The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18

flo Makes Recommendations rs W
condnc, ofthe society

H. Males Recommendations as 10 '"e
Conduct Oft the society
o.to following address was delVereu
g.. tho retiring president. J. Is. NatAiiS'
~ the annual meeting OF the ls'. ~"
Agricultural and Mecnahle@' oo0''S'
irid4y: - the society
10. - me Executive Committee was
'',,fnerilea 10 in-rease TIE bonded ueul
80 tha society 10 SOggJ 10 cover 'n1
t-o n,l m RIG e due June !, 1888. anu APO W
,f1o.n noatnl. delt, maturity OF NAiOh -
A. 20 tLe CIV OF Richmond Tor interest,"
I'D ora the mortgage. The LeslaiA'" i g
Granted the request Of the oiiceis ~ ~
crease the society debt, Out tno N'N'
- richmond. after repeated eiloits On
our uart. declined 10 guarantees 1Ae i"-
teralt Tor US again. ana consequently ''o
bonds could not be placed, ana Du' Ao'
the kind indulgence Oh ). l.. " iil'siNS ~
Sons. the bankers VINO placed the ooHuS,
fhe mortgage would have been loIec'ose ~
and the society property saer,'iSeu III
"a sale at a time when II Is wei known
the property would not Aa'O D'0u7'-' any
thing like its value.
qhe WORK of the officers this year mas
been very discouraging and laborlous.
Last year We sold our privileges iof
x3oO and were offered Ike amount
for the same privileges this year put Oh
account Of a change IN the racing laws
We were forced into selling them Tor $sVV-
making a difference Of SZ,z0y IN our reVe-
nue. for the work OF this year.
Since the last meeting street-car hhe
has been built. which passes the GROUNDS
and on account of which we were on tue
first Of last May enabled 10 lease the
property for a consideration OF >-.vV loE
the first year and 5000 year Tor the
next four years.
The fact that we could not place the
bonds materially affected and delayed the
work Of getting up our fair for this
year, and the storm Of September 18th
damaged the buildings and fence 70 a
considerable extent. and was the cause
OF a number OF exhibitors falling 10 come
10 the fair on account Of exaggerated and
false reports which got out regarding the
damage. and stating that the fair would
not be held. In view of all these things
I think the fair in many respects, q
very creditabe one. ] would recommend
that the Executive Committee be author
lied 20 DO the best thing they can IN
reviewing the bonded debt. and TO, II pos
sible. save the property from ioreclos-
IRE at this time. when IL is well known
would be suicidal TO the organization.
IT is my opinion that in order to IN
sure the further success OF the society
II IS necessary that something be done
10 onthuse more interest tn 1t amongst
farmers.
You are aware OF the fact that under
the present charter our membership Is
gradually diminishing and We are becom-
ing In just this proportion less repre-
sentative body each year. ! would. there
fore. suggest that some plan be adopted
whereby the membership he increased.
Or I would suggest that our property be
turned over 10 the state Board or Agri-
culture. to be formed as follows: That
the president OF each county fair. or In
counties where there Is no such organi-
cation II should he the duty Of the county
fudge 20 appoint a representative farmer.
and these one hundred representatives
he known as the state hoard or arricul-
ture: that they meet IN Richmond once o
year and discuss and recommend agri-
cultural needs. and elect an executive
committee NJ ten members. one from each
congressional district; this committee to
choose president. commissioner OF az
riculture and \ secretary who SHAH dis
charge such duties as are now performed
bv our committee and the state Board
OF Agriculture
desire 70 commend each member OF
the Executive Committee for the Valuah'e
aid rendered during the past year. and
70 thank them for the kind. cheerful as
sistance they have always given me.