The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15
TILE-MAKING In INDIANA.
Interesting Features of the Annual Meeting
of Leading Manufacturers.

To those who are concerned in tile-making and
tile drainage there was much Of interest in the
proceedings of the annual meeting of the In
diana Tile and Drainage Association, which
began yesterday morning in the rooms
of the State Board of Agriculture. The
attendance was much larger than at
any previous meeting of the association,
prominent men representing the industry being
present from half dozen States. and from
many counties in Indiana When the session
began there were not more than fifty delegates
present, but by afternoon not less than two hun
dred persons engaged in tile-making were in at
tendance. Amongthose present from other States
were e. Pike, of Chicago, president of the nli-
nois association; O. O. Jones. of Columbus, O.,
secretary of the Ohio association; Robert Ridge
way, New Orleans; William Welter, New York
city; w. A. Endaly. Columbus, o.; d. w.
Stooky, Buffalo. Ill; William Gates. Terra Cot
ia, ILL.,, and Professor W. G. Latta, Purdue Uni
versity.
Thomas Chandler, of this city, presided, and
T. A. Randall. of the Indiana Clay Worker, Of
fciated as secretary. The annual address Of
President Chandler was very appropriate, and
contained some valuable suggestions He re-
ferred to the great benefits derived from these
annual meetings, and rejoiced that the time had
come when they could not be captured by a
class of parsons who turned the advantages of
such meetings to a selfish use. After all. he
thought the delegates were more or less selfish,
for none of them entered into the business from
purely benevolent motives, but for the money
that could be made. His idea was that the dis
cussion of pet inventions should be avoided, and
recommended that ea N inventor or representa-
tive of a machine should become member of the
association, and thereby become more personally
acquainted with the members. Aside from the
cheapest and best methods of making tile. he
thought there was no problem in which tile max
ers are more interested than how TO increase the
use and sale of tho article. 1t is fact that
there are large number of farmers who do not
fully comprehend the benefits to be derived
from undertaking. They confound sewerage
with under -draining, and look upon it as a
means of reclaiming lands covered by ponds or
stagnant water The people need missionaries
sent among them. To this class of people the
testimony of disinterested parties would be con-
vincing and invaluable, and to this end he
recommended the convention to take steps for
the accumulation of statistics showing the bene-
fits of drainage. The testimony of prominent
farmers in the form of statistics would present
an astounding array of facts. The convention
expressed its concurrence in Mr.. Chambers sug-
gestions. and decided to act upon them before
adjourning.
Following Mr.. Chandler, D. W. Stooky, of
Buffalo, H., read a very carefullv-prepared pa
per on Little Economies the Key to Success" y
tie recommended the use of the best machinery
and the employment of only capable men,
There was a general discussion of the question
How Shall We Increase Our Trade2" led by
Mr. j. Lee. of Charlottesville. The majority
of the members of the association had some
thing to say on the subject. and it was agreed
that the best means by which to accomplish
the ends in view was to get before the farmers
of the State the value of understanding.
At the session last night J. j. w. Billingsly
read a paper on the effects of drainage on the
SOIL He treated the subject from a sci
entifc standpoint and produced evidence
showing that the yield of crops may
be increased fully one-half by understanding.
William Gales, of Terra Gotta, ILL.,, read paper
on 'Side Issues" in which he spoke OF the many
"small matters" pertaining to the business,
which, if carefully attended to, assured success.
Robert Rldgeway. of New Orleans, addressed
the convention briefly, and stated that the citi-
2ens Of Louisiana, and, in fact the whole South,