The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-09
THE FARMERS OF THE STATE
Their Interests as the Board of Agri-
culture Presents Them in Addresses.
President Davidson Talks About the Fair and
Its Future-Gov. Gray Compliments Tillers
of the Soil-Ars. Harper's Paper.

social greeting. The afternoon session, be-
ginning the convention proper, was opened
by the president of the board, Jasper n.
Davidson, delivering the annual address.
He gave general review of the agricult-
ural prosperity of the past season, in the
course of which he said: THE great crop,
so closely allied to the interests of all
classes, is worthy of special mention, and
it is with pride We report 13O, 600, 600 bushels
as Indiana's yield in corn this year. Wheat
follows with larger crop than generally
expected, 35, 900. 900 bushels, and oats added
26, 100000 bushels to the grain production of
1888 in this State"
He then, in making number of sug-
gestiOns upon the management of the fair,
said the comparison of the scrub breeds
that used to predominant in such exhibit
tiOns with the fine breeds common to-day
would be as striking as the comparison of
the primitive steam engine with the Won
derful compound of mechanical genius to
which it had developed at the present day.
The evolution of the one has not been
greater than the advance of the other. He
reviewed the fair OF the past fall, reporting
greatly increased exhibits in all depart
| ments, especially live stock and machinery,
poultry being the only exception. He ac-
counted for the fact of the decreased at
tendance, with all these imprOvents, by
the distraction of politics and the ccun-
ter-attractions offered with reduced
railroad rates to Cincinnati and Columbus.
He recommended that smaller premiums be
| given to lessen expenditure, and said that
the expert or One-judge system had
| condition of the board he summarized by
saying that, though its indebtedness had
increased the value of its collateral had
fully enlarged in proportion. so that the
pnfI
same as formerly, the aggregate debt APP
proximating S5S,50O. This debt would re-
| qure a long series of years to liquidate, he
| thought, on account of the very heavy
| valuable grounds must now be maintained
| intact. 1T is well-knOwn fact" continued
he, that our last Legislature would have
made an appropriation sufficient to extin-
| guish the debt in a short time, had it not
| been for the unfortunate deadlock that
occurred. We have an abiding faith that
| the present General Assembly will take
| prompt measures to relieve the board of
this incubus and we earnestly ask each
delegate to make it a personal matter to
assist in bringing the relief"
| Thirteen farmers Institutes, he said,
| were established in the State the past
| season, III compliance with the order made
| at the last annual meeting of the State
| board. These Institutes are now conducted
independently al the expense of those in
terested, but they could become wide
spread power for good among agricultural
| classes If sufficient money was apprOpri-
| atcd to meet the expenses. Until this is
| done the work can only be partially sue
| cesSful
| Referring to live stock. the pres
ident said: The extensive rail
West SO much stock infested Iy disease I'M
| peril our entire livestock Industries. and
| this board should memorabilia the present
Assembly t. IS a law enabling the exec
ntive to quarantine the State on all authen-
| tic outbreaks of disease"
| The secretary then submitted his report,
! showing the following figures:
General expenditures .----.-.-....- SO 900. SO
Construction and repairs. .......... 1862. .
| Current expenses OF fair - 3,26l 99
Total expenses of season s II ,Os1 AZ
| Total receipts from all sources. 4O566.23
Leaving shortage to make up $515.24
Upon the fair itself as would not appear
in the above brief showing S94i.4l profit
| was gained over Immediate expense. In
| surance to the extent of S37, 800 was carried
| on the main and adjacent structures. The
premiums paid amounted 10 1898 cash, and
| the total expense of maintaining the fair
| itself was Sl5,163. Among the heaviest out
lays were those for amphitheater. costing
| $4,000, and the purchase of twenty acres
| additional ground. amounting to $4,000.
| In the report of the treasurer, which fol-
| lowed, some difference from the footings of
the secretary occurred, caused by number
of outstanding orders. Yet to be paid. 1t
shows total receipts of $40, 566.23, and total
| disbursements of $40, 301 81 leaving an APP
| parent balance of go in favor of the
board, but this, he explained, was only APP
parent, and ailat his figures would agree
with the secretary's in showing them in
debt, when the bills were all in.
An obituary notice was then read of the
| death of DR.. Stevenson, an old member of
the board, from Putnam county, who died
1 or Graaneacfla Ian MrS NJ
of the woman's department. of the fair, then
read brief address upon the work in
which she said that its growth up to its
present Importance had been constant
the position of the department was ex-
cellent, this being the only State
where women have work of this
kind in perfection, and it is but just
tribute to say that it is all due directly
to the farmers. Mrs. Noe then referred
Interestingly to the improvements that had
come to farmers and closed with an elo.
quent tribute to Indiana and her resources
Agricultural Han by a committee which had
been sent to invite him on hrirlf of the
board. AS no took his stand upon the plat.
form he was greeted with loud applause
He then delivered his annual address, say.
ing:
Gentlemen of the Agricultural Society, desire
to say to you that am very happy to greet you
this afternoon on the boundaries of new year
us again, but only hope that the new year may
be as prosperous to the people of Indiana as the
| old one This, gentlemen, is the busiest of busy
times for me. 1t now becomes necessary for me
| to put my house in order, and prepare to shake
| the dust OF the executive department from my
feet, and arrange for the advent Of successor
| to my duties. Being thus engaged, and with my
message now in hand, have made no fore
| thought in addressing you; and what / say
must he the inspiration 1 get from youl
own faces before me. am always glad
to meet the farmers. When the farmer
comes as the pioneer into these wonderful States
| what law assists him to clear his land and cult
tivate the soill None. He is the great Origi-
natOr of wealth and industry. He has to make
his farm fruitful ont OF his hard toll, to raise h
farm buildings, in short in everything to create
| his wealth from natures sources, and then he
must be taxed and assist in the construction OF
| transpires around him. The farmers, say here
| to-day, are the most unselfish class of men il
| this country. Applause. And yet they suffel
| constantly from inadequacy OF law in their be
| half. An instance of this pressing urgency 4.
| the wholesale importation into Indiana of dis
eased stock from the West. We ought to estab
lish quarantine power against it, so we might
| at least have the protection that other States
have in this matter, and shall recommend th
in my message to the Legislature
After the Governors address. for which
he was rendered vote of thanks, he hello
an informal reception of the delegates an(
visitors, lasting about twenty minutes
At the close of the reception Mrs. Ida A
Harper of Terre Haute, was in
troduced, and read paper full o.
strong thought upon ''WOman's Work.
She reviewed the steady improvement O.