The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-03
The Favorable Showing Made by the Of
fcers' RepOrts-M to Presi-
dent Meredith.
Address by United States Commits
sioner George B. Loring.
An Excellent Review of the Agricultural
Resources of the United States-Indi-
anas Enviable Position.
Annual Meeting and Consideration of Re-
ports-A Favorable Showing.

The Delegate State Board of Agriculture be-
gan it's thirty-first annual convention yesterday
morning in the rooms over the State Library,
with large attendance of representatives of the
county and district agricultural societies. Quite
large number of visitors present, and
mora than ordinary interest manifested in
the proceedings. The meeting was called to
. order at 1880 O'Clock by the president, l.. B.
Custer, of Logansport, and the district
members of the State board present we're
Robert Mitchell, First district Samuel Hargrove,
Second; B. Il. Hancock, Third: W. B. Seward,
Fourth; s. r. Quick, Sixth; s. W. DUNCAN, Sew
enth; Joseph Gilbert, Eighth W. H. Raglan,
Ninth; John P. Barnes, Eleventh; j. K. O'Neal,
Twelfth; t. NJ. Kirkpatrick, Thirteenth; L. B.
Curtis, Fourteenth; W. A. Banks, Fifteenth, and
r. NJ. Lockhart, Sixteenth. The State Industrial
Associations were we'll represented.
After the preliminary business of calling the
meeting to order, Mr.. Seward submitted
memorial upon the death of H. C.
Meredith late president of the board, who died
at Cambridge City, July IL, 1882 The resolu-
ton was adopted. and remarks upon the life and
character of the deceased were made by different
members OF the board, which occupied the morn
Ing session until the hour of adjournment.
at the opening of the afternoon session the pres
ident appointed j. P. Barnes, ". H. Raglan, and
J. o. A. seig committee credentials, after
which he delivered his annual address, welcom-
ing the delegates to the thirty second annual
meeting of the board. In the course of his re-
marks he spoke OF the death of Hon. II. c. Mer-
edith, and said that it tie first time thirty
years that it had become necessary for the vice
president to assume the duties of the president
OF the board. During the last year the WORK of
this board, he sail, had been unusually
satisfactory to the managers. He
referred to the improvements which had been
made on the Exposition grounds and stated
that the fair HAD been complete success in
every particular. Financially, the board WAS
In better condition, having secured new loan
at 6 per cent. interest aud paid off $4,000, re-
duclng the Indebtedness to $4,000. He re-
ferred to the Formers Institute, which had
been held during the year, ald urged them in
all localities TO the development Of more inter
est in agriculture. lie advised that steps
passed by the General Assembly plac-
4 ing the Geological department under
Z the direction of the board He suggested
the advisabity of offering premiums for
the best fat cattle exhibited at the next State
far The address was referred to special com
mittee OF three, consisting Of Messrs O'Neal,
seybolt, and A B. Claypool.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
The report of Secretary Heron, embed wing the
statement submitted to the Governor. which
has aeaa fully noticed in the Journal, was pre-
scented.
The report of ]. A. Wildman, the treasurer,
was presented, showing that for the year ending
Dec 81, 1882 the receipts were as follows:
Cash on hand Jan. l, 1882, $l2,460.69; State
appropriations for 1882, 81 800; ptopriation
for paying interest on bonds $4,000; amount
received from the treasurer of the Woman's
Department 3 ee % o39 tickets sc. at 90
% cents EACH So, 385. rs; 1877 railroad coupons
$l,393.5O; 2o2 Mccormick tickets, SOL; rents,
entry fees and all other sources, "a 400 81; total,
Ii 4,Of DSburSPm
$3l ,O24 90, premiums, So, 200; tickets returned,
$7,4o4 .o5 cash on hand, S4,609.39
large part of the Afternoon session was de-
voted TO receiving the annual reports from the
officers in charge of the various departments.
Fielding Beeler, general superintendent, re-
ported that extensive anddurable improvements
had been made upon the exhibition grounds,
and that they were now in good condition. W
.iaaTts Banks, superintendent OF the horse
"a ' Of horses horses had never eve been
:, 6tsR more satisfactory than at the last State
j. ~ r 5. Quick, superintendent. of the cattle
department, reported that their exhibition had
been very credirable, and probably the best ever
made. g. w. DUNCAN, OF the sheep department,
said that ''the show at our late state fair eX-
ceeded in numbers and far surpassed in sttrac-
tlveness ana excellence OF Quality any former
partment, in speaking of the exhibition under
his direction, said that "we had the finest lot OF
hogs perhaps ever shown i'll the fair grounds
The poultry exhibition, I. W. W. Suuman re-
ported was not as large as at previous fairs,
although the premiums offered were thirty
per cent higher Other reports were submitted
by Mrs. Mary E. Haggart in behalf of the wO-
mans department.; J. p Barnes, on books; Joseph
Gilbert, on horticulture; ". Fl. Raglan, floral;
W. h. Seward, power hail; Robert Mitchell,
on gates and privileges B. ii. Hancock, on atm
phitheater.
The president appointed the following on the
finance committees: Messrs. Mitchell, Seward,
O'Neal Webb and Granitt.
By special invitation Governor Porter was
present ana briefly addressed the meeting stat.
ing that he had been brought out by an anxiety
to know in what way the agricultural interests
OF the State might be promoted. In speaking
of the complaint sometimes made by farmers
thar they were not given the attention by legis
lators which the Importance OF their pursuits
demanded, he said that IL was their own fault ii
they had not impressed their relation to the
prosperity of the country upon their representa-
tlves III law-making sufficiently for recognition
He expressed the hope that the day would not
be far in the future when the Commissioner OF
Agriculture would become a member of the
Presidents cabinet. II there should be a
contest for the best essay upon ag
ricultural subjects at the meeting OF
the hoard the Governor stated that
he would be pleased to give ont of his means a
premium for the best production. He urged
upon the members the Importance of making
earlier reports, thar the wants, conditions and
prospects of che agricultural interests of the
State might be fully understood prior to the
holding of the annual meeting when all such
matters could be understandingly discussed.
At the conclusion of Governor Porters re
marks, DIR. George b. Loring, the United Sta,es
Commissioner of Agriculture, was introduced
and spoke for a few moments, dwelling partcu-
larry upon agriculture as conducted in the West
ana the East, with the commercial RELATIONS
or the TWO, showing that the people of the East
tern States were largely dependent upon the
products OF Western farmers for their support
He explained briefly the working system of the
Agricultural Department, and referred to he
comparatively small appropriation with which
he was compelled to work. His remarks were
quite Interesting, and were received with mer
lied appreciation.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.
The President announced the appointment OF
the following standing committees:
On Rules and observation-disclosures LOckhart
Iniek and Kirkpatrick of the board; W. W. Ham
1ltoD, of Decatur, and Joseph N. Davidson, oil
4 Montgomery, delegates.
Fair Grounds-Messrs Ragan. Barnes and
DUNCAN; W. M Cockrum, of Gibson. and George
1 FL. Brown, Of Jackson.
jar- nd