The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-09

AGRICULTURAL BOARD.

The Advisory Board Of Agriculture OF the Patent OF
flee met at 10 o'clock Saturday mornings pursuant TO
adjournment
The following additional delegates appeared and took
their seats District of Columbia, Prof Joseph Henry
Tennessee j N. Williamson Nebraska, J. NJ. Clarke
hepofts lfon yatlous committees received, and
sundry resolutions offered by several delegates
The board then proceeded in committee of the whole
TO consider the communication from the Commissioner of
Patents transmitting The resolution OF the Committee of
Agriculture of the House Of Representatives
The resolution was then read, as follows
q Resoluad That the Commissioner Of Patents be re-
quested to communicate TO this committee report OF
the proceedings of any covocation advisory board of
agriculture that ra have been organized at his request
and with the sanction of the Secretary of the Interior
and that he he also requested TO elicit from such board
and communicate in like manner statement of the
character and capabilities for usefulness of the past and
present operations of the Agricultural Division Of the Patent
Office together with expression OF the views OF said
board in regard TO such improvements they may deem
calculated to enhance Its efficiency In promoting the agr
cultural interests OF the country"
After lengthy discussion the committee of the whole
and reported to the board the recommendation
OF that committee that there be appointed by the pres
dent special committee of seven consisting Of two
bers at large and from each geographical division
which agreed to,
The president announced the following as the mem
n
John III Ewing of Pennsylvania Charles d. Calvert OF
Maryland W. 4. Meckling of Texas F. G. Cary, of
Ohio A. w McKeg, of California.
On motion of Mr.. Cary of Ohio Hon ID. T. Holloway
Of Indiana added to that committee I; and, on
ton all the papers and resolutions in relation the sub
ect referred to that committee 1t understood
that the committee would report Monlay next at 10
o. clock, a. m
Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution then
explained at length the plan and object of the
ries of meteorological observations being taken all
the North American continent by than three hundred
persons under the direction of the Smithsonian Institu
ton in connection with the Patent Office In considera
ton of Its important bearing upon the interests of ag
culture the Patent Office has for years past borne
half the expense of taking these observations pnc
pay for the purpose of instruments and the reduction
the observations after being made
Mr.. williamson of Tennessee, explained briefly his
views in relation TO taking observations in the Mississippi
valley to enable planters to forete of high
floods in time themselves great extent from
It's injurious effects
The president laid before the board the following COM
munication
UNITED STATES PATENT 0rrIcE,
January Sth, 1859.
Sir am instructed by the honorable Secretary of the
Interior to inform YOU that will be agreeable to the
the Advisory Board of Agriculture assembled in this
Office at hafpast o'clock this afternoon
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
j. HOLT Commissioner
On motion, IL was resolved that the bolld would az
semble at Wizards Hotel at Is p m, and from thence
proceed TO the Executive Mansion.
After other business,
The board adjourned till Monday morning at 10 clock
vslr AGRICULTURAL BOARD EXECUTIVE
MANSION pursuance of order adopted by the Ad-
vsory Board of Agriculture during its morning session
of yesterday the individual members of the board assem-
bed at Wiards' Hotel at ST. p.
The hour of 81, p m, had been fixed for their
ccpon by the President the United States AS that
time drew nigh the board formed into procession and pre-
ceded by Hon Joseph Holt, Commissioner of Patents
Hon NJ r. Wilder, the President of the Board, and D.
Jay Browne the Chief of the Agricultural Division of the
Patent Office proceeded to the Executive Mansion where
they were ushered into the east to await the
trance of the President
The President made his appearance, and met
by the honorable Commissioner who addressed him as
follows:
Mr. President have the honor of introducing to you
the gentlemen present. body of practical aSricul
turis assembled in this city from almost every part of
the country upon the special invitation of the depart
ment for the purpose of furnishing to us accurate and
reliable information in regard to the agricultural interests
of the country.
The Commissioner then introduced Hon. NJ p Wilder,
who addressed the President follows
Mr. PRESIDENT We appear before you, has been stated
by the honorable Commissioner, body of agricultur-
lists who are assembled Advisory Board at his in
vi,aou and under the sanction Of the Secretary of the
Interior We have been for several days engaged in the
performance of duties, and hope that they will not
only he servceabe to the department. but beneficial to
our own districts and to the whole country at large
Agriculture is the great business of people ii is the
great of national and individual wealth. And
when consider the vast extent of territory,
bracng almost every variety of soil and climate, and
pable of producing almost every agricultural product of
the world and when we reflect upon rapidy-in-
ccasng population, already spreading themselves down
mountain slopes and over our broad valleys, popu
laton which the close of the present century WILL in
all human probability reach two hundred millions of
souls il then becomes matter of vast moment that the
interest of agriculture should receive the fostering
and patronage of the government and that this branch
of industry should be advanced to its highest state OF c
tivation This Mr. President is the mission of the
And believing that you would sympathizc with
us in these views we could not return to several
homes without paying you personal respects and
pressing You most sincere desire for your health
welfare and future usefulness Long may you continue
to enjoy the confidence of grateful people and the
ISOLATION resulting from wellspcnt life And may your
last days be your best days.
To which the President responded follows
Mr. President AND GENTLEMEN need not say that am
exceedingly happy to you and that feel very much
bonorcd by this visit have been fond Of agri-
culture ITSELF though have had much time to de
10 il practically but heartily rejoice that the Sec
rotary of the Interior and the Commissioner of Patents
bave assembled you here upon this important mission