The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-02
Is rFas the pispatchs
ArsienItusss society o Virgtnin.

TF6 the Iispatchs
ArsicnItursI society of Virgtnin.
To he People off Virginid
The twents-first anniYeiEarysof the state
Agriculturdl Society and fbe fourteenth ails
n;ial Fair are now nearly ct band. Those OF
u, who are old enongbto remember the car.
cnmstances attending its organization, and
the impetus given by!it to the development
of the agricultural and other material inter.
eats OF the State from '53 to 81, can best ap.
preciate the present condition ans o9lects OF
the society. The people came up eHtfus,ds.
ticol3y to participate In the formation OF an
institution which was calculated to Unite ana
Advance all interests, aud to this date IL mas
met all Just expectations. The investea
funds of the Society have been Fortunately
preserved, and the calamities OF war have
made no impression on them except so lar
as The value Of investments in the 1on0s o.
our o,on Stale is concerned. We have lost
for. IA hope, have only bad suspended)
about SAC, 900 Of this investment; but we have
now a permanent fund in real estate and
Understanding bonds, which / value at not
less than $780, 900, with floating debt Of
only $500. Now, on these facts, desire
TO call your especial attention that this Is o
fand which, under our Constitution, Is to be
held "sacred to the cause Of agricultural i'm
proyemenf,o and that not q dollar is paid to
anv officer Of the Society for his time or
labor, except TO the secretary and treasurer,
who is bonded officer. and required to hold
an open office in the city of Richmond, and
give his time to its duties, and receives the
small sum OF $1,000 per anuum. All the other
officers of the Sorety do their work and pay
their own expenses except so far as the
courtesy aud hberality Of the railroad and
s;csmboat companies lessen them by Tree
transportation Oh business trips. These reg.
ulationS were made t,uenty.0ne years ago,
when different circumstances prevailed, and
no effort has been made to change them, aud
go far as know no change is desired. All
the means and energies of the Society are,
therefore, 7ao,D, as before the toar, directed to
the single object of the advancement of the
great fundamental interests of the people OF
the State.
NV appeal, then, is that every citizen of
the State should be member Of the Society,
and participate in the direction of its objects
aud destiny. The constitution provides
three grades of membership: 1st. Life men,
bers. who shall be constituted such (and re-
ce,ye q certificate of the same under seal OF
the Society by the payment OF twenty dol
lars, and shall be exempt from all annual
contributions and shall be entitled to vote in
all general meetings of the Society in person
or by proxy, be eligible to office, and have
free access to the grounds of the Society du-
ring fairs, together with their wives, I'm.
married daughters, and sons under twenty.
one years ofage: Cd. Instalment life members,
who, by the payment of five dollars aunu-
ally for five consecutive years, will have from
the date Of the first payment all the priYl-
ieges Of full life.member, except Of voting
in general meetings and holding office, but
who may, at their option, at any time within
the five years, convert their memberships
into ite-memberslnps by paying up the full
sum Of twenty dollars after being credited
with four-tifths of their previous annual pay
ment>; Sd. Annual members, who will OBJ
tain a certificate as such on the payment of
two dollars, aud will be entitled to free adj
mission TO the Fair of the year, together
With their wives ard children under the age
of ten years.
These memberships, if taken and MAIN
taiued by the people of the State. would
produce a large sum of money for perma-
nent Investment but the inquiry will arise
in the minds Of many, What will be done
with j. ? This is question for the members
of the Society in. general meeting to decide
tor themselves; but will suggest:
First. That our Fairs, with liberal premi-
ums fer the development of every interest,
and to afford al annual gathering Of the
people, should be maintained.
Second. A technical school might be eStab-
ished ut the capital of the State, on the
grounds of the Society, which would edu-
cate the sons Of all the life.members at
nominal price, and possibly, a number Of
them entirely free, by just mode of selec-
ton from the grand divisions Of the State.
Third. In connection with the school
well-selected agricultural and mechanical Ii
brary should he established; and as far as
the means would justify, books of history
and general literature should be added.
Fourth. There should be cabinet illus.
tratiug the mineralogy Of the State, with de-
scription OF localities, extent of deposits,
&C., &c.
Fifth. A museum of the animal and vege.
table productions of the State, and Of the
whole United States, as far as could be accom-
plished.
Strth. There should be an annual publ
cation in library form for free distribution
among the life members OF the transactions
OF the Society, embracing records of all gene.
raj meetings, and of the Executive Commit
tee, reports of the treasurer, showing the
condition of the funds. premium essays, eXpe.
rments, and communications on practical
agriculture and mechanics, list of premium
animals, implements, and machines, with
suitable engravings of the same, and other
matters of general interest.
These objects, and Others which may be |
added, or substituted, if accomplished, will
make the State Society one of the grandest
institutions in the country, and our present |
poverty constitutes the best argument why |
we should band ourselves together in one
great membership for the purpose.
BY authority Of the Executive Committee, |
I have commissioned the following named |
gentlemen, to whom others may be added, |
to canvass the State for memberships and |
to the next Fair, and COM
mend them to the confidence of the people.
A. j. Wedderburn, Peyton johnson, Sr.,
and Lewis Hill, of the city of Richmond
A. w. Dunn, of the town of Manchester,
and F. F. Irby, Of the county of NottoWay.
would respectfully request in the name
of the Society, and of the public interests in
volved, that all the newspapers and agrlcul-
tural Journals in the State wilfpublish this
address, copying one from another as their
exchange may afford opportunity.
w. c. KNIGHT, President S. A. S.
Office of the. Society at Richmond, LIST Of
September, 1874.