The Indianapolis journal., 1884-01-11
CONCLAVE OF HUSBANDMEN.
The State Agricultural Board Elects Its
Officers and AdjOurns.
Resolutions of Allegiance to the DOwn-TrOd-
den Hog-A Proposition to Trade the
Fair Grounds Rejected.

Fair Grounds Rejected.
The session of the delegate convention of the
State Board of Agriculture, yesterday morning
was devoted to the consideration of the commit
tee reports relating to the management of the
last fair and to miscellaneous business. In adopt
ing the report of the committee on fair grounds
Fielding Beeler the superintendent, was com
plimented upon the manner in which he had dis
charged his duties.
A report of considerable length was presented
by Il. NJ Lockhart and w w Cotterell, super
intendents of the mechanical department of the
fair Notwithstanding the complaints which
had been made eight acres of the fairgrounds
were densely crowded with machinery, and the
exhibition was not excelled in the United States
The complaints which had been made were not
of nature to do much injury, the committee
thought. They suggested that time should be
fixed by the board after which no machinery
would be admitted to the grounds The follow
ing resolution, after brief discussion, was
adopted:
Whereas, The governments of France and Ger
many have prohibited the importation of American
pork into their respective countries, and,
Whereas, The pretended reasons given for the pro
hbiton above mentioned is malicious and is calculated
to injITe of the most important industries OF
America in other countries, therefore,
Resolved. That earnestly ask representa-
tives in Congress to take such steps and pass such
laws restraining nportations into this country of i'm
pure wine and other articles, in retaliation until such
time the restrictions above mentioned shall have
been removed.
1t was ordered that copies of the resolution
should be sent to the Indiana members of Con
gress.
In the discussion of paper on 'Tile Drain
age" read by John Ratliff, of Grant county, the
suggestion was made by DR.. r. T. Brown, that
to guard against the distractions of roots, tile
should not be laid within one hundred feet of
trees.
Messrs Lockhart and Seward were appointed
a committee to call upon the Governor and in
ouire why the Fish Commissioner had not an
swered letters addressed to him upon matters re
lating to the fish interests of the State. The
committee reported that the Cover
nor was out Of the city and they
information. A resolution afterward presented
by Mr.. Seward was adopted. 1t stated that
complaints of the neglect of the Fish Com
missioner to give information which had been re
peatedly solicited had come before the board, and
the attention of the Governor was directed to
the matter He was asked that if the fault was
not due to the lack of funds provided by the Leg
sIature ''to remove the Fish Commissioner,
and appoint some one who will give more atten-
ton to the office ,..+s
The proposition of s. X Fletcher to exchange
land three miles east of the city for the present
fair grounds was rejected on the report of the
committee appointed to consider the matter, that
the change would not be advisable.
A paper discussing the profits OF farming in
Indiana was read by r. NJ. Lockhart Failures
to make the business profitable, he claimed,
were due more to bad management than to any
material disadvantages.
A paper on 1.-The Importance Of Mechanical
Appliances to Successful Farming written by
Charles E. Merrifeld; one on Modern Agricul-
trrc, by DR.. r. 7. Brown, and another on Our
Productive Industries" by William a. Peene,
ir. Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, were pre-
sented and without reading, were all referred
to the secretary, with instructions to include
them in the official report of the boards proceed
ings when printed At noon the delegate con
vention adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon the State Board devoted an
hour and half to the adjustment of premiums
for the exhibition of live stock, after which it was
declared adjourned. The new board was inme
dately afterward organized, and, after a recess
of five minutes, the election of the officers for
the next year began The first ballot for presi-
dent resulted in five votes for Robert Mitchell,
one for Samuel Hargrove three for W. Sew
ard, and seven for r. NJ Lockhart Fhe voting
was closely divided between Messrs. Mitchell and
Lockhalt. and there were eight ballots before
the number of votes necessary to an election
were cast for Mr. Mitchell The balloting was
as follows: Second-MitcheT 6; Seward, 2;
Lockhart, 8. Third-Mtchell, 8, Seward, 2;
Lockhart 6. Fourth and fifth-Mitche1, z; Sew
ard. l; Lockhert s. Sixth-Mitchel, s; Seward,
/: Lockhart. 7. Seventh Mitchell 7; DUNCAN,
l; Lockhart, s. Eighth-Mitchell, 10; Jones, I,
Lockhart 5.
Mr.. Mitchell was declared elected, and on tax
ing the chair, briefly thanked the board for the
endorsement of his conduct as president during
the last year"
In the balloting for vice president there were
nine candidates who received votes. On the first
ballot w A. Banks received 3 votes; Richard
Jones, 2; w. B. Seward, g. Samuel Hargrove, q
H. LaTourette, l. Jasper N. Davidson, 3; John
Ratliff, l; S. w. DUNCAN, l. The fifth ballot re
suited in the election of Davidson by vote of
10. against for Seward.
Alex Heron and Joseph E. Cobb were placed in
nomination for the Office of secretary. On the
first ballot Mr.. Heron received IL votes and Mr.
Cobb 5.
Sylvester johnson and James A. Wildman
were nominated for treasurer. Mr.. Wildman
thanked the board for the confidence that they
had shown him by twice electing him treasurer,
and after stating that he was ready to deliver
to his successor all the funds belonging to the
board declined reelection. The president of
the board was. therefore, directed to cast the
sixteen votes of the board for Mr.. johnson, as
there was no opposing candidate
A motion to postpone the election of the gen
eral superintendent until the February meeting
of the board was defeated. The statement was
made that Charles E. Merrifield had refused to
be a candidate for the position, in opposition to
Fielding Beeler and Mr.. Beeler was reelected by
acclamation.
The balloting for the executive committee re
suited in the election of Messrs. Seward, Gra
ham, Jones and Cotterel
With the exception of Mr.. johnson, the treas
urer there is no change in the offices of the
board After the election the board adjourned.
Criminal Court Matters.
In the Criminal Court, yesterday, William Cole