Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-04
Masbingtun Sentinel,
From the Richmond enquirer.
Report of the Executive Committee OF the
virginia State Agricultural Society.


their duty to make report to said Society /
submit the following:
The society at its last meeting UNANIMOUSLY |
ordered the election of permanent secretary;
and the Executive Committee about to depart
for their several homes and seeing the imme-
diate necessity of electing such an otfcer
charged at once to enter upon the performance
Of his duties, elected Mr.. Frank G. Ruffin TO
that post, deeming him the most suitable per-
son they could find.
The next step TO be taken was view oftbeir
fnancies, in order to meet the expenditure ne
cessary to accomplish the other objects of the
society. They found their funds scant as the
report Of the treasurer will more fully show,
and their means of operation correspondingly
limited.
At the meeting Of the society last fall, an
appeal was made to the members to endow it
by means of individual contributions, and by
guaranteeing their respective counties to raise
such sums as might seem proper to them. The
response to that appeal was creditable to the
generosity and public spirit of Virginia indi-
viduals for themselves and for their counties,
and for their cities also, came forward and
guaranteed a certain sum amounting to up.
wards of thirty thousand dollars.
In addition to this fund there was another Of
the same nature previously existing, which
swelled the first named amount to - dollars.
This whole amount the constitution requires to
be permanently vested, the interest thereon
only to be used by the Executive Committee.
The money pledged, except in few cases of
expressed reservation, became due on the first
of May last. But very little was paid in at
that time, and good deal still remains due
and unpaid. This remark is not made in spirit
Of censure against the gentlemen who gave
the pledges, many of whom we know have
been put to Inconvenience by their liberality
but merely to explain for other reasons the
state Of the funds at the societys disposal
Nor is it meant to convey the idea that any
serious deficiency is expected to result from
the hardness Of some gentlemen, and the de-
faults, if there shall be any, of others. So far
from it, it is expected that the surplus contri-
buttons of several counties, particularly of some
on the south-side of James river, viii nearly, if
not quite, atone for all such delinquencies
The whole permanent fund has been invest
ed, first in the Savings Bank of this city, where
each deposit drew its amount of interest, and
afterwards, as successive Accommodations made
it necessary to do SO, in stock of the city of
Richmond, according to an order of the Exec.
utive Committee, which required the treasurer
TO invest In stocks of the city of Richmond, or
OF the State OF Virginia, preferring the kind
for which the lowest premium was required by
the then existing market rates, and having due
reference to the time which such stock might
have to run.
As these investments have, for the most mart
been recently made, very few of them have. as
yet, produced any revenue to the society; and
the Executive Committee, having an eye to cur.
rent and accruing demands, have not felt au.
thorized to invade it for the purposes to which.
otherwise they would gladly have appropriated
In addition to this source of revenue, there
is the still more uncertain supply furnished nv
the contributions Of annual member, now
amounting TO more than FIVE thousand. who
pay each 81 the first year Of their admission
to the society, and 81 for each year thereafter.
SO long as they remain members. Of this
number many owe more than the animal con-
nbution, very few owe less; but what each
owes, and what is the aggregate of the whole.
cannot now be known. After consultation as
to the best mode of collecting these sums. the
secretary was directed 10 employ the sheriffs of
the different counties, where no more suitable
agency could be obtained, to collect at a rate of
compensation not to exceed ten per cent. a
rate deemed so small that it was in eyery in
stance OF application, accompanied by an ap-
peal TO the public spirit of those officers The
accounts have so far been sent to as many of
these ofncers as have signifed their willingness
10 undertake the collection upon the ferns
proposed. But it is TO be regretted that in q
large portion Of The counties the sheriffs have
not up to this time replied 10 the circulars adj
dressed 70 them, and have thus authorized the
inference that they decline acting altogether.
whilst the secretary, from want Of information.
except In few places, has not been enabled
70 select any other agent, and the payment of
oues nom them cannot be expected to any
great extent
what the sums TO be collected may amour.
70 cannot now be told from the facts-.lst. that
IN the hurry Of recording the names OF the
numbers that applied for admission last fall
many mistakes were made which the indiyiduals
themselves can alone correct /: and ID. that The
shenhs viii hardly make returns until thew col.
lect their taxes. But il is estimated thai The
whole amount to be collected, the money ex.
peoted from new annual members, and what
may be taken in At the gate during the fair.
whi not much exceed, If at all, the expenses Of
list VIZ p'e"iun
Anxious to obtain means which should en-.
soie tnem 70 enter upon the discharge Of their
duties on a becoming scale. the Fxecn,;ve
COM ittse, as soon as the legislature granted
70 the society charter, which merely gave Il the
necessary vitality Of corporation, applied 10
tnat body Tor endowment Of hundred thou
sad dollars to be invested in the stock of the
state, and granted on terms and with limita
uons, which 1t was thought would ensure its
success. But though bill to this effect passed
the Senate with one dissenting voice Of those
present. degree Of unanimity believed to have
oeen attained by no other new measure vet 4
never was reached on the calendar in the House
Oh delegates, but with every reasonable assur.
ance OF its passage If it had been taken up Il
was ,ost through the unfortunate dissension as
TO other measures which are known 20 have
arisen in that honorable body.
la the month Of March last, Mr.. Edmund
Rufin was appointed, by the unanimous vote
o. tne members present, agricultural commits.
sioner for the period of eight months. Soon
afterwards he entered upon his duties, and has
gratuitously performed sundry valuable ser.
wees, which will be found in his report to the
Executive Committee which will, at the pro. |
per time, be communicated to the society
II is to be regretted that no means have