The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-14

Jonathan Evans. Commissioner McGe-
hee. DIR. Dabney, and others, have all
made speeches, (some OF them speak
ING several times); so that, as a gentle
man remarked TO Us. The Department
seems to .monopolize the iloor"-in its
own defense. Why this anxiety?
Senator Pemberton. Senator Jones,
Representative Bennett. Representative
Myers. Col. l.. l.. Polk, Col. W. F.
Bea,lev. Mr.. W. G. Rencher, and 9TH
ers have spoken in reply. Col. Polk,
the founder of the Department, spoke so
plainly. forcibly, and eloquently that his
farmer friends will enjoy reading what
he said. [See another article.]
We copy from a letter to Charlotte
D5serrer a few paragraphs:-
Senator PemJert0n declared himself in
favor Of a reorganization of the loard.
lie desired the different sections of the
State represented on it. The people who
made corn and dug the ground wished
It. He had this administration and the
| agricultural department to fight in the
late campaign. The people had it that
he bill for buying that agricultural
building was only passed on the last day
of the session and that too when there
was no quorum present. and the records
of last session do show that 1t was on the
! very last day the bill was passed.
.Hr. Myers was for State representa-
ton on the Board. lit wanted the money
! to 90 for agricultural uses, not be put 10
use for the supreme court and the like.
C0pt. Bennett was for State representa-
ton. He was glad the Governor was
present, though 1t was a little awkward
sueaking before him. Jarvis had not
the delicacy to leave the room. He had
a copy of his message two years ago and
read that portion of it, referring to Prof.
Kerr's map, saying it would be.'ready in
a few days AS TO that Atlanta expo
sition, true the Richmond and Danville
Railroad made a show there for North
Carolina that any man might be proud
of, Git had Philips, who was Prof. Kerr's
assistant, collecting the specimens, J
but the Agricultural Department
made poor show. A Mr.. Hearne had his
wheat there in an old bag that sat by the
door: ne felt ashamed for n. C.;but that
Wneat TOOK the premium.
Col. Holt said he heard no complaint
but from Stanly and Arson.
Mr. Jonathan Erdns said that some
papers were full of platitudes and he
was getting sort of tired of it; i. was
very easy for an editor to write a big
sounding article IN immigration. What
lad any section Of he State ever asked
Of the board that the board hadn't done?
I Teen he spoke Of the fish. True VIC
cou.d't see the fish, but DR.. C~apeheart 5
shipments were bringing money into the
state all the same. CAS- they did long
before the Department of Agriculture
was bomb
Nr. Green, Of Franklin. Cone of the
best thinkers in the Legislature)
DoeseG't the gentleman think it would
be well to have SOME good man from the
East r~epresenting fish culture specially,
who might suggest some way for re-
moving he distractions and getting the
fish M to our headwaters?
Nr. EcanS-Ies sir but let lust such
a man come before the board and be heard
on hi Suggestions. keep us in office,
and Let the man lend US his brains
foL BcasIy-ls it the business of the
people to come here and ask you to do
things, which the Law places under your
special charge aud supervision?
4 Western Misunderstanding to Mr..
Evans: And don't you think there ought
70 be some man FROM our bright tobacco
section who knows what tobacco is on
that board?
hr. Erans-Yes sir; but and here as
the questions were shooting at him all
around aud the clock stood past eleven,
the reporter edged his way out" \
Jarvis OF course made haste to the res
cue. 1t was given ont that he would take
the stump on Thursday night, and avast
a>semb.age filled the Hall. The usual
form of inviting" his 'E1cellency" was
gone through with; and he took .he
fl ,or with his usual d~emagogic a%llusion
TO his "'umbie brungin' up" his capaci
~ to plow a straight furrow, and his
crippled arm" lie then launched into
a carefully prepared defense Of his man
agement and being an easy speaker with
twenty years experience in otice-holding,
and aided by the influence of his official
position, he delivered quite a strong
speech, and a long one. occupying tea
hours and forty MINUTES, An intelligent
gentleman writes us-'l went to the
Hall opposed to any change, but came
away convinced, from Jarvis ''labored
speech, full of explanations, apologies,
and appeal to be allowed to keep hold of
the Department. hat some change is
necessary. One report says-"Jarvis
praised the Board, and DIR. Dabney,
Stephen, Worth, and Prot. Kerr, but did
not make the most distant a~llusion tc
Commissioner McGehee, and gave no
more light on this gentleman 5 woi K than
in his Report"
JARVIS stated three times that II,
and he alone, was responsible for Prof
kerr's continuance in office two YEAR
after the Legislature abolished the sur
vey. and he undertook to explain away
his promises two years ago relative tC
the map, the Geological Report. owe
are no enemy of Prof. Kerr. but facts
are facts, and it is a fact that aftel
twenty years, at $4,000 a year, the Geo.
logical Survey shows one volume of its
Report OF Investigations, one chapter o
the 2nd volume, and one map,-o
which several imperfect editions were
made, and one large edition of 1.5O(
copies last year found to be so full of er
rors thatit was suppressed as Capt. Thig
pen told u.s. Jarvis said he tool
upon himself all the blame about Prof
Kerr's six years work on the map, anc
his half finished Geology" said h,
sent the Professor to Atlanta where b,
was engaged three months. Capt
Bennett said he saw the "~-Agricullural'
exhibit, and it was a '.disgrace to tn,
State Query-When Prof. w. B
Philips, assistant chemist, was collect
ing specimens for the r. & ID. II. r
Syndicate did he draw his annual salar,
| from tho n.nnrtna.n4 II .