Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-10

TRi-CouNTY
Farmers Institute
Held in Welday's Hall, St Clairsville
on Jan. 7th and Sth, 1884.
Synopsis of Addresses, and Full Re-
port of Other Proceedings.

Ohio State Board or Agriculture, was
held in Welday's Hall, on Monday and
Tuesday of this week. The intense cold
weather of Monday morning was a KIND
of dra " back To the Institute, yet eacn
session was well attended by farmers
and town people, the afternoon session
better than that of the forenoon, and
the night session equal to that OF
the afternoon. The heavy snow OF
Monday night and Tuesday, delaying
and blockading the railroads, kept many
of the speakers announced from Delng
present, and the program was conse-
ouently not followed closely. WhlIe
all the topics on the printed program
would doubtless have been received
with pleasure 10y the audience, yet the
time was SO profitably put In by the
speakers present, that all felt the alb
sence of the speakers and consequent
disarrangemenL of the program very
little. The audiences on the second
dav, while not SO large as on the first,
were very good, considering the depth
of the snow, and consequent trouble 1t
was to get to the hall, especially for the
LADIES', who made up good part of each
audience We endeavor below to give
a readable synopsis of the proceedings
of the Institute.
FIRST DAY.
The meeting was called to order at IL
o'clock "A. m., by A. L. McKelsey, Esq,
President of the Farmers Club. and
prayer offered 10y Rev. DIR. Balph, pastor
of the q. 2. church, followed by music
by the choir, consisting of Messrs. j. b.
loHgley, J. b. McMechan, DR.. Carson.
Martin Cowen, Mrs. Prof. Hitchcock,
Mrs. w. j. Thompson, Mrs. Estella Cow
an, Misses Joe Davies and Nellie An
derSon, and Miss Hester Bewley presld-
ing at the piano. The anthem sung
was entitled "The Earth is the Lords
and the fullness thereof" which was
applauded,as was each piece sung during
tue Institute.
The music was followed by the "Ad-
dress of Welcome" by A. T. McKelvey,
Esq, who spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Our third annual
Farmers Institute convenes this morning, un-
der the most suspicious circumstances. The
experiment made Two years ago, of calling
the farmers of Belmont, Harrison and Jeffer-
son counties together in midwinter for friend
v
many doubfs and misgivings-but the results
have proved more satisfactory than the most
sanguine friend of the enterprise could have
hoped for or anticipated.
These Institutes have been so instructive,
SO entertaining, and so fruitful OF good re
suits, that the people of town and country
demand their continuance, and IN compliance
with that demand the Belmont County Farm
ers' Club have prepared another program OF
exercises which they submit this morning for
your approval, indulging the hope that con-
sideration of the various topics will contrl0>
ute to our mutual pleasure and profit.
The social feature of our Institutes is not
the least important end sought for;-winter is
robbed of much of its dreariness and discon-
tent by this season of friendly intercourse
and enjoyment; the fireside will be brighten
ed for weeks to come in dwelling upon the
good things said and Sope here to-day, and
the topics discussed during the sessions of
this Institute will be re opened in many
homes, and prove fruitful theme of pleasant
and profitable conversation. Our frieEds in
town, too, with cordial greeting, embrace
this opportunity TO reciprocate the cordial
greeting extended them al your home in mid
summer. and thus the amenities existing be-
tween town and country are strengthened and
maintained. But the primary object OF our
Farmers Institute is the attainment and dlt>
fusion of agricultural knowledge-the useful
and practical information imported by the
intelligent farmers of the surrounding country,
and the eloquent aud instructive addresses of
the distinguished gentlemen from abroad, are
exerting powerful influence among the
farmers and stockmen of Eastern Ohio that
will be felt in every community for our peO>
pie in common with agricultural population
all over the land, are growing up abreast OF
the times in culture and du--ation, and this
growth has been so marked of late as to at
tract the attention not only of friends at
home, but of foreigners from abroad
When Lord Coleridge, the scholarly and
cultivated Chief Justice of Great Britain, was
travelling through the United States last suns
mer, the circumstance that made the most
profound impression upon his mind in his
observations among our people was the fact
that the great bulk of the population were in
undisputed possession of thrifty homes, and
fruitful farms of their own, and to this fact
he attributed the widespread diffusion of
knowledge, prosperity and Independence
among the masses of our population-an in
telligence and prosperity that he had not no
ticed in his observations among any other
people upon the face of the globe; and this
statement is corroborated by the observations
of intelligent Americans abroad-a letter re-
ceived few days ago from the Hon. Colum-
bus Delano, President of tho National Wool
Growers Association, and who has lately re-
turned from an extended European trip, says:
''The value and Importance of Farmers In
stitutes are valued more highly by me since
have had an opportunity ofcomparing the con-
dition of the American farmers with those who
are practical agriculturists in European coun-
tries, a comparison that is always in favor of
Americans.
And, fellow citizens, this intelligence and
independence is the pride and boast of the
farmers and stockmen of Eastern Ohio, and by
organizations such as these we hope to add to
our knowledge and maintain our independence.
believe the day has gone by in this land
when the wants of the agricultural population
can be ignored, or their wishes met with
sneers on the floors of our National Senate and
House of Representatives. The agricultural
branch of our industries is entitled to the same
protection, and its patrons to the same con-
sideration as is extended to the mercantile and
manufacturing branches. But, fellow citizens,
we know, by sad experience, that protection
will not be extended US, and that consideration
will not be vouchsafed US, until, by agencies
such as these, we make our power and infiu-
ence felt throughout the land.
There are many questions of vital Importance
confronting the farmers of Eastern Ohio, de-
manding their careful attention: There's the
subject of Carp culture new and profitable
industry. as yet in its infancy-whereby our
farmers hope to reclaim their waste swamp
lands and convert them into beautiful lakes
and ponds, abounding in fish, the culture of
which will prove as remunerative any other
branch of industry. Then there's the wool
tariff-a timely topic with all sheep breeders,
and contagious diseases, fruit culture, and what
not-all pressing upon US for immediate con-
sideration, for the signs of the times point to
a mighty population along our river frontier,
and in our valleys, of which our forefathers
never dreamed population that will tax our
resources to their utmost capacity to support
and sustain.
Standing upon our hills on a clear day, and
directing our gaze toward the east, overlooking