Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-08
sToCKHOLDERs MEETING.
West Tennnessee, Agricultural 4
Mechanical Association.


Mechanical AssOciatIOn.
The annual meeting was held at
the Court House, Feb. 3, 1873.
On motion of Mr.. Robertson, Mr..
John c. NJ. Garland was called to
the chair, and Chas. W. Green Sc
lected as Secretary.
Messrs. Glass, Tomlin and Reed
were appointed a committee on
proxies.
President Hurt then read his Re
port as follows:
GENTLEMEN STOCKHOLDERS 1t
is made my duty as President to
report to you at this, your annual
meeting, the condition of the affairs
of your Association.
1t will be seen by reference to the
reports of the Secretary and Treas
urer, TO which l refer you for de-
tailed statemeuts) that the gross re-
ceipts Of our last Fair from all sour
ces, were Sl2,9l9 IS, of this amount
!, 183 70 was used 10 pay liabili-
tics incurred in 1871; that -, 254 68
was expended III the erection of ad-
ditiOnal permanent improvements
upon the grounds; that s., 200 %
was paid in incidental expenses and
premiums, leaving on hand to the
credit Of the Association, $3.50 4S.
1t will be observed by reference
to the detailed statements that your
Directors acted upon the hypothe-
sis, that to succeed in enlisting the
interest Of the greatest number Of
exhibitors and visitors, it was neces-
sary to advertise extensively. Many
may think that the amounts thus ex-
pended were too large, but your Di-
rectors feel assured that the expen-
ditures were both judicious and
profitable.
In this connection it is proper that
Iextend to the officers of the Mobile
81 Ohio and Miss. Central, Memphi.
j. Louisville and Memphis &
Charleston Railroad, the thanks Of
the Association for the liberal
and accommodating arrangement
in behalf of exhibitors, visitors
and the officers of the Association
1t is more than likely that some
things have been done in conduct
ing the affairs of the Association
which have not met the entire ap
proval of the stockholders and the
public, but assure you, gentlemen
that while experience has proven t.
your Directors that they may have
erred, their best efforts have beer
exerted to advance the interests o
the Association, and to promot'
Agriculture and Mechanism; anC
that the Directors, Secretary ant
Treasurer are entitled to and SHOULD
receive your thanks for their con
slant and efficient labors.
By direction of the Board of Di
rectors, l have engaged the service
of Mr.. James Alexander at $3.50 pc
year to reside upon the grounds ant
protect the buildings. Inhis main
ed condition, he is unfit for labor
but is sober, honest and faithful tt
his charge.
With a paid up stock list of $40,
O64 81, we have expended in psrma
nent improvements $13,69O %, anC
are free from debt with a balance t.
our credit. These are facts and fig
ures which your Directors point t
with pride as the results of our ia
bors in less than two short years.
With this showing we do not fee
that half has been done that can
and must be done, to make our AS
ISOLATION what it should be in tn
interest of Agriculture and Mechan
ism. The grounds on which we ar
spending thousands of dollars shoult
belong in fee to the Association, an,
L suggest that you apply to the pre-.
ent Legislature to obtain such title
and that the expenditure be mad
the present year for the erection @
a suitable brick building with en-
CINE and shafting, so that you ca
extend to manufacturers who ma
wish to locate with us, every facili
ty at nominal outlay, to start bus
mess. In this way we can eRabl
industrious mechanics with littl
capital, to locate in our midst, an
build up business and trade, whic
will enrich both them and the State
Without manufactures Tennessee
can never occupy that positio
which her exhaustless timber, CO;
and mineral resources warran
and we must continue to pay tribut
to other States less favored wit
these valuable materials, but with ia
more enterprise than we have e.
hibited.
Gentlemen:-We must produC
changes in the public mind, upo
the position of those who psrsu
agriculture and mechanics. Ho,
can it best be done? In my opinio
we must educate our sons, and, il
stead of adding to the already ovel
stocked professions, give them t
these the greater of all pursuits
When we have educated, readin
farmers and mechanics, we will Sc
less written and hear less said abou
the dignity of labor and see ia
more of it. We must subscribe 70
Agricultural and Scientific papers
and put them in the hands of on
children-we must become reading
thinking men.
1t always gives me poor Opinio
of man, to hear him say that ''h
is too poor" to subscribe for new:
paper, or to hear him say that b
has no use for "book-farming," an
oftener than otherwise, before tn
conversation ends, he will ask
reading farmer how somethin
should be done? He forgets tina
his own prosperity, of which he feel
so proud, is the result of the labo
of the reading farmer and scientih
mechanic; labors, bestowed not al
together in the interest of self, a
he is doing, but in the interest o
mankind. The farmer who has n
use for book farming, would, if b
dared, deny the gifts of that give
of every good and perfect gift, b,
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