Institute, respectfully report 



That the first meeting of the managers was held on the 24th 

 day of February, 1860, and the board was duly organized by the 

 appointment of Mr. James C. Baldwin, as chairman, Mr. W. H. 

 Butler, as vice-chairman, Mr. Thomas McElrath, as correspond- 

 ing, and Mr. John' W. Chambers, as recording secretary. At 

 this meeting there was a free interchange of opinions as to the 

 propriety of holding any exhibition during the year. The heavy 

 loss sustained by the Institute by the fair of the preceding year, 

 and the great difficulty in procuring sufficiently ample accommo- 

 dations were sufficient causes to demand of the managers a 

 deliberate consideration of the subject before involving the Insti- 

 tute in heavy pecuniary liabilities. 



For the purpose of arriving at a conclusion, a committee was 

 appointed to examine and to report upon a proper building for a 

 fair or exhibition on a large scale, embracing the entire range of 

 the mechanic arts as well as the varied productions of agricul- 

 ture and other industrial pursuits. This committee was also 

 directed to report upon a suitable building for an exhibition or 

 fair of less magnitude, at which horticultural and agricultural 

 products only should be admitted. 



The final action of the committee resulted in its reporting 

 Palace Garden, in Fourteenth street, as the only place in the city 

 which could be procured, and that the experience of the last 

 year's fair was conclusive as to its insufficiency for the purpose 

 of a. general exhibition. The managers were reluctant to 

 announce any other than the general mechanical fair, and it then 

 became a serious question in the board whether it would be prac- 



