The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-14
LOCAL NE w 8.


morning when the sixth annual session of the society
vas commenced, at the Smithsonian Institution Dele
gates from tventy-one States, two Territories and this
District presented their credentials and there also
Qoodly number OF members Of the society present
President Wilder on taking the chair, delivered tho
following annual address, which attentvey listened
TO- and was repeatedly interrupted by applause
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
GrsuEns Another year of our existence has com
pleted ts course
We now meet on the sixth anniversary OF the United
states Agricultural Society to report its progress and
concert plans and measures for the future While con
ytuate YOU upon the of association unite
with YOU in teporing the existence Of commercial en-
barassment unparalleled In the history Of country
Here we have visible demonstration of the Importance
Of the great Of agriculture in the fact that in the
midst this depression, when many Of the other in
dusal arts seek lucrative employment and find none,
when the and the hopes of many of fellow
citizens are wrecked and when the hearts of many more
ARE failing them for the fear Of trouble that may
them where do we look for ultimate relief for power
that unfu the sails Of late prosperous commerce.
that can put in motion again manufactures,
chinery and freight the long trains of which lately
travesed innumerable railroads. creating profitable
employment for millions giving life and enterprise to all
classes of society WheeP There can be but reply
this question, For these results must look to the
products of the soil True there may be diversity Of
opinion to the Of this great calamity 1t may BIO
arbed to specializing and overtmdng to banks and TO
system of banking, to tariff and revenue laws
which for long period have agated the public mindnd
taxed tho wisdom Of ablest statesmen.
But have said and repeat what believe to be
the sentiment the great American heart that must
look to our abundant harvests, TO grsnares and
barns filled with plenty the speedy restoration of in
dvidual and national prosperity. We talk of the i'm
mense liability OF individuals and corporations to foreign
capitalists and trembe at the thought of it, Those cap
talists inquire with soctude how this debt be
ccled Farmers reply, Take crops in exchange for
your fabrics, and give you and wheat enough
cancel the debt and leave comfortable supply for
home consumption
How important then, that government should encour
age and protect the American farmer by wise legislation
and by every in its power We rejoice therefore,
in the recent presentation of this subject to Congress by
the Hon Mr Morrill,, OF Nermontin the increased pa
tronage bestowed by the government the agricultural
department of the Patent Office especially in the auda-
bic excrtions Of that department to coate and diuse
valuable information by its greatly improved annual
ports and to distribute the most desirable seeds in all
parts of the country We rejoice in these indications of
progress, and in every approximation towards result
which we believe to be only question of tme-the
establishment OF special agricultural department at the
seat of government with cabinet officer at its head
Most heartily do rejoice in all these evidences Of i'm
proyement The of agriculture has been, and
should be- dear to the Christian the patriot and the
phlanthropist. The seed planted by the eminent
who have gone before is taking root and it is
happy privilege to realize Of their fondest hopes
At former period in the history of country has the
progress of agriculture been rapid Great advances
have made in most Of the arts of cultivation but
no one cause much indebted for the relief
which genius has brought to labor by the improved i'm
plements of husbandry.
OF IMPLEMENTS.
In accordance with the recommendations of the com
mtee on agricultural implements at the exhibition in
Philadelphia in 1885, and presented Mt the last annual
meeting resolved that future awards in this de-
partment should be based upon practical ,coriy trial IL,
The htd As the for the annual exhibition would
be too late for the trial Of reaps and mowers the
tive committee sanctioned proposition from the nipple
committee To hold exhibition of these open
competition from all parts Of the country at
nient place. in the month of July last Various appca
ons received with different degrees OF encourage
ment Among these it became difficult for your COM
mttee without personal observation to fix upon Ioca
ton They confded this trust to their special agent and
secretary, H. S. Olcott, esq., who examined the various
points proposed and submitted to the executive commit
tee report in favor Of Syracuse, New York His report
approved the necessary preparations made and the
trial commenced the morning Of the l4th of july and
continued to the 10Th The weather propous, the
number Of entries large, the interest deep and general
and the importance Of the result to the of agcu
turo inestimabe.
The award of the judges upon the rapers and com
bined machines announced at the exhibition at Louis
Vile. That mowers regret to say, deferred
to recent date the judges finding greater difficulty in
coming to decision. They have, at length, made up
their awards which will be found in the transactions of
the society and also in their report The receipts from
Donations entries, and other sources, sufficient to
meet all expenses the ground, and to defay the cost
OF the me(AiS ana O1plOnaS AWARDED, winch amount
with proper vouchers has been paid into the treasury Of
the society
Much of the success of this exhibition is to be as
obed to the zeal of the respective competitors TO the
enterprise and bery of the good people of Syracuse
and its vicinity and to the superior ability and fidelity of
the board of judges An official report of this trial will
be found In the transactions Of the society past
year. separate edition of the report has been printed
for general distribution.
More than forty machines entered the field and an
honorable competition sustained throughout the
trial It sublime spectacle to Of these
machines at work performing the daily labor Of hundreds
of men in single hour. Nor this expert
without any parallel in the actual labors of the
he witnessed one hundred and sxty-four rcaping
chimes followed by thousand men, women, and chill
en binding up and stacking tho golden sheaves 1t
ustrring sight, said he to the grain falling and
gathered up at the rate of two hundred per hour
The wonderful improvements recently made in this de
partment but the harbingeB of others still
wonderful The day is at hand when the time -honorcd
plough, perfected by the genius centureswhen the
mighty and reaper those astonishing productions
Of modern invention which have made the name of
America glorious in all the earthwhen these propelled
by steam shall roll maesticaly vast prares
and fertile valleys cultivate soil and gather up
abundant crops
These trials stimulate and guide inventive genius give
wise direction to tho skill and capital of the manufactu
and illustrate the economy and great importance Of
labor saving implements.
ANNUAL EXHIBITION.
IL will be remembered that at the last annual meet
ing in this place proposition by Mr. Secretary Guthrie
and Hon Humphrey Marshall, in behalf Of themselves
and the South Western Agricultural and mechanical. So
undc hold tho annual evb;h;tior "a, t,c