Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-22

years. doing nm incalculable amount 70
Names agricultural interests. He wa
born in South Berwick in 1915, and nov
| lives in Saco, vigorous and alert OF intel
lect and with interest ever keen in tn
great cause in which he labored SO lon,
| and successfully. Mr.. French paid al
eloquent tribute to Mr.. Goodale's ser
vices, and to his ability and many nobl,
personal qualities.
After the conclusion of Mr.. French:
address came a series of five-minute talk.
by the members along the line of tn,
proposed institute work for the COMING
year. The work done by the institute.
of 1896 was described. and the subject.
touched upon which will be prominent il
the work this year. Each member hat
something to say and said it briefly an(
well. Several past members of the board
and several OF the visitors present were
called upon and spoke along the same
line.
Then came a business session with
much more discussion over the resou-
ton of the morning session, and new ones
that were presented, and general confu-
sion prevailed as to what ought to be
done. At last both Of the resolutions on
highway matters. presented by Mr..
Light, were laid on the table, and the
same fate was met by the resolution ask
ing for the appointment of a State vet
erinarian and asking that the board of
cattle commissioners be done away with
and the contagious diseases of cattle be
left entirely with the State board of
health. SO much feeling was aroused In
the discussions over these resolutions
that tabling them for an indefinite period
seemed the only safe proceeding.
a resolution was passed asking for a
minor amendment to the present high
way law. Resolutions of regret and SYM
'pathy were sent to the absent member
of the board Mr.. Lincoln, who is sick at
his home. A vote of thanks was passed
to the president Of the board. and to the
railroads. Invitations We're received from
Westbrook and Bangor for the next
dairy conference. AT 5 p. NJ, all the bus
mess had been transacted and the annual
meeting of the Maine Board of Agricul-
ture was adjourned sine die.
In the evening the hall of the House
was well filed at the lecture on ''Practi-
cal Road Improvement" by Gen. Roy
Stone of Washington. A large number of
ladies were present. Pres. Dudley of the
Board of Agriculture. presided over the
meeting. The Winthrop Street Quartet
was in attendance and its finely rendered
selections before and after the lecture
won long applause, and was much appre-
ciated by all. Gen. Stone was a promi-
nent organizer of the National League
sentative of the United States govern
ment in this work. He is an easy, con-
versational speaker and was closely lis
tened. to. His soul is in the work and his
words carry conviction as to the neces-
sity of systematic improvement of the
country roads.
He detailed the early work of the ma
tional government in this line. and why
it was given up for constitutional and
financial reasons. The matter of roads
is now in the hands of the State and the
community. The Importance of improved
roads is now widely recognized. and many
states are doing good work for better
highways. In the New York farmers
conference. this week. much time was de-
voted to this otopic. Pennsylvania. New
good step forward. Maine, which of all
states in the Union, ought to have good
roads, must not be behind. The farmers,
who take the lead elsewhere, ought to do
SO here. Good roads are far the cheapest
in the end. Ii Maine belonged to IA pro-
gressive real estate syndicate. the first
thing it would do would be to expend
SIS. 100000 or $40 600 on the improvement
of its roads. 1t would be most paying
investment. Poor roads affect the farmer
most severely. and it is estimated that
they cost the farmers of the country one
fourth the total value of their products.
But much of this burden falls on the peo-
pie who buy the products. and this is
why all are vitality interested in good
roads and why the boards of trade are
lieves in Il State commission on high
ways. in neighborhood cooperation with
town and State aid, Also in convict labor
in preparing stone for road material.
After the lecture, which occupied abou,
an hour and quarter numerous ques-
tons were asked and answered, and then
came informal remarks from several
present. Col. Bangs. president of the
Augusta Board of Trade. Representative
Pearl, president of the Bangor Board of
Trade. President Harris of the Maine
State college, spoke briefly. urging those
present rs citizens and Legislators to do
their utmost to further the cause of good
roads. and keep Maine at the front in
this as in all else. AT $40 the meeting
adjourned.
The interest which was taken at the
last meeting of the Current Events
Club in the formation in Augusta of a