Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-12-07
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE
Held in the Grand Opera House Last
Wednesday and Thursday.

The Winneshiek County Farmers
Institute convened its fifth annual ses-
sion at the Grand opera house in this
city last Wednesday afternoon. Pres.
Geo. Tyler called the meeting to order
at 80 p. M, and some music was fur
nished by the Upper Iowa Band, Of
Freeport. Hon. s. A. Converse, Of
Cresco, spoke upon the subject "How
shall we grow beef at a profit?" He
said that beef could be raised from
common stock at a profit, but greater
profits came from better bred cattle.
Give the calf special attention, wean
and raise him by hand. Feed all it
will eat, and you will have liberal
profit.
M. J. Nicholson under the head of
'The general purpose horse five years
hence" said that the horses OF today
were standard bred and thoroughbred
draft, with many grades between. The
horse weighing 1900 to 14OO pounds will
be the ideal one of the future. Secure
this by breeding cross between a
Standard bred and thoroughbred horse.
N. o. Bue opened the topic" COnven-
fences in farm buildings and water
supply" and gave his experience in
piping from springs, with excellent
suggestions. "The Farm Garden
what it ought to grow" was very inter-
estingly discussed. Frank Tyler speak
ing for vegetables, N. o. Bue and Rev.
J. Ridley for small frnits and Z. L.
Gabrilson and H. A. Bigelow for orna-
mental shrubs, trees and flowers.
On Wednesday evening an especially
interesting session was held, before a
good sized audience. After music by
the Decorah City Band and Oneota
trio and prayer by Rev. l.. l.. Lockari,
Pres. Tyler introduced Prof. G. A. Oil
yer who welcomed the farmers to the
city, and spoke of the dependence of
the city upon the farmers; of the won
derful advantages of child life in the
country over the city; of the fact that
the nations greatest men came from
the farms; and closed an excellent ad-
ssress with many comical, recOllections
of boyhood days spent on the farm.
After brief response by Pres. Tyler
and music by the Oneota trio, Hon. G.
l.. Gabrllson, of New Hampton, was
introduced and spoke on lessons of
the State Fair" He paid a glowing
tribute to the city of Decorah and sur.
rounding country, and gave a splendid
description of the state fair, the many
obstacles of judge in awarding pre-
miums, and the benefit of such fair
to the farmers in general. Then the
"Luren" gave one of their pleasing Sc
lections and were compelled to respond
to an enthusiastic encore, after which
Editor J. s. Trigg, of the Rockford
Register, was introduced and spoke on
"The Social Status of the Iowa Farm
er." He too mentioned the excellent
reputation Decorah has abroad for her
colleges, her newspapers, her beautiful
scenery, and her hospitable, patriotic,
intelligent people. Then he pictured
Iowa as having the largest unbroken
area of fertile land in the country, in
tersected by railroads, along which are
fine farms, dotted with big red barns,
schoolhOuses and churches. He said
she was especially favored in the char
acter of her early settlers, who laid the
deep foundation of Puritan principles.
This enterprise, push and intelligence
came from Ohio and Michigan; thrift
and economy from Germany; and all
these combined with other sterling
qualities from Scandinavia, all Of
which blended into one splendid type
of citizenship, which is the pride Ofthe
republic. The Iowa farmer is rough,
rude and awkward, but an indispensa-
BILE factor to society. Iowa civiliza-
tion recognizes no aristocracy Of birth
or wealth, the men and women who
till the farm and refine the home are
genuine gentleman and ladies in the
best sense of the word. Mr.. Trigg con-
cluded with the expression THAT from
a much despised occupation agriculture
has advanced to the forefront of the pro-
cession. Then the "Luren" again
sang beautiful song a nd were encored.
Continued next week.
Iowa Children's Home Society.
Doubtless many who were not at
church on Thanksgiving day would