It is also desirable that the magistrate or Court which commits an offender to the House of Correction, should ascertain his age, as nearly as possible, by such testimony as may be within reach. This will be necessary if the inmates are to be discharged at twenty-one years of age; for in many cases, not the slightest dependence can be placed upon the statements of the inmates themselves.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

LANSING, Dec. 17, 1856.

CHARLES COGGESHALL,
E. J. PENNIMAN,

N. G. ISBELL,

J. W. HOLMES,

THEODORE FOSTER.

ESTIMATES of necessary appropriations for the House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders, for the two years ending Jan. 1, 1859. Deficiencies of former appropriations to meet expenditures

up to Dec. 17, 1856,,

.8 5,400 00

Other indebtedness of the Board up to Jan. 1, 1857, for wages, bedding, clothing, fuel, furniture, provisions, &c., Furnishing remainder of dormitories,.

1,400 00

700 00

1857.

No. 11.

[ No. 11.]

COMMUNICATION from J. C. Holmes, Secretary of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, relative to the financial condition of said Society.

To the Hon. the Senate and the House of Representatives of the

State of Michigan.

In response to a resolution of the Senate, asking for information relative to the financial condition of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, I beg leave to report, that in consequence of the increased demands made upon the Society, caused by the increased number of animals and articles presented for exhibition at the Society's Fairs, the list of premiums offered for superior animals and articles, gradually increased from $1,000 to $6,000. As the exhibitions have increased in magnitude, and the business of the Society increased in extent and importance, the expenses have necessarily increased, until, at the annual meeting of the Executive Committee, held in December, 1855, it was found that the Society was in debt about $3,000, and without funds for its liquidation. The items of expenditure for that year, with the vouchers, are at the office of the Society in Detroit. I therefore refer you to the report of the Secretary, also the report of the Treasurer, for the year 1855, which may be found on page 265 to 269, Transactions of the Society for 1855, copies of which have been laid upon the tables of members of the Senate and House.

The amount of premiums awarded and paid for the year 1855 was about $4,000.

I hereto annex the Treasurer's report for 1856, showing the amount of money received during the year, the sources from whence received, also the disbursements, with the accompanying report in detail, together with the vouchers for the several amounts paid out. Thus giving a precise statement of the receipts and disbursements for the year 1856. The premiums awarded at the Fair for 1856 amount to about $2,400, including awards made by the Executive committee at its late session for field crops and essays.

I also transmit to you the records of the Society from its organization to the present time, showing the premiums awarded each year and to whom paid.

The Secretary is the only officer of the Society that receives pay for his services. Article 9 of the Constitution of the Society reads as follows, viz.:

ART. 9. No officer of this Society, except the Recording Secretary, shall receive any compensation for his services. The Executive committee shall allow the said Secretary such sum for past and future services as they may deem advisable.

The Secretary received for his services for the year 1855, the sum of $500, which is the largest sum ever received by him from the Society for his year's services. For the year 1856 he was to receive the sum of $600, but in consequence of a lack of funds in the treasury he has received but $450. The balance will be paid him whenever the Society has funds.

The President, members of the Executive Committee and Treasurer, volunteer their services, and never receive any remuneration therefor. Their actual expenses incurred in attending the annual meeting are paid by the Society, but they are not paid so much as one cent for their services, neither have they ever been paid for services. At the Annual Fair they pay their own expenses, so that the only time at which even their expenses are paid, is when attending the annual meeting of the committee, which takes place in December or January.

I present you their bill of expenses for 1855, also at their meeting held in Lansing last week, by which you will see their expenses only are paid, and not a per diem for services. The vouchers that accompa