362 
Annual Report of the 
MACHINERY DEPARTMENT. 
BY RUFUS CHENEY, SUPERINTENDENT. 
As general superintendent of machinery department, it is made 
my duty to submit a report of the operations of said department; 
a duty hereby briefly discharged. 
The department of machinery in our annual fairs forms a link in 
the chain of annual exhibitions that ought not to be weakened, but 
rather, strengthened; and cannot be broken without eminent peril 
to the future success of our society. 
After a service of some eight years as superintendent of this de¬ 
partment, it is no breach of propriety to assure you that I have 
endeavored faithfully to do my duty. It is, therefore, some consola¬ 
tion, and forms no inconsiderable portion of my compensation to 
be able to say that I am aware of no just complaint being lodged 
against the management of my department. Aided as I have been 
by kind and efficient brother officers, we have reason to feel a pride 
in the general success which has attended our efforts, as well as the 
interest many of our best men have felt and exhibited in its success, 
which has been highly gratifying and satisfactory to those having 
charge of it. 
Though feeling a just pride in the results achieved, I am free to 
confess they might be made more advantageous to the society 
as well as to the exhibitors, by offering limited premiums, as recom¬ 
mended in the report of the judges in classes 37 and 38. While I 
do not doubt the wisdom of our society in withholding premiums 
for machinery not in active operation, still a liberal use of diplomas 
might be made, which would greatly stimulate competition and en¬ 
courage exhibitors. 
The establishment of Power Hall, a feature in our fairs introduced 
since the withdrawal of premiums in this department, and forming 
so important a part, is attended with so much expense and labor to 
the exhibitor, obviating the objection to the giving of premiums to 
machinery not operated at our fairs, that it demands our careful 
