Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-02-27
Reports to the Agricultural Society.

mllier, az tne mettnB neiu last Weeh'
Gentlemen OF the Agricultural Society
1t would seem to be my duty at this time
to make brief report to you Of the conduct
of the Society for the past twelve months,
and endeavor to acquaint you with the more
important matters that have engaged the
attention of the Board Of Management
You are aware that at the last annual
meeting committee of five was appointed
to take into consideration the advisability of
disposing of our present grounds, and pur-
chasing larger ones elsewhere, with view
of constructing a half f-mile track, said COM
mittee to report at called meeting OF the
Society in May.
After giving the matter due consideration
and appointing a sub committee to examine
several properties that had been offered,
they reported that in view of the very high
prices asked for lands that were in reality
not suitable for our purposes, they would
not recommend making the change.
The Society having evidenced by the ap-
pointment of this committee that it desired
to improve our facilities for trials of speed.
The Board of Management inferred that
they would only be carrying out their wish
es by doing all that was possible on our
grounds to further that end, and with this
in view they decided, first, TO join the Ma
tional Trotting Association, as by 30 doing
and have them under much better control,
and will say just here that the experience
of the past Fair has more than satisfied us
of the advantages to be derived from men,
bership in this association. The question
of enlarging our track to one-third OF
mile was seriously discussed in the early
Spring, but as there was considerable debt
still hanging over us 1t was deemed mex
pedient to undertake 1t at that time.
Having balance on hand from the pre-
vious year which, by vote Of the Society,
was left to our discretion to use as we
thought best, the Board decided TO erect a
Grand Stand, as it was thought that in ad
dition to its being an additional attraction
for the Fair, it would be paying invest
ment, and am glad to be able to report
that with three more years like the last the
Grand Stand will have more than paid for
ITSELF
AS the time for the Fair drew near, the
applications for stables were 80 numerous
that It was very evident we would not be
able to accommodate all who expected 10
attend, so we had six new ones erected,
which were all occupied, and we could have
used twenty more il we had had them.
We were most fortunate In having Queens
weather for all three days of the exhibition,
not even cloud obscuring the sun until late
the third day, and as consequence we had
an outpouring of the people of the county
and the District such as we have never
known before, the receipts for the second
day being the largest in the history OF the
Society
The exhibit in nearly all of the depart
ments was fully up TO that of previous Fairs,
and the display of horses was the best we
have ever had.
The orator who had been selected for the
occasion disappointed US, but his place was
ably taken by Mr.. Ainsworth r. Spoford,
Librarian of Congress, and MIR. Henry G.
Hallowell, both of whom gave us most in
structive and interesting addresses. At the
speakers stand, on the second day, before
introducing these gentlemen, your Presi
dent ventured to predict that should the
good weather continue throughout the Fair
our receipts would be sufficient to enable US
to pay off our entire Indebtedness and square
us with the world. This prediction was
fully verified by the Treasurer's report at
the next meeting of the Board of Manage
ment, when he informed us that he had
funds In hand sufficient to raise the mort
gage debt and pay all outstanding claims
against the Society. Finding ourselves in
this novel position, the question arose as to
what disposition we should make of this
money. Should we cancel part or all of our
Indebtedness, or would it be better policy to
improve our at present very inferior track,
making it full third of mile and of reg
ulation shape. With view of ascertaining
public sentiment on the question, one ofour
Vice. Presidents interviewed a number of
gentlemen throughout the county and the
DistrictD some of them connected with the
Society and others notD as to the advisable
ity of the move. With only one or two ex
ceptions these gentleman favored the plan,
and the called meeting of the Board for the
nf Mt inn
imously in favor OF the improvement, we
proceeded at once to have survey made, 4
which demonstrated the feasibility of the
project.
The plans and specifications, with esti.
mates as to amount of dirt to move, being
duly prepared, several contractors in the
District were invited TO make proposals, and
alter deliberation the work was given to Mr..
j A. Blundon, OF Georgetown, ID. G. The
work is to be done in thorough manner,
and to be completed not later than May 15,
and to be accepted by the Society June 15
This interval between the time of the com.
petion of the work and its acceptance was
arranged that we might avoid any undue
settling of Filings.
In concluding this paper / will say that
the Montgomery County Agricultural So
ciety has great cause for encouragement as
to the outlook for the future. To start with,
we have what are conceded by all to be the
most beautiful grounds in the State, situated
at the threshold of the National Capital, and
in county unrivaled for the thrift and pro
gressiveness of its people. All Of the varied
agricultural interests which combine 10
make the most pleasing exhibition have
their place among us, and though we can
not boast of having the mile or even half
mile track of most other organizations, with
their usual ccompaniments--faster horses,
larger purses and pool-selling-we can show
what we claim is much more TO be desired
races quite as interesting, cteaD ha,aos, and
full treasury.
The following report Of the committee on
crops and condition of agriculture for 1890
was submitted to the meeting:
The depression in agriculture has not
caused the desertion of farms here as In the
North, or very large increase in the mort
gage debt as in the West, and we have less
tax and sheriff sales than either. We have
maintained ourselves in the great competi-
tive struggle with the West and enter upon
what promises 10 be a more fruitful era for
agricultural interests handicapped with less
mortgaged debt, bearing lower rate of in,
ierest, which is held mainly by our own
people. There may be more encouragement
in this comparison than in the cash bal
ances on hand at the close of the year, but
| it shows the situation is not 80 bad as il
"mought have been" Our farmers are spend
| ing one fourth less for labor than ten years
ago. The disappointment n the small in
crease in population shown by the last
census can be accounted for in no other
way, for while the total increase is only
1859 the increased enrolment of the public
schools is over 1000, which increase is
mainly in the towns along the railroad.
They are spending but little more than half
as much for fertilizers. This large saving
in the TWO most expensive items of the farm
has enabled many of US TO continue with
out asking aid OF the government.
WHARF.-The average yield per acre was
no higher than in 1889. The quality was
much better and is was saved in good con-
dition. The price one-fifth higher. The
| Lii fn and 10