The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03

encountered by its hardy pioneers. and
sns gradual transformation from =
eral Harrison, the first Territorial delegate to
Congress. q system was adopted for the sale and
settlement Of Western lands that at once at
tracted attention to Indiana The western ex
tension Of the National road In the year 1885,
some years later; the wise and liberal provision
for educational interests, and the industry.
sagacity and public spirit Of her citizens
gave Indiana . position of marked prominence.
The next epoch came with the building of rail
roads. Situated as we are, between the agricult-
ural regions of the West and the manufactur-
ing and maratime cities Of the East, nearly
all the exchange Of products must pass
through Indiana The internal improve
ment act Of 1886 provided for the
cite. The road was constructed to Vernon in
1889 and completed to indianapolis IN 1847.
This was, believe the first railroad actually
built and operated in the State. We now have
assessed taxable valuation of railroad prop
erty amounting to $55, 000, 000 We have
ia, 100000 acres of mproved farming
lands, and an estimated valuation of farm prod
ucts amounting to $115. 900, 000-ranking sixth
States in the Union Without wishing to tire
your patience, permit me to add briefly, that &C
cording to the last census there was invested in
manufactures $66, 600, 900, producing $l48000.-
600 of manufactured products, employing 10000
hands, earning annually 500, 000, 600. Our
educational interests have not been neg
lected, we have 11,623 school buildings
with an average daily attendance of 81, $50 pu-
pills, instructed by II, COG teachers. to whom are
paid annually 49, 175. 275. We have a population
in excess of 1000. 900. and total taxable valua
ton Of property in the State, for the last year,
IS rich in her '', natural resources as
diversified and fertile soil. drained by
beautiful rivers and streams, quarries of superior
building stone and $500 square miles of coal
fields. guaranteeing an inexhaustib.e supply of
fuel. The poor and unfortunate people of the
State are literally provided for in commodious
and beautiful institutions intelligently and HUI
namely superintendent The criminal classes
are safely cared for in the two prisons,
north and south, governed by men of experience
and ability. The three hospitals for the insane
under construction will be among the best in the
country, while the new Statehouse well nigh
completed, is indexical Of the character ard in
telligence of our people. The manufacturers
OF Indiana are prosperous, her wholesale mer-
chants increasing and extending their trade,
inviting and defying competition; her
army of commercial travellers enterprising,
her citizens industrious and public spirited.
Well may we be proud Of Indiana, State
whose volunteers have been bravely, grandly
triumphant on every battlefield; State whose
people Sprang to arms at the hrSt sound or
Sumter's guns and assisted in planting even on
Lookout's clouced peak the starry symbol
of liberty and union; a State whose
public men have ever been eminent in the cabi-
net and councils Of the Nation, and may I add,
with pardonable PRIDE a State that recently so
grandly Endorsed one Of her gifted sous to the
second highest position in the government.
a statesman whose eloquent voice we 80
oft have heard, whose gentle countenance
amid the daily walks of life. we shall neer for
get; a citizen, at whose untimely death this
city was draped as with pail of mourning, the
people of the State and Nation stricken with
grief, and funeral cortege wended through the
streets of your city to Crown Hill that would
have done honor to the greatest sovereign in
Christendom.
George G. Webster, jr., responded to the toast.
THE Relation of Commercial Trave, srs and
Their Employers" The commercial traveller,
he said, was an indispensable factor in business.
The wholesale merchant would be as likely to
expect his customers to reach him by climbing
into second story window as to dispense With
mercial traveller is the right-of-way between
the wholesale and retail dealer, and is
to his employer what the telegrapher
Is to electricity. He is the best paid man in the
establishment although his salary is not always
commensurate with his deserts. Faithful devo-
ton to the purposes of the pursuit best promote
the mutual interests of the commercial traveller
and his employer. The banquet ceremonies
ended with the conclusion of Mr.. Websters re-
marks