Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-01-29
Farmers Convention.

were afraid to venture out, therefore the
Lyceum Hall, Sandy Spring, was not as
crowded as it usually is when the farmers
of this county meet to discuss questions
especially relating to agriculture.
The President, Benz. d. Palmer, was in
the chair, and j. JanneY Shoemaker and II.
IL. Miller were the secretaries for the meet
ing. After the reading of the proceedings
of the last convention the report of commit
tees was in order Mr. w. L. Muncaster
gave an interesting report upon the township
system, but stated his researches had con-
WINGED him it would not be beneficial to
adopt it in our county at this time, even if
we were able to obtain the necessary legis-
lation to do so. He had visited some of the
fine sections Of Pennsylvania now governed
by the system, and found the roads short
distance from the towns nearly impossible,
and the people there complained of the
waste of money and general incompetence
as we do here under the County Commits.
sioners system. Prof. Walfied and Roger
b. Farquhar spoke in favor Of the system
and Prof. Charles Stabler gave some facts
as to its working in New jersey, showing
its advantages and disadvantages. AS
whole the convention did not seem favor
able to its adoption at this time
The report of the committee on railroad
crossings, by r. b. Farquhar, brought many
to their feet, and every man talked as though
he were in dead earnest. The general testi-
mony was that the gate at Silver SP<ing was
carefully guarded, but the one at Rockville
was not. Instances were given showing it
to be of frequent occurrence for trains to
pass the latter place without the gates being
lowered, and boys and other irresponsible
persons had been seen lowering the gates
with their faces turned away from them
The hitting of Mr.. Ricketts, stone wagon
and the shutting in between the gates of the
Brookeville stage were also alluded to. By
unanimous resolution the president of the
convention was authorized to write to Judge
Vinson and request him to call the atten-
ton of the next grand jury to the unsafe
condition of the service at the Rockville
gates. This same request was made of the
judge last year, but after a talk with the
agent in charge, who promised to have the
service well performed, he thought best to
give him another trial before proceeding to
heroic measures. As the nuisance is in no.
wise abated the convention renewed its Ie-
quest of the court
Two pertinent facts were brought out by
this discussion, viz: That the gates at Rock
vile can never prove an efficient guard
against loss oil life and property until there
is tiagman whose only duty it is to look
after them, as at Silver Spring, and that in
the event of an accident there and the con.
sequent suit for damages the whole moral,
political and moneyed power of the farmers
of the county will be strong against the rail
road company. Among the speakers upon
this question were Mr.. Chas. Albert, Asa NJ.
Stabler, DIR. Thos. II. b. Farquhar, Fred k
Stabler, Ii. c. Hallowell VIM. f. Muncas
ter, Granville Farquhar and others
AT this stage OF the proceedings the mem
bers OF the convention were invited to the
school house to eat bountiiul lunch pre-.
pared by the young ladies of the neighbOr
hood. This recess was much enjoyed by
all, and when they returned to the hall, by
a rising vote, they expressed thanks for the
same and appointed Messrs. Brooke and
Holland, two promising young gentlemen
to announce the result to the ladies.
The committee on the Washington mar
kets next presented their report by the chair
man, j. b. Hallowell Soon after the last
convention they had employed Mr.. Guion
Miller as attorney, and proceeded to bring
the test case with the Riggs Market Com
pany to decide the right Of farmer to sell
cut meats in the District of Columbia with
out license. The decision of the Police
right to sell cut meats of his own raising
from any stands, stalls, wagons, carts or
otherwise, at any proper place in the Dis
trict, and without purchasing license. As
another law of the District provides there
shall be no license required Of any one
bringing marketing by the load into the
District, and as the whole traffic between
the District and Maryland and Virginia is
clearly interstate commerce, they were pre-
pared to state that any farmer in Maryland
or Virginia can take load OF marketing
including cut meats of his own or neigh
bors' raising, into the District, and sell 1t
wholesale or retail, as he peases, without a
license or being legally subject TO prosecu
ton or annoyance. Mr.. Hallowell then
stated that the committee had to make the
following recommendations, viz: That we
press for passage before Congress bill tC
allow farmers to weigh hay or straw, &c.
and meat on the hoof on any scales agreed
upon by the buyer and seller, and in case
they disagree as to the scales then the pub
lie ones shall be final. That the south hal
of b street from 7th to 18th streets and thu
north half of b street from 10th TO 12ti
streets be declared a public market place
with suitable iron sheds over the sidewalk
to protect buyer and seller, and tina the hay
market square, with the addition of suit
able sh ds to protect hay from storms, an'
other necessary improvements in connection
with the b street part, be known as th'
Washington wholesale and retail market
This market shall be under the manage
ment of five commissioners, one TO be ap
pointed by the Governor of Maryland, on
to be appointed by the Governor of Virgins
and three by the District Commissioners
These gentlemen shall, under the law, max
all rules and regulations for the conduct o
the market
The committee had visited the ltepresen
tative in Congress from the Sixth Congress
sional District, Mr.. McKaig, who said tina
if their attorney would prepare such a bill
be would introduce it into the House, AM
then it would go TO the District Committee
where they could follow it up. A numbe
OF the other Representatives and Senator
| had boap annkap In nnon tho cuoo,ion .