Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-12-19
The State Grange.

Saturday last. Iii point ofnumbers
the meeting was success; some
three hundred delegates being in at
tendance. The session was generally
harmonious and will doubtless re-
suit in much good to the Order
throughout the State, and the ad.
vancement of agricultural interests.
The proceedings were quite diff
fuse and the topics discussed and
propositions advanced took a wide
range. AS was naturally to be ex-
pected there was considerable air.
ing of pet hobbies, and some pecu-
liar views ventilated, but large
share of the business transacted
was practical, salutary and peril
nent to the occasion. A very large
number of motions and resolutions
were sensibly suffered to lay on the
table while the Grange addressed
itself to work of timely Importance.
The address of Grand Master
Smedley, from which we give an ex-
tract in another column, was able
and repletc with valuable suggest
ions. The report of the same gen
tlemcn on Transportation, is an ad-
mirable and invaluable compilation
of facts regarding the cost of Iowa
railroads, and the aid given them
by the people.
An important item of business
transacted by the State Grange, was
the ratification of the purchase by
the Executive Committee Of the pat
ent for the Werner Harvester, ma
chine vouched for as equal to any
made, and which it is proposed to
furnish members OF the Order at 4
cost of $40 Arrangements were
made for its manufacture for next
seasons demand.
The State Grange declared in IA
yor of the water routes to the sea-
board, via the Mississippi and the
Fox and Wisconsin ship canal, and
also a trunk line Of railroad to be
built by the Government from Sioux
City to Norfolk, Va. Resolutions
were adopted against the acceptance
Of railroad passes by members Of
the Legislature, asking the Legisla-
ture to adopt stringent dog law;
in favor OF more elastic currency,
and memorial was adopted asking
Congress to regulate railroad tar
ifs.
The following report Of the COM
mittee on resolutions was submitted
by the Chairman, Hon. John Scott,
and adopted:
;: WHEREAS, The American people are
pre- cminently and peculiarly u newspa-
people, and as we acKnowl
edge its power rs an educational agent
on every topic of common interest, and
since good agricultural libraries are not
within the reach of our rural population
engaged in agricultural employment;
RESOLVED, That VIC would earnestly rec
ommend that circulating library should
be connected with every subordinate
Grange, and also that newspaper pub
lished under the auspices of the State
Grange should be taken by each member
of every subordinate Grange, and largely
distributed outside of the Order Of the
Patrons of Husbandry, said paper TO be
strictly an educational sheet, to be the
or teacher of each Grange, hay
ing at least three special departments
one for the adult male, and for the adult
female members; one also for the minor
members of their families. Each depart
ment should contain, clearly and distinct
ly, such special instruction pertaining to
their vocation as will fit them to perform
worthily, as well as successfully, every
duty involving upon them.
Resolued, That we recognize that the
education of our children should be of a
more practical character; that such
branches of knowledge should be taught
as will secure this end and as no steps
have yet been taken by the Order of the
Patrons of Husbandry to educate it's mem.
bers in those branches which especially
relates to agriculture or horticulture, such
as agricultural chemistry, botany, zoolo-
gy, natural philosophy, and vegetable
these being the most useful
and important branches of the natural
sciences, with which farmer Should
have an intimate acquaintance, in order
to render his efforts at once more useful
and satisfactory, as well as more honora-
BILE, and also to remove the odium of ig.
norance and drudgery which otherwise
may naturally attach to his vocation;
therefore,
Resolged, That we should Immediately
take such steps as may seem best to Sc
cure such modification of our School
laws as will introduce into our rural dis
tricts such branches, and also TO secure
such teachers as shall be qualified to i'm.
part instruction in those branches before
knowledge of which is so essen
tial condition of eminent success in az
ricultural life, and the only mode of crea
n n ~ tocfo g.,
those studies which are best fitted to elc
vate our noble and natural calling to
profession in the most dignified sense.
Resolred, That the subject be referred
to committee, to develop form and ar
range such plan as shall seem to beth
most advisable under the present circum
stances for carrying out this enterprise,
and report the same to this meeting for
action thereon.
That the farmer needs more education
for the intelligent performance of his du
ties than is required in any other calling,
IS no less true than the painful fact that
his requirements average less. This
ought not so to be, and your committee
hope and believe that ere long it will not
be true. The prcss, the common school,
The agricultural co,,rge, the school of sci
ence,-all of these are doing a noble
work, and rapidly breaking the chains
that have heretofore held the tiller of the
soil in positions far beneath the place he
should long since lave attained. We are
unwilling to believe that this condition of
things will continue, and can only urge
him to sustain the library, the newspa-
per, and the school, and regard them as