Grand Rapids, Sept. 20, 1873. To the Michigan State Agricultural Society: I hereby enter protest against Mr. J. C. Deyo's bay stallion called Membrino, entered in Speed Class No. 8. SPECIFICATION. First, That he has not made the present season in the State in accordance with speed programme issued on or about the first of June, 1873; Second, That he was entered under a fictitious name, not in accordance with rule No. 6. E. G. NEWHALL, Charge of Landseer. The Secretary submitted the following letter from President Griggs upon the subject: Mr. C. F. Kimball: DEAR SIR-Your favor of the 14th was received, and would have been acknowledged before this had I not expected to have called on you in Pontiac either in going to or returning from Detroit this week. I returned last evening. You write correctly in regard to protests. None can be recognized that were not made out properly in writing and handed in at time of fair. The case against Deyo is a strong one, and protest will be clearly sustained. I have several documents in my possession and expect more the coming week. When all is received will send them to you. Deyo never owned that horse. He was shipped by the owner at Niagara, N. Y., to Deyo on the 24th of August, 1873. Have copy of bill lading and affidavit attached. The horse never covered a mare in Michigan. He is not a Membrino, and was not so called until shipped to and received by Deyo. The name of the horse is Prince of Wales, and he is so known throughout New York. Parties in Michigan who have seen the borse since Deyo received him recognized him at once, and will give affidavits in regard to him, his owner, and of having seen him trot at two different meetings in New York and elsewhere this season. The evidence in sustaining the protest will be strong and conclusive, and shows or places Mr. Deyo in a very unfavorable position before the Agricultural Board, Kind regards to all friends. Yours truly, G. W. GRIGGS. Mr. Deyo claimed that he had owned Membrino since last June. That he had documents to prove the horse eligible to trot in Class 8. Referred to a committee consisting of A. J. Dean, A. O. Hyde, and E. O. Humphrey. The protest of W. D. King & Co. against the award in Class 24, wheel cultivators, was read and referred to Superintendents Hanford and Angel. The following order of business was, on motion of Mr. Beckwith, adopted: First. Presentation of Reports of Officers. Second. The appointment of Standing Committees. Third. The Premium List. Fourth. The appointment of Viewing Committees. Fifth. Reports on Business Before the Committee. Sixth. Miscellaneous Business. Seventh. Reports of Standing or Special Committees. Eighth. Designation of Time and Place of holding next Fair. Ninth. Rules and Regulations of the Society. Tenth. Unfinished Business. Mr. Humphrey submitted a verbal report of his action in the suit which he was instructed to commence by the committee February 25th, that, for good reasons, the suit had not been commenced. On motion of Mr. Baxter, the instructions of the committee to Mr. Humphrey were reiterated. 1 On motion, resolved that the Pomological Society, by its representatives, be given leave to present its claims before the society on Tuesday morning. Read and approved. On motion, adjourned. C. F. KIMBALL, Secretary. Tuesday Morning, 16th. Meeting called to order, and the President being absent, C. W. Green, Esq. was elected President pro tem. Roll called, and committee men Sterling, Rising, Greene, Hyde, Manning, Allison, Hanford, Humphrey, Childs, Burrington, Phelps, Wolverton, Avery, Howard, Whitney, North, Angel, Van Valkenburg, Wells, Beckwith, Baxter, and Shoemaker answered to their names. The proceedings of the evening session were read, corrected, and approved. The Treasurer submitted his report, which, on motion, was received and referred to the finance committee. The Secretary proceeded to read his report, which embraced the proceedings of the executive committee from January 1, 1873, to the date of the meeting; also the operation of the business committee during the same period; also included a summary of premiums offered and awarded, the amount of orders issued for speed premiums in tabular statement. At this point the further reading was deferred till afternoon. On motion of Mr. Baxter the report of the proceedings of the executive committee of Feb. 24, 1873, were so amended as to omit the names from the subscription of $175, said to be due from citizens of Kalamazoo. On motion of Mr. Sterling Whitney, the award of discretionary premiums as reported by the Secretary was referred to the superintendents of the several departments, to designate what those premiums shall be, and report same to the committee. POMOLOGICAL. In accordance with resolution of yesterday, the committee from the State Pomological Society were instructed to present the claims of that Society. Mr. Dyckman, President of the Pomological Society, presented the condition of the society, showing a total indebtedness of $1,667 04, less Secretary's salary, $967 04. He was followed by Mr. Fuller of Grand Rapids, Mr. Knapp of Jackson, Mr. Fralick of Grand Rapids, and others. Mr. Shoemaker presented the following resolution : Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to pay to the Treasurer of the State Pomological Society the sum of $1,500 00; And moved its adoption. Mr. Baxter moved that the resolution be referred to the Finance Committee. Messrs. Baxter, Shoemaker, Childs, Hanford, Whitney, Allison, Wells, and Beckwith addressed the committee upon the general question of pomology. Adjourned to 21 P. M. Society met agreeable to adjournment. The further consideration of the resolution was postponed, as the resolution was laid upon the table. The Secretary completed the reading of the financial portion of his report, which report was received, amended, and placed on file. Moved, by Mr. Beckwith, that a special committee of three be appointed, to whom the report of the Secretary and Treasurer shall be referred. Adopted. The chairman appointed Messrs. Avery, Humphrey, and Hyde such committee. Messrs. Baxter and Whitney, Superintendents of Fine Art Hall, reported, perfecting the discretionary awards, classes 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 47, 51, which were adopted and spread upon the class registers accordingly. Moved by Mr. Beckwith that the chairman pro tem. appoint the committees for revision of premium list. Adopted. Messrs. C. L. Whitney, Wm. M. Ferry, D. Wolverton, E. O. Humphrey, M. Shoemaker, W. G. Beckwith, and G. W. Griggs were appointed. The committee on protest of Ripple and Newhall vs. Deyo's Membrino, report as follows: To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society : Your committee to whom was referred the protest of Newhall and Ripple against J. C. Deyo, beg leave to respectfully report that they have carefully examined the evidences presented to them by the parties in interest, and recommend that the protest be sustained. We would recommend that the Secretary be authorized to draw his warrant on the Treas. urer in favor of J. S. Carr, owner of horse Landseer, for $250 00, for first premium in trial No. 8; also, in favor of R. G. Hart, owner of horse Onward, for $50 00, balance due him in said trial; also, in favor of E. G. Newhall, owner of horse Magna Charta, for fourth premium in said trial. Signed, A. J. DEAN, Report received and adopted. Committee. Moved and adopted, that Messrs. Greene and Shoemaker be appointed a committee to investigate the alleged fraud by the so-called horse Whitehead and owners, at the late State Fair. Mr. Hanford and Mr. Angel, Superintendents of Division D, to whom the protest of W. D. King & Co. against the award on wheel cultivators was referred, reported, sustaining the protest. The report was received and adopted. The protest is as follows: To the Hon. the President and the Executive Committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society: GENTLEMEN :-We, the undersigned, would respectfully protest against the award given to wheel cultivators by the acting committee in Division D, Class 24, and we base our protest on the following grounds: First, The announcement at the head of Division D expressly stipulated that there should be a public trial of wheel cultivators, and exhibitors were notified that their articles must be entered previous to the 17th, or otherwise their articles could not compete under this rule. Several of the exhibitors of wheel cultivators (and they were numerous) had engaged teams for a public trial on Wednesday. Second, Your committee were instructed (not requested,-were instructed) by your printed regulations to have a public trial, and a premium was offered on a test basis. Your committee failed to request your exhibitors to make such test, although your exhib. itors were (some of them, at least) ready and anxious for euch test. Third, Your committee, under Rule 6 (see instructions to committees), were requested to sign their report and return the same, at the earliest possible moment, for the inspection of the Superintendent of the Division, that he might be able to correct any errors in said report, and enable any parties that might feel aggrieved to have a re-hearing. Your committee returned the report late on Friday afternoon, without one of them having signed their names to the same; and as two of the committee acted as proxies, your Superintendent in said division was unable to call their attention again to grievances in this class, although he was applied to, and used his best endeavors to reach them. Fourth, Your instructions to committees (see Rule 7) to do full and ample justice to both exhibitors and to yourselves as a society could not be complied with under any other than a public test. In view of the above, we, your exhibitors of wheel cultivators, respectfully request that there be no award made to any wheel cultivators; and your petitioners will ever pray. Signed, Grand Rapids, Sept. 20, 1873. W. D. KING & Co. Mr. Deyo submitted a notice of appeal to the Board of Appeals of the National Trotting Association, in the case of the protest against Membrino, from the action of the executive board of this society, and afterward withdrew the same. On motion of Mr. Wells, the Secretary was instructed to issue an order to Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society in accordance with the order of the executive committee of December 27, 1872, awarding said society the sum of $100 as amount of premiums in class 65, premium list of 1871. Mr. Van Valkenberg, from the committee of superintendents of the horse department, submitted a report making discretionary award to stallion Matchless, division B, class 14, $15. Mr. Baxter submitted a verbal report from the committee appointed to compile the constitution of the society, accompanied with a recommendation that a committee be appointed to thoroughly compile that instrument. Mr. Hanford moved that a committee of three be appointed in accordance with the recommendation in Mr. Baxter's report, and cause the result of their labors to be published with the annual premium list of the society for the year 1874. Adopted. The President appointed Messrs. Baxter, Wells, and Childs such committee. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. The undersigned, special committee to examine the reports of the Treasurer and Secretary, beg leave to report that they have examined said accounts in detail, compared vouchers in hands of Secretary with orders paid by and in hands of Treasurer, and the same with the premium stubs and stubs of business orders and premium checks, and find the same and every part thereof correct. They find the Treasurer has received from all sources.- $41,724 00 That he has paid on orders.. Leaving in his hands.... (Signed) 27,703 56 $14,020 44 N. L. AVERY, A. O. HYDE, E. O. HUMPHREY, Committee. A letter was read from G. W. Phillips, apologizing for non-attendance, which was accepted by vote of the committee. President Kipp appeared and took the chair as presiding officer, and delivered his inaugural address, as follows, which was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Beckwith, Baxter, and Avery: ADDRESS. GENTLEMEN-In assuming the position of President of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, I do so with many doubts in my own mind as to the wisdom of your choice at your last annual election; and in accepting the position I wish to express to you and to the members of the society my grateful acknowledgments for this manifestation of their confidence, and trust in the discharge of these duties I may be so fortunate as to merit your kind indulgence and hearty co-operation. I shall not detain you with any lengthy remarks, but merely present for your consideration some suggestions with reference to the work you have in charge. It would be folly for me to attempt to tell you what the objects of your society are, or go into a general review of its past history, as most of you are more familiar with it than I am. The objects of your present meeting is to close up the business of the old year, and make such arrangements for the new year as your judgments may dictate. At the commencement of the year just closing there existed in our State two distinct organizations, both having the same general objects in view. It was thought by many prominent men in all parts of the State that these two organizations could better accomplish the objects sought by a consolidation of the two societies, which led to propositions and finally to a union of the two societies. The new organization found itself encumbered with a large indebtedness, amounting to $4,000 00. This was at once adjusted by a loan and its creditors paid, and in September following was held your twenty-fifth annual fair at the city of Grand Rapids, the most successful and largest exhibition ever held in the Northwest, the receipts aggregating nearly double any previous year. The reports of the secretary and treasurer will give you detailed accounts of the receipts and disbursements during the year, leaving a balance in the treasury, after paying unadjusted premiums and expenses of your annual meeting, of about $14,000. With this balance you are placed beyond the possibility of failure the coming year, which will enable you to pay off your premiums at the close of the fair, which will be much more satisfactory to exhibitors, and in my opinion insure a much larger attendance, as many, no doubt, are deterred from exhibiting on account of the large outlay of money and the uncertainty of when they will get it back. This gratifying condition of your finances is largely attributable to the untiring energy and perseverance of my predecessor, Hon. Geo. W. Griggs, and his co-worker, Hon. Henry Fralick, of Grand Rapids. Whether you may be so highly favored the coming year is a question of some doubt. Nevertheless, I trust the same judicious and economical policy will be continued the coming year. Your attention is called to the question of admittance of exhibitors and attendants during the fair. This is a matter that seems to cause more trouble than anything else that occurs during the fairs, and as the practice has been of charging exhibitors and their attendants, and may admit of some doubt as to its fairness, it would be well to consider the matter, and if possible relieve the officers and superintendents in charge of this great annoyance and insure a better feeling between the society and exhibitors. I trust this will be done. The practice of admitting viewing committees, clerks, and other employes upon badges has worked serious abuses and ought to be abandoned. I hope some system may be adopted that no one, except the officers and members of the executive committees, will be admitted except by tickets only, and these be taken up at the gates. It would save the society money, and greatly relieve those in charge of the gates. Your attention is particularly directed to the importance of a thorough revision and extension of the premium list in order, as far as possible, to meet the great variety of interests in our growing State. The smallest manufacturer or producer wants the same recognition in proportion as the large, and hence the importance of a careful revision. And I would also recommend that in most cases third premiums be given. This would have a tendency to largely increase the number of exhibitors. I would also suggest that the different divisions and classes be so divided and arranged into departments as to afford greater accommodation and facilities to exhibitors, and lessen the labor of Superintendents. If they could be so arranged that no one department would require more than one man in charge, it would greatly facilitate the labor of awarding committees, and secure more full and complete reports, and avoid the many errors that are always found when departments are so large and scattered as they sometimes are, particularly the Miscellaneous Class. The viewing committee in this class are required to visit every building and hall upon the grounds, making the labor so arduous that it is almost an impossibility to get a committee to serve in this class. I wish also to suggest that the most friendly relations be cultivated with the State Pomological Society, which I regard as only second in importance to your own society. For three years past this society has held its annual exhibitions in connection with the Michigan State and Northern Michigan Agricultural Societies, which contributed very largely to the attraction of these exhibitions; and I urgently recommend that an invitation be extended to the Pomological Society to hold their annual exhibition for 1874 jointly with us, and that such mutual and satisfactory arrangements be made that will insure the greatest good to the people interested in these exhibitions. I wish also to call your attention to the financial condition of this society. By holding their annual exhibitions with the State Agricultural Society they have been unable to accumulate any money, merely receiving enough from the State Society to pay their premiums and actual expenses at the Fair, and the past year I |