Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-03
THE CHANGERS PICNIC.


An Elaborate Display Of Farm Machinery
and n Variety ut Talk.
The Tri-Statc Grangers' picnic, in Will
iams' Grove, Cumberland county, six
miles from Mechanicsburg. has now be
come regular, fixed annual insti-
tuition. 1t is devised, managed and
controlled by II. II. Thomas, OF
the Farmers Friend, the Granger organ,
and a member of the late well-knOwn
Elder Thomas's family, formerly of this
city. The grove is :. beautiful 3O-acre
piece of oak and hickory timber along the
DillsburS branch railroad, with the Yellow
lsrecchcs creek on one side, strong mill
race and dam on the other side ard Il big
spring in the middle of it. 1t is most clc-
Santly located and we'll adapted for gen
eral picnic purposes and for this annual
Granger gathering which has made it
most famous.
All week it has been tho scene of great
activity and 4 large gathering OF farmers,
mechanics and sight-seers. Ample build
ings are erected for headquarters, the dis
play of machinery and products of the
soil, and tents accommodate tho lotlgers
and visiting Grangers. Steam traction en-
gines, suction and force pumps, patent
rollers, drills, shovels, harrOws and plOws,
reapers and mowers of every device,
thrcshers, separators and fans, mercantile
and mechanical exhibits, and all the
features of al industrial exposition, make
the grounds scene Of great activity and
a display Of varied interests, fruit and
cereal displays, tobacco, fertilizers, spoke
and hub making devices, and every sort of
this class of exhibits, arc arranged about
the woods. There is large speaking stand
and seats for the audiences. Various side
shows proclaimed their wonders and
boarding tents and refreshment stands did
good business. No liqnor was
sold and excellent order was
maintained all week. A little
steamer ran on the dam and carried pas
sengers, its enterprising builder doing
enough business to pay for its cost. Every
day there was speaking by GrangeIs, farm
crs, editors, scientists and others. State
Grange Lecturer Calder. Master Rhone, of
the state g1snge, U. s. Commissioner of
Agriculture Loring, Prof. s. b. Heigcs
and other shining lights were present dur
ing tho picnic and addressed tho thrOng.
Yesterday being editors day, tho Cum
berland Valley editorial association had a
meeting and controlled the exercises. The
attendance was not SO large as on Tuesday
when from II, 900 to 10000 people were
crowding the grounds, but the number
was very satisfactory and the comfort
greater than on tho day before. Governor
Hoyt's talk was informal and impromptu,
Us he was evidently familiar with and to
most Of those present. He spoke of the
agriculturist in his relation to society.
and the industries. He especially referred
to the great importance Of tho manufac-
turing towns us centres of civilization and
of their demands Oh the farmer. The
farmers of Pennsylvania, he urged, should
not attempt to compete with those of the
West in grain raising for even now not
r,uch more than half of the grain and flour
consumed in Pennsylvania is raised i'm tho
state. More attention should be paid to
the demands of the towns for small crops,
dairy product, meat and the like, which
could be produced with moro profit after
the grain is supplied 50 far as possible
Governor HOyt's remarks were received
with appreciation. After he spoke MIR.
Stable, OF the Gettysburg Compiler, made
a short and semi-hnmOrOus address to the
ladies, telling them that they wasted time
over churning butter, and that they
caused good land to be ruined by pasturing
because they wanted to sell butter for
their pin money, and that this land should
be devoted to raising grain.
After these speeches il party, consistin.
Of the speakers and editors, and q few
Changers, took u trip up the creek in the
little steamer and had Il photograph
taken.
After the dinner in the woods, admir-
ably served, tho meeting was resumed,
Chas. E. Smith, esq, addressing it; his
speech will be found in tO-day's INTELLI-
W. U. Hcnsel addressed the
editors and farmers in 4 speeah which VIC
printed yesterday and Governor Hoyt
closed the exercises with few humorous
on newspaper criticism Of pOliti-
clans and others. When the speeches were
ended many of the exhibitors began to re-
move their goods.
The Brush electric light with which the
grounds were lighted during the week,
was the object of great curiosity and much
attention and inquiry from the farmers
md visitors in general, OF whom Lancas-
er county had a fair representation all
week.