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The shingle mill is far superior to any one we ever saw, and must award it a first premium, and also a like premium to the setting apparatus, which is very simple and good.

In awarding these premiums, we take no pretensions to judge with the skill and accuracy of able mechanics, but give our report upon what we examined, honestly.

SPECIAL REPORT ON IRON AND STEEL.

The special committee to examine and report on the steel and iron on exhibition by Capt. E. B. Ward. The steel is manufactured at Wyandotte, from the iron ores of Lake Superior, by what is known as the Bessemer process, and is called Bessemer steel. The specimens of T rail and boiler plate are very fine, and are of a superior workmanship. Other specimens of steel are wrought into various devices, and show their ductility and tenacity, which is very extraordinary, and worthy of favorable notice and commendation. The iron is of a superior quality, the ductility and tenacity of which is well known.

CLASS LXV-MODELS AND INVENTIONS.

Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, 1 collection models, dip; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, D. Kelly's weather-proof window-blind, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, 1 Tower's flower carrier, (model) honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Hallet's hand brick machine, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Falsom's Fumigator, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Boardman's wagon axle, dip; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Priest's wagon box, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Withey's adjustable arm rest, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Flester's printing wheel, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Linton's chuck, dip; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Wentworth's stake-holder, dip; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Branford's saw tooth, dip; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, Nelson's punch, $3; Charles Wisdom, Brownstone, full-rigged bark, (ship) dip; John Flint, Detroit, 1 small ship, dip; Parry & Brooks, Detroit, 1 rotary excelsior cutting machine, (model,) dip; Goo. S. Aker, Kalamazoo, 1 burglar alarm, honorable mention; Fairbank, Greenleaf & Co., Chicago, 1 Baldwin's improved till lock and drawer, dip; Anzell & Ketch, Adrian, working model brick machine, dip; A. Latourette, Waterloo, N. Y., ditching machine, dip; Fred. J. Jones, Detroit, adjusting belt hook, dip; Amos Putnam, Big Bend, Wis., model for feeding sheep, patented, dip; R. Fulton, Catskill, N. Y., Sanford's reciprocating reaper and mower grinder, dip; F. C. Prosser, Detroit, model mould for concrete brick, honorable mention; Wm. Earl, Jr., Troy, N. Y., American sheep-shearer machine, dip; F. M. Briggs, Plymouth, Briggs' patent lamp for destroying worms and insects on trees, dip; E. H. Estell, St. Louis, Estell's lever saw sett, dip; C. W. Coe, Fenton, Coe's self feeding upright drill and screw-cutting machine, dip; Black & Alstaker, Hamilton, O., box of sickles and sections, dip; Geo. D. McKinney, Detroit, accommodation ruler, paper-cutter and eraser, honorable mention; A. M. R. Fitzsimmons, Reading, boot crimp, honorable mention; Mechanics' & Inventors' Association, Detroit, 1 Linton combination tool holder, dip; J. C. McKenzie, Adrian, improved brick machine, horse or steam power, dip; Henry Fowler, Detroit, 1 dozen band boxes, 1 dozen ladies' hat boxes, 1 dozen gentlemen's boxes, 1 dozen shelf boxes, 1 show-case full of perfumery, and druggists" boxes, 1 dozen muff and collar boxes, combined in one, 1 dip. on lot; D. E. & A. M. Atkins, patent splint and slat butter, dip; M. A. Hamilton, Detroit, tea and coffee float, dip; Gleason & Co., Hillsdale, one show case containing steel stencil, dies and stamps, dip; A. C. Chubb, Grand Rapids, model of a flexible steam roller, honorable mention; B. W. Conway, Port Huron, 1 spoke and felloe coupling, dip; C. C. Collins, Niles, model of self-adjusting sash supporter

and lock combined, dip,

Hart, Detroit, 1 patent Green's combination letter safe, dip; L. B.

Forrester, Clyde, hose and pipe coupling, dip.

E. B. ROOT,

P. D. BECKWITH,

E. F. BENEDICT,

Committee.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MICH. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING AT DETROIT, JANUARY 26, 1869.

In compliance with the notice given by the President of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, the members of the Executive Committee met at the Biddle House on the evening of Monday, January 25, 1869, and a quorum of the members not having arrived, the meeting was postponed till the next day at 10 o'clock A. M., when the President called the meeting to order, and the following members were present:

W. G. Beckwith, President; E. O. Humphrey, Treasurer; W. J. Baxter, of Jonesville; L. S. Scranton, Grand Rapids, John Gilbert, Ypsilanti; Wm. Adair, Detroit; J. A. Walter, Kalamazoo; G. W. Phillips, Romeo; S. B. Wakefield, Monroe; A. J. Dean, Adrian; M. Shoemaker, Jackson; E. W. Rising, Richfield; E. N. Willcox, Detroit; and R. F. Johnstone, Secretary. The President made the following address:

During the past year the receipts into the treasury of the society have been $11,909, which, with the amount of bonds on hand Jan. 1, 1868, make an aggregate of $15,994. Our expenses during the same period have been $14,759, leaving in the treasury for future use an unexpended balance of $1,235. For further and full particulars in regard to the management of our finances during the past year, I refer you to the Secretary's and Treasurer's reports.

In this connection, permit me to suggest the propriety of permanently locating a place for holding our State Fairs. I do this with a view to save to the society the usual annual outlay for buildings and preparation of grounds. You all well understand that a considerable sum is paid out every year for the purposes just mentioned, which, if saved to the society, and distributed as premiums, would do much towards increasing its interest and usefulness. It remains for you, gentlemen, to say what action, if any, shall be taken in the premises.

It gives me pleasure to state that Messrs. Moore, Foote & Co., of Detroit, have offered a premium of $400 for the best five acres of wheat grown in the State during the year 1869, the premium to be awarded under the supervision of the society. This example, so worthy of imitation by our capitalists and large business houses, cannot fail to be duly appreciated by the farming community throughout the State.

I would call your attention to the necessity of encouraging the formation of county and township clubs for the discussion of all questions that relate to the management of stock, the culture of various soils, and farm improvement generally, such as orchards, buildings, fences, etc. I find the interest in this direction growing, and believe you may do much toward stimulating further and increased action among our farmers in all parts of the State. Mechanics associate together with a view to mutual advancement and profit; so do tradesmen; so do men of other callings; why not the farmer? The time was, when the uneducated and ignorant resorted, in the main, to agriculture as a means of bettering their condition in life. Now our farmers are, to a large extent, educated; and as a general rule, the best educated are the most thrifty and successful. At the present day, it does not unfrequently happen, that those who by indolence and want of proper mental culture are unfitted for agricultural pursuits, resort in the end to some one of the learned professions as a means of livelihood. The professions lose much of character by such accessions, while the farming community gain somewhat by the loss.

I would call your attention once more to the necessity of encouraging the mechanical interests of the State. These interests, second only in importance to agriculture, have a right to demand a large share of your consideration; also, your active coöperation, so far as bringing them prominently before the public is concerned. As a Society, we may offer premiums to the Michigan mechanic. As individuals, we may do more than this; our influence may be exerted in his behalf on all suitable occasions; we may purchase ourselves, as well as recommend his wares to others. When quality and price compare favorably with foreign products of the same kind, there can be no good reason given why our own mechanic should not be preferred. Take for example woolen goods of Michigan manufacture. So far as I am able to judge, our mechanics can compete favorably with those of the Eastern States in regard to style, quality and prices. If this be so, why not more heartily espouse their cause as against the overgrown factories of those States? It is our duty to do so. In order, therefore, to give an earnest of our sympathy and good wishes to the manufacturers generally of Michigan, I propose that the Executive Committee of this Society appear at the next annual fair clad in garments of Michigan manufacture throughout.

In regard to the manufacture of agricultural implements, probably no one of the Northwestern States excels ours. Then let us purchase at home, and save our money for circulation amongst ourselves, rather than take it abroad to enrich other communities, the rivals of our friends and neighbors. If the buyer believes that the manufacturer desires to meet him on fair grounds, by making a good article, and placing upon it a fair profit, there is nothing to hinder the increase of our manufactures, and the amount of capital invested in them. Mutual confidence between buyer and seller must exist if we would facilitate trade at home or with foreign parties.

I cannot urge too strongly upon our farmers the necessity of paying more attention to stock of all kinds, than they do at present. Almost every farmer has a certain amount of coarse feed sufficient to winter in fair condition a certain number of cattle and sheep, and which, if not fed out, is liable to waste, if not to entire loss, even as manure. An economical arrangement of fields will also afford sufficient pasture for them during the summer and fall. I know it is urged by many that the low price of stock will not justify them in trying to raise or keep it. I am willing to admit that if the laws of trade had irrevocably fixed the price of sheep and wool for all time to come at the prices paid during the past six months, there would be some show of reason why we ought not to look to sheep and wool as a source of profit; but such is not the case; everything, every article or commodity is liable to the inevitable laws of trade to those rules which govern supply and demand. As to the quantity and kind of stock one should keep, he must be governed by the size of his farm, its adaptation to stock, and surrounding circumstances; in other words, he must use good judgment in this as in other matter that relates to farm management. It is believed by some that not less than 80,000 sheep have been slaughtered in Michigan during the past fall and winter; no reason is assigned for this wholesale work, except the low price of that kind of stock. I am of opinion that no better time will be found than now in which to start new flocks of sheep with profit to the beginner; nor do I believe the price of wool will for many years rule so low as during the last fall. To farm well, which, in my opinion, means to farm profitably, no farmer can dispense with a certain amount of stock of cattle, sheep, horses and hogs.

Permit me to call your attention to the State Agricultural College for a few moments. That Institution, although richly endowed by the general and State Government, in my opinion, falls short of what the farmers of Michigan have a right to expect from it. The general impression is that this institution should thoroughly fit our young men for agricultural pursuits; in other words, it should so educate as to inspire them not only with the profits, but the nobility of the farmer's occupation.

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