The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12

to the extent of $,400-as the part that I
believed necessary to aid the city OF Mum
During the YEAR 1881 there We're a number
of localities in the Stae where small
pox again occurred. recurring frequent Wis
its of the officers of the State Board of
Health. and the enforcement of rigid rules
TO prevent the further spread OF this dis
ease. 1t had also assumed an alarming
condition in the city of Chicago. and it be-
came a question as to whether this State
ah0a to- tn hot i e eitai viii fua mr aasie reg the offss
GERS of the Board of Health made a thar-
oush investigation of the situation at Chi
State. 81
that it was unable to meet out of its or
binary appropriation OF 5000 per year. Con-
sequently the extra expense. incurred in
my consent, and as L believed necessary.
] paid by warrant on the epidemic fund
existed / have thus drawn upon it in the
The State Board of Heath has been ac-
tive and alert in meeting threatened dam
gers, and through its labors are constantly
bringing to the public mind the impor-
lance of more perfect sanitation The APP
preparation which has heretofore been made
to that board has been found to be made
ton confront them, would be helpless to
render effective service. Their appropri-
suggest the wisdom of leaving the law Gre
ating the epidemic fund in force.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Unquestioningly in the past few years the
State Board of Agriculture mas made great
Improvement in the general principles gov
erning it in the conduct of its affairs. Es-
pecially has this been noticeable in the re-
cent expositions held. There seems to be
a livelier disposition to- keep abreast with
the times and more in perfect harmony
with the advancing thought of the farmers
of the State.
In few of the occupations in which our
citizens engage has there been a surer,
steadier advance than in that of agriculture.
The farmers of Indiana have become
are now reading, thinking men, men of
general information concerning not merely
that radiate from or find a common center
in the results of their labor. The State
in a cordial way, and to-day, more than
ever, has become the exponent of this more
liberal thought fn9 gnnte,raa md ,,ia as a consequence has
In 1893 the exhibition was held by the
board under circumstances that would have
courage. They triunphed over these diff
%culties, and in 1894 met with a success both
gratifying and deserved. The board has
purchased beautiful grounds and become
permanently established near the city of In
meet modern demands. The race track is
one of the best in the country, and affords
healthful, orderly amusement to visitors.
The land purchased was not sufficient for
the public demand and the character of
the exhibition given. Additional ground
should be owned by the State. l am of this
opinion, but. if purchased. it should be
owned absolutely by the State, and in case
the State fair should, from any cause. be
removed from its present location the land
should become the property of the State.
and to be disposed of as the State should
direct. The land so purchased could be
leased to the Board of Agriculture at a
mere nominal rent. 1t should be the duty
nf the EtQfa aS we'll QS IFS nIpQ Eurp- To en-
courage this department.
HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY.
In a quiet, unassuming way the Indiana
State Horticultural Society is accomplish
ing good results. 1t is composed of some
of the most intelligent citizens of the State,
and is doing a good work. It's reports are
made up of intelligent and interesting pa
pers. AS our State grows in population
the usefulness of this society will be more
appreciated. The work of the horticulturist
is not only useful, and of considerable COM
mercial value, but tends to the health and
identifying of our country homes, with at
tendant refining influences. The annual APP
preparation to this society should be con-
tinued.
Indiana is fast leaving behind the age
when her magnificent trees and forests are
considered simply incumbrances of the
soil. The necessity that was with our
fathers to cut down and destroy the for
ests to open a farm and build a home no
longer exist with us.
On the other hand, intelligent thought is
turning to the problem as to how best to
Der growth. While fifty years ago it was
probably true-no exact and accurate sta
tistics at ~hand-that nearly 10 per cent. of
the surface of Indiana was covered by a
splendid and unequaled forest growth, it
is also equally true that now less than 20
per cent. is SO covered.
More wealth has gone out of the forests
quarries of stone. When the latter have
been exhausted they cannot be replaced,
but the former, with prudent care and in
t~elligent foresight, could be restored to a
great degree.
What the effects of forest destruction
may be in producing extreme drought, sud-
tility of soil-though / believe they will be
most serious-is a scientific question which
do not propose to discuss in this paper.
should you think it worthy further consjd-
Grafton. What may be done to prevent the
forests we have, to prevent its reckless de-
struction, to repair the waste of the past
nd to provide for the future, is the ques-
ton. On a large number of farms ia me
State there are more or less acres not sus-
ceptible of cultivation that could again be-
come profitable in the growing of valuable
timber.
Would it not be wise to encourage the
planting of trees on such lands, for util-
ity and commercial value-not for orna-
ment-and to encourage the preservation of
a large part of what is left, by a system of
or partial exemption from tax? A large
number of the intelligent citizens of the
State have considered this a matter Of inn
portance. Recently an intelligent discus
sion of this subject was held in the Board
of Trade, of Indianapolis, resulting in the
adoption of a resolution directing public
attention to it's Importance, and / recon-
mend 1T to you.
FOR THE SOLDIERS.
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