Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-02-23
THE FARMERS.
Their Institute Very Well Attended
And Very Successful.


SYNOPSIS of the Proceedings Days
and Two Nights Full of Profit
and Pleasure
THE CHRONICLE was compelled to &c
to press last week with an account only
of the Wednesday morning session OF
the Farmers Institute. 1t therefore
takes up the story of the proceedings
with the opening of the afternoon session
at which the principal speaker was Geo
E. Scott, of Mt. Pleasant. whose subject
was. "The Progress of Potato Culture
The lecture was made much clearer by
the aid of charts Mr.. Scott said that
medium sized potatoes should be used
for seed; the variety should depend
somewhat OH the nature of the soil; he
recommended the Rural New Yorker
New Queen and Ideal, for general pur-
poses. A well fertilized clover soil, he
said, is the best, and it should be plowed
six inches and thoroughly cultivated
four inches. He said that in 1882 Ohio
produced S5,OOO,OOO worth of potatoes,
and Belmont county over 100000 bushels
Joel Walker discussed the subject, say
ing that seed potatoes should be deeply
buried to prevent sprouting, for sprouted
potatoes should never be used for seed.
Potato ground should be fertilized the
fall preceding planting. Other valuable
points were brought out, and much in
terest shown.
"Fruit or Grain on Our Hills, Which 2"
was discussed by Charles DUNCAN, who
took the position that fruit should be
raised on the hills, and said that much
larger profits would be gained than by
working the soil, and that the soils fer
tility is conserved by such procedure.
He said that fruit is a more profitable
production than cereals. and this argu-
ment may be extended to the valleys as
well as the hills.
At the evening session the hall was
packed to its utmost capacity. After
music, as an Introductory to the even
ing's program, Miss Eva Shontz gave
couple of recitationS, which were well
received by the audience. AT O'Clock
Mr.. Waldo F. Brown gave his lecture en-
titled "Wanted--A Man" Mr.. Brown
wanted man to have stability of charac
ter. He wanted man who keeps the
animal subordinate to the spiritual and
intellectual The three institutions
which have to do with the building of
character are the Church, the State and
the family, and the family stands as the
underlying principle of al. Tie advised
young ladies to face the future alone
rather than marry dude. He made
plea for truth telling, and charged news
papers with being preiudiced in their
version of affairs, AMI prone to magnify
on one side and to depreciate on the 9TH
er. On the question of his own educa-
ton said he owed his education princl-
pally to a careful reading of the Bible, and
to McGuffey's Fourth Reader.
Miss Shontz again recited, her selec-
ton being a story of the terrible evils of
strong drink, prefacing her recitation
with brief W. G. T. L. lecture.
THURSDAY
The fact that the county Indebtedness
question was to be discussed drew a
large number to the hall at 8 o'clock on
Thursday morning The meeting was
called to order and prayer was offered
by Jonathan Cash, Esq.
John Pollock as one of the committee
appointed to examine into the finances of
the county, made an explanation OF the
Indebtedness, and recommended that
such relief be given as will allow it to be
paid as soon as possible. Thereupon N
B. Nichols offered a resolution that the
county expenses should be reduced to
minimum, and that the debt should be
paid as speedily as possible. j. c. Helm
lein urged issuance of bonds oD long
time, claiming that to pay it along with
our present obligations would render the
burden of taxation excessive. In con-
clusion he asked for instructions as to
what course should be taken by him as
Representative. j. y. McMechan offer
ed all amendment to Mr. Nichols resolu-
tion in favor of funding the debt for
one. two and three years. j. B. Longley
asked, who promises to cut the expenses
to a minimum and continuing said
that the levy had been increased for sew,
eral years to pay expenses due to foods
and that it seemed to be getting no less
Said we needed an investigation of the
Commissioners and Auditor by com
mittee appointed by the Court of Com
mon Pleas Mr.. Longley charged that
the indebtedness was due to the extrava
gance and incompetence of the Auditor
and Commissioners. He recommended
that no relief be given, but that the coun
ty paper go to protest, and thus compe
economy.
Speaking for the Board of Commits
sioners, w. s. Mechem said it was tn
sense of the Board to do the best thinl
for the county, and on this they wante'
the people to decide They had trie'
to economize, but such demands ha'
been made on them thatthey could not re
fuse. Commissioner Bailey remarked tina
economy must begin with the people
Hon. J. w. Nichols thought we ought t
have two things in view, first to brin
about more economical administrator
of affairs, and second to pay off the DEB
as soon as possible. r. E. Giffen though
an increase of 219 mills for five yeaI
would be sufficient. The time for tn
discussion having expired, it wa
moved that a meeting of the taxpayer
of the county be called to meet in tf
Courthouse Hall, on Thursday, Marc
I'd, to discuss this question.