The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-02
A Veterans Observations.

"A veterans observations
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal
Indulge me in a few State fair notes. On the
9TH of October prox. will be the sixty-sixth year
since my lot was first cast with the people of
Indiana. From my first recollection to the
present anything looking to the interests of
my neighborhood, county or State has had my
sympathies, my efforts, and, so far as I was
able, my material support Prominent among
the great progressive forces that have tended to
develop the agricultural, mechanical, COM
mercial artistic and industrial intere SITS Of our
State is the Indiana State Board of Agriculture,
authorized by the Legislature in 1851. and
organized in 1852 with Gov. Joseph A. Wright
its first president and John B. Dillon its first
secretary Both these have long since gone to
their reward, to be followed in succession by
seventeen other individuals as president. and
seven others as secretary, with to-day w. B.
Seward, president, and Alexander Heron, who
has served constantly since 1872 as secret ary,
whilst for six years previously he had been a
member of the board from Fayette county. He
and w. e. Seward, now president are the only
survivors of the first board they were associated
with. To mention all the great men of the State
who have given their time talents and means to
this work would be out of place here, as a vol
ume would not suffice to record the grand work
accomplished through their individual aid and
cooperation From and including 1852. except
ing 1861 annual fairs have been held, and all at
Indianapolis. excepting in 1858 at Lafayette, 1854
ct Madison 1859 at New Albany, 1865 at Fort
Wayne, 1867 at Terre Haute, so that of the thir-
ty-fve annual exhibitions held in the State all
have been at Indianapolis excepting the five
above enumerated At nearly all these the
writer has been at some time present; and now,
at this great convocation of 1886, the ground
under the inspiration of the surroundings, these
pencilings are dictated.
Recurring to the early days of these exhibits
and comparing with the present, all within q
third of century, we are lost IN wonder, and
language is tame in any attempt to describe the
contrast, to even those who have lived through
1t ALL 10 say there have not been mistakes
made and downright bad management at times
in the history of this organization would be to
say men are not human; but, the whole, the
tendency has been onward and upward and an
honest. earnest effort to keep abreast of the age
Commencing with State in the wilderness
the pioneer farmers wrestling the virgin soil
from the woods, the blacksmith sweating over
his forge at the crossroads shop, the
teamster with his loaded wagon
strug Cling through seas of mud,
with his little load of grain, to distant market,
the wife and mother in the cabin at home, spin
ming, weaving and making clothing for the
family. All along the years this institution has
afforded the opportunity for these .toilers to
meet and compare notes and experiences in every
department. of industry and progress. And now,
in State with 100000 people, Industrious,
prosperous and happy, we meet in this one day
49, 900 of them this ground to greet each
other as citizens having a common interest III
our great commonwealth, and join in en- an
nual thanksgiving for the bounties of Provi-
dence and the privileges common to all. From
whatever stand point viewed, il must be said this
exhibit is grand success, and far exceeds in
extent and variety any one preceding it,
and it is hoped that it's effect will be that of re-
doubled effort, looking to still greater achive-
ments as an agency in bringing the worlds at
tention to the vast natural and artificial resources
of the State.
AS a purely distinctive live stock, agricultural,
horticultural Horticultural geological, mechanical,
industrial and commercial exhibit combined it is
without peer in the world. /: should be the
pride, 1t certainly is the duty of every citizen
to aid the properly constituted organization in
keeping abreast if not in advance, of all others
in attractiveness and usefulness, affording
| objectlessons to every class and interest Of the
people of the State J. NJ RIDENOUR