The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-14
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE
Third Days Meeting and Adj ourn-
EVENING SESSION.
From Sundays Daily.]

The meeting was called to order by the
president, Major Ramsdell, and Doctor
Sheppard opened the proceedings with
prayer.
Mr.. W. S. Marshal, of Tarrant county,
irrigation. HE explained the use of
cement pipes and exhibited cheap ma
chine for making the same, showing that
fruit and garden plants may be irrigated
at a small cost.
The next subject of discussion was stone
and gravel roads for Travis county by Mr..
G. A. Graves. The speaker reoited the
fact that Travis county has taxable
wealth of $l4,000,000, and that per
cent tax would build ample roads. He
was Indifferent to the mode of collecting
such a tax whether by bond or by direct
taxation. Materials for the construction
of roads are at hand which can be OBJ
tanned oheaply and abundsntly. There
are enormous supplies of gravel and lime
stone throughout Travis county, which
can be readily made available in road
building. Mr.. Graves showed very plainly
that road building is a wise and reason
able financial scheme, and that the mate
rial Is at hand in sufficient quantities.
Professor Gulley gave very spirited
and graphic talk on improving and main
tanning roads even for black lands in the
absence of macadam. His idea is that
the bitches on the sides of the road should
into the adjoining fields, that the first
break should be repaired not with brush
but with good earth, that the road bed
should have fall of about six inches, and
should be about twenty feet wide.
DR.. Sheppard made the suggestion that
gravel would sink in black mud. Mr.. B,
g. Giles replied in ringing talk, showing
conclusively that rolling, draining and
prompt repairing will prevent gravel
from sinking.
Capt. W. @. Walsh took the floor to dis
cuss the means of raising money to build
roads. Pending legislation on the sub
jeot he suggested that as measure of i'm
mediate relief for moving the next crop,
that when citizens are called out to work
the roads they are required to bring their
teams also. The speaker believed that a
road can be made of mush if it be prop
erly rolled, graded and drained.
Mr.. W. f. Jeffers, of Cuero, ex planned
the working of the large road machines
for ditching and scraping.
Mr.. Lee Giles spoke strongly in favor
of forcing teams to work with the hands
Mr.. H. O. Beck spoke to the same point
and related his experience as a road over.
seer to the effect that the presented road
law may be twisted SO as to bring out
teams, or that labor may be exchanged
for teams. The institute then adjourned
until O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The institute opened promptly at 9
o'clock. The first subject for discussion
was to have been Farming as Business
led with an address by Gen. W. R. Handy
who was unable to attend on account Of
legislative duties, and the next subject
was taken up.
Doctor Marx Francis, veterinarian OF
the Agricultural and Mechanical college
delivered an address on SANITARY Laws
for the Protection of Livestock" which he
prefaced by an interesting talk on the
germs of disease, how they are discovered
and developed.
j General John NJ. Claiborne, member OF