Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-01-08

Last year the Society had grand bal
ance of S663l OF to its credit, as surplus
over and above the capital invested and
donated in its grounds buildings, fix
lures and personal property used for Fair
purposes. This year the grand balance
of the Societys surplus has been increas-
ed to 10.7l534. This includes preferred
securities invested under the direction of
Col. Ilsley of par value of SIC. 1000, and
which now have "A market value of
S9571.50. but which costs the Society
SSS2500 The present Investments of
the Society will yield AN income Of
$66l. 70 during the coming year at pres
ent rates.
Included in the expenditures of the
Society for the past year are a number OF
items of extraordinary expense. Such is
the item of Sl41.57 for extending the
water mains over the grounds and
for putting in hydrants and connec
tions, Tut this is an item of permanent
improvementand of real economy, which
VIII decrease the insurance rates, enable
the Society to carry "A more adequate IN
surance at an expenditure no greater
than before and also afford fire protec-
ton. Another unexpected expense was
that occasioned by the appeal of James
Farley from the decision of the judges
in the third heat of the Free for All To
the National Trotting Association, an
expense of which the society was in no
way to blame, and which is partly can
celled by the forfeiture to the Society OF
Mr.. Farley's share in the Free FORA II
purse, occasioned by his intentional viola
ton OF the rules.
For number of years past Col. llsley
has borne the entire expenses of the com
mittee on construction, of which he is
the sole member, The many thousands
of dollars that has been expended by this
committee are donations to the Society,
of which no account has or can be made
in our reports. They amount to over
$40, 900. Every year the value of the
Society's real estate has been largely in
creased by Col. Ilsley by this work of
construction, which is his own depart
ment. 1t may not be out of place to call
attention here to the construction work
of the past year. The new horse barn
has been slated at an expense, ] am told D.,
of over $500. A new and handsome
band-stand has been erected. a tee-
phone system has been installed for the
especial benefit of the department of
races. The treasurer's office has been
remodeled and various improvements
made in the ticket offices. Show cases
have been installed in the Floral Hall
All of these Improvements, the work of a
single year, are but typical of other
years, and are gifts which enable the
Society to make an annual report which
cannot be approached by any other Ag-
ricultural Society in Vermont.
Nine years ago. the Secretary of this
Society, at that time Hon. Charles s.
Dana, said i'm his annual report, "The
receipts in 1897 were S2l55 So, in 1898
$2429 20 and in 1899 over $4,000, which
think is larger than at any fair during
the 50 years the society has held fair
in Middlebury.' NOWADAYS the Society
handles about as much money as that in
single forenoon, and almost as much
more in the afternoon In nine years the
Society has increased its receipts tivefold
over the record breaking year of 1899.
On account of the long and faithful
labors of John E. Weeks in connection
with the affairs of the Addison County
Agricultural society, sketch of his life
at this time will be opportune:
As Cotton Mather quantity puts it,
Mr.. Weeks is possessed of the "mercy of
a good descent being direct lneal
descendant of George Weekes, who came
from England to Dorchester, Mass. in
1885. The descendants of the Weeks
family have always been characterized
AS is shown in the various histories, as
people with excellent character, and in
strumental to large degree, though in
q quiet way, in the doing of much good