The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-09
STATE BOARD MEETS
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS DIS
CUSSED YESTERDAY.
State Fair the Main Topic Considered
Mayor Denny's Address-WOoI
Growers in Session.

The State Board of Agriculture COM
menced its forty-third annual convention
at the Statehouse yesterday with an ex-
ceptionally large attendance. At the morn
ing session President James NJ Sankey
made an address which was largely devoted
to the State fair. He said the last fair was
the most successful ever held, financially
and otherwise, the gross receipts having
been $31,5O7. Mr.. Sankey feels that some
help should be received from the State for
the maintenance of this institution. Secre-
tary Charles f. Kennedy and Treasurer E.
j. Robinson made annual reports which
were accepted.
The programme for the afternoon session
included address by Governor Claude
Matthews, but when President James M.
Sankey called the meeting to order at 2:30
O'Clock he said he regretted very much to
announce that Governor Matthews had
found it absolutely impossible to spare even
a few minutes from the preparation of his
message to the Legislature.
Mayor Denny was then introduced His
subject 1.-The State Fair-What 1t Was;
What 1t Is, and What 1t Should and VIII
Be-" Mr.. Denny told of his first visit to the
State fair in 1865. His next was in $780,
since which time he has missed attending
the fair. but two or three years He said
that to be candid he was compelled to say
that prior to the last year the general at
fractions were behind the times, but that
better exhibits could have been secured
under stronger encouragement. The loca-
ton of the old grounds was unsuitable and
should have been abandoned long before it
was. The Mayor said that for years he
had advocated change in location. He
complimented the board it's present
beautiful site, and said that last years
fair marks the beginning of a new era in
the history of the board. But he felt that
there could always be at least four good
days during the fair week at the grounds
II the proper attractions are furnished.
Those who bring exhibits from distance
can lily afford to do for the advertise
ment they get in one or two days. The
Mayor said the securing of the spectacular
drama Last Days of Pompeii'' was an ex-
ceient plan, and some such attraction
should be secured each year
IN the address Mayor Denny made refer
ence to the excellency of the ST. Louis fair,
and said that good racing is required these
days to secure large crowd Robert Nit
cheli, OF Knox county who has been a
member of the board for twenty years.
pressed his thoughts in strong terms. He
said the st. Louis fair is a small county
fair by the side of the Indiana fair He
said that wherever racing is encouraged, all
and the consequence is that the fair is no
longer an educational exhibition but a
money-making scheme. The members of
the board did not wholly agree with Mr..
Mitchell, and motion to have the MAYORS
address spread upon the records of the as
ISOLATION carried
A resolution petitioning the Legislature TO
pass some very rigid laws regulating the
sale of all limitations of butter and Cream
was referred to a committee to report this
morning. After long discussion as to the
best management for fair association. the
meeting adjourned until o. clock this morn
Ing.