The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-03-24
NORRIS COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
A Brief Account of It's Organization and
Subsequent History,

1
Subsequent History,
One who was present at the first meet
ing of the society furnishes us with the
following;
To the Editor of the Chronicle
The Morris County Agricultural So
ciety was formed about the year 1888,
by members of Morris Grange, No 105,
P. of H of N. j., after the close of a
regular meeting held in William F.
Ely's hall, at Alton. The Hon Augustus
w. Cutler was elected president, and
w. F. Ely secretary. There We're soon
added to the list of members the names
of several prominent farmers. not
grangers, and it is said that there was a
roll of members; but whether the candi-
dates wrote their own signatures, or
whether another wrote them, with or
without the principals request, does not
appear. OF one thing we are assured
that no certificate of Incorporation was
ever filed in Trenton, as is required on
the formation of county boards of agri-
cultural. Again, we fail to find any
evidence that local constitution and
by laws were ever formulated for the
society, or that election to membership
was brought about in the usual and
regular way. We have been unable to
discover that any minutes of the first
meeting were kept, or that, at any sub
sequent meeting, the minutes of the
society have been regularly read and
approved, and to our knowledge there
has never been but one secretary
Several gentlemen have occupied the
position. of treasurer, and other Offices
that, later on, were refused the right to
vote in the annual meetings, because it
was discovered that their names were
not on the roll.
1t is not known to us that anyone was
ever elected to membership by vote of
the meeting so the above disfranchise-
ment created much indignation. The
names were commonly written in the
roll book by the secretary and no initia-
| ton fees or dues were ever charged or
exacted The meetings of the society
were, until within couple of years past
| held in Alton, within two miles of Essex
county, but be it said to the memory of
the late president he made a sincere
effort to have every township of the
county represented at these gatherings,
but failed principally, because the con-
venience of the majority in travelling
was not consulted by others on the
board. The secretary eventually re-
solved to recognize the delegates from
the three townships of Passaic, Hanover
and Chatham. as the county agricultural
society.
But to come down to present day his
tory, we would call the attention of the
farmers of Morris county to the words of
the act by which county agricultural
societies are formed, explicitly stipulat-
ing that "all of the agricultural interests
of the county shall be represented" Our
State officials, the honorable secretary,
and his efficient associates on the board of
agricultural. are ready to help in the
formation of good county organization.
Their work in conducting farmers insti.
tutes in different parts of the State has
been careful and painstaking, and has
been highly appreciated. In these days
of progress, we believe that our farming
people will come to see the necessity oil
keeping pace, or, as is too frequently the
case, suffer failure. To those who feel
doubtful as to the expediency of scientific
farming, we would say, come to the
meetings of the State Board of Agricul.
ture when they are held in your neigh
borhood. We think you will like them
when you realize what they are, and, il
you cnlA say q WIN " hOAP olOnS Ihs
formation of a good county agricultural
society, better still. Come yourself, anc
get the farmers to touch each other in 6
public meeting, say, three or four times
year, to compare ideas. and pass reso
lutions for mutual benefit and protection
We believe that farming would be ;
more agreeable occupation. because NOR,
profitable, and that you would find tn,
State ready to afford you valuable
assistance AGRICULTURIsT.
March is, 1899.