The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-25
IN MEMORY OF GOV. HOLT
SUITABLE RESOLUTIONS BY THE
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
A Committee Appointed to Draw Up
Resolutions Of Respect 10 w. o.
Upchurch.

&nFNf1EE
70, Vars president of the North Gar
o1ina Agricultural Society, and that
snid memorial be preserved in the re-
cords cf the society. in testimony OF
his patriotic devotion TO the Interests
of North Carolina.
ue sunnorted the resolution in an
address delivered under strong emo
t;on without manuscript or notes, and
which nj the the request Of the mem
hers is partly reproduced as follows;
~ am sure, Mr.. President, that the
unanimous expression of this body
nnon converting tonight. is that of
cpnwratulation for you and your en-
erpetic Secretary. upon the brilliant
success of the State Fair of 1896
both as evidenced by the tasteful dis
plav of our resources, and the delight
ed throng OF spectators in our
grounds. 1t may be justly said that
there are exhibits at this Fair fully
equal in their line. to the most merit
orious exhibition at any Exposition
which this country ever wisnessed,
the Worlds Fair at Chicago inelud-
ed. | sincerely and warmly congratu-
late you,
sin the midst of this brilliant sue
cess. it has seemed 70 my mind, that
the society could not honor itself
more than to recall with gratitude,
the memory of it's faithful friends in
the past-and especially that of one
whose recent departure from the scene
of his laIbors, removes the faithful
President of more than one-third of
all its long and crowded history;
its friend and helper and supporter
- II ~ M nnI
of shale: standing unawed in the
midst of financial storm, giving his
substance, his time, and his every
energy of mind and body.
Not every one is fully aware of
the mighty influence of the work of
this body upon the development of
North Carolina. To me it has seem
ed the archway through which modern
agricultural and mechanic arts re-
inforced by science and education,
pressed their forces upon the old or
der of things and blended all har-
monious whole in the new and stronger
Carolina.
"There were introduced the steam
saw-mills and cotton gins wheat
| threshers and other genie of modern
industry. Hither came the eJrsey
stock to revolutionize cattle breeding
in the Eastern section. The State
| Geological Survey was saved and main
tanned through it's influences. 1T is the
+, direct parent of the Agricultural de-
partment, through its committeeap-
/ pointed to labor with the General AS
| sembly. The great and valuable Elk
detrimental Station is another of its
trophies. And in the 5ullness of
/ Time, as further outgrowth, the
long sleeping appropriation of the
| United States was taken up, and the
college of Agriculture and the Mechan-
ic Arts was instituted, to begin a re-
cord to last for ages.
Through all of its devoted members
the distinguished Alexander, of Neck
lenburg, committees were appointed to
make known and extend the bless
ings of the stock law, wher suited
/ to the needs of the people,.
Through the efforts of Others like
my friend on the right, w. S. Prim-
rose, the Exposition of 1894 told North
Carolinians the story of their wealth
so also the displays at Boston and
! New Orleans, at Vienna and Chicago,
may all be traced to their original
source in this organization. The Blu
reau of immigration, the work of the
Fish Commission, the admirable State
Museum, the State horticultural So
ciety, the Dairymen's Association and
1 the like are among the last of the
| children that have followed in the
| train of this great parent of the
! agencies that are Transforming and
| developing our commonwealth, and
/ placing her in the front rank of her
sister States of the South.
Conspicuous in all these fields of
energy, either as creator or active
helper, has stood the heroic figure of
Thomas M. Holt. IF any enterprise
| faltered for lack of means, his ready
hand supplied it. His faith was sub
lime, and his work paralleled his
faith. Twenty-Five years ago, / was
one of the editorial association of
the State, and in their name greeted
him as the Napoleon of our industries.
In reply he prophesied the conquest of
the first position among Southern
| States for the cotton manufacture,
| and lived to see that prediction true,
in the 179 mills of to-day.
in the darker days of this society
| in 1876, he babe the secretary draw
upon me, the Fair shall not fail"
need not recite details familiar to you,
all of similar deeds along the line of
his faithful, his interchangeable life of
| energy.
HE was an inspiring example to the
State he loved. Descended from an
ancestry hat had just made Haw river
musical with whirring wheels, he went
ON and yet on to greater triumphs of
manufacturing skill to the close of his
days. AS farmer his thousand acres
of clover in Davidson was an object
lesson, and he snatched the gold medal
for the best wheat in the world, at the
Chicago Fair, as a proud trophy for
North Carolina.
"No operative in his employ ever
struck for grievance. AS a man, he
was just and kind, and true. The people
of Alamance loved him as a father
and friend. He came to the General
| Assembly, by the common consent OF
ALL for they knew he was the pillar
of the poor or the oppressed.
| "Ca1led from his multifarious duties