The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-03-20
DEER CREEK fARMERS CLUB.

Reported especially for The .I&gis.
The Deer Greek Farmers Club cclcIratc cd
the thirtieth anniversary gifts organization
on saturday afternoon ut the Eagle Hotel. '
Bel Air. 1t was the occasion of the. gather
ing OF a large number OF the representative
citizens Of the county together with a num-
her of visitors from Il distance. The history
of the Deer Greek Farmers Club is inter
woven with the proGrcssivcnesS of this coun-
ty and need not he rccountcd in detail to our
own people. 1t is suffice repeat the oIvr-
ing words of the president. Mr.. John MoorcS
who stated that it was :, rare thing to sec Il
farmers organization continue without in
tcrruption tor such Il long period of time; the
general life of ordinary club beng not
over five years. Mr.. Moorcs attributed the
secret to the fact that the club was without
political creed or religious sect, its only aim
being the bcttcrmcnt of the condition of its
members and the general rural husbandry.
The annual election of officers was held and
Mr.. John Moorcs was again chosen president
with MIR. John Il. Hanna, secretary. The re-
election of MIR. Moorcs for the third success
Sivc time ,ctokc ems the feeling of the mem
beers. His Judgment is highly esteemed and
his witty sayings do much I cnlivcu the
meetings. He has been one of the leading
spirits OF this organization ever since short
time after its formation. and in that time
as missed only two meetings and his alb
seucc in these cases had been caused 10y sick
ness.
The members present were MesSrS. :. \.
Williams William Silver ofJohu, ]. Lawrence
Mccormick. K. Harris Archer, w. Beatty
Harlan. James Lee. John Monrcs, William
Il. Hopkins. Joha $. Sladc, 6. &. Street,,
John II. WorthinSton, William W. Finncy,
Thomas II. Robinson, John Is. WysonG.
Frank II. Jacobs. John Il. Hanna. The
visitors were William Munnikhuyscn, James
+. Kcnly, William II. Harlan, L. IL. Nc
Cormick, George L. Silver, George Y. May
nader. Walter L. Rcckord, OF Govanstown,
l.. NJ. Allen, George l.. VanBibbcr, Samuel
Brooke. OF Annapolis, Hurry u. Hanway.
William $. Forwood. Jr., Il. Frank HanwaN.
G.. II. Rogers, Jr., Walter w. Preston, Law
son Cooley, John lie p. DOW, of Annapolis,
Z. II. Close, William T. Sawyer and Robert
+. IIGuna.
The principal speech of tie evening was dc
Hvcred by MIR. Dodge, Director of Public
Road Inquiry, United States Department Of
Agriculture. lie made a lcnghthy address
on the subject of Highways" which WAS
attcutivcly received by all present. Mr..
bod &c congratulated the club upon its pres
ent fiOuTishin% condition and the longevity
which il had attained He said THAI tnc
subject of highways WAS Il live topic, which
had been considered by the United States
Government i'll II different manner II different
times. Early i'll the history of the Govern
m@nt. large sums " ere expended ON internal
highways. The great western turnpike,
which opened up the Louisiana Purchase,
cost nearly much money as was paid
Spain tor this original territory. II WAS over
seven hundred miles i'll length and WAS
tiTcly constructed and controlled by Federal
authorities. shortly after this, the building
Of hi shw;yS was abandoned by the Govern
mcnt, rs it was considered that the local
authorities were financially able to cope with
this branch of improvcmcnt. In those days
the agriculturalists were regarded par
ticularly favored class who received larger
returns tor their labor than persons engaged
in other pursuits. In fact, 1t was thought
right ami proper that they should contribute
to Infant" industries and this doubtless
gave rise to the doctrine of tariff for pro
lection. Since that time, however. almost
every kind of business has enjoyed unprC-
cedcntcd proSpcrit Y and agriculture has stead
lily refrigerated. AMI it would seem no more
than fair to TAN the whole country for the
purpose OF improving our highways. Heidi
not think that the National Government
Should do the entire work, but w;tS i'll favor
OF extending aid on the cooperative plan.
sucn as is now done for agricultural colleges
and experiment stations. lie urged upon
the farmers the necessity of obtaining
remedial legislation. and said that they uuly
had themselves to lame for no: having
more friends at Court as the pursuits repre-
scented in our national legislation shows bat
Il very small number OF farmers. He recalled
the fact that there was time when the ma
iority OF our population was confined to the
rural districts and now notice that the
cities contain the larger percentage otpcnplc
The tax levied by local community Is i'm
posed on small proportion OF the common
wealth while Il general assessment would
make everyone contribute an equal share
lie recalled certain States that have built
public roads on the cooperative plan aud
stated as excellent example New York,
which has made the most decided progress
i'll that direction. At the request al one OF
| the members he explained at length the prnyi-
| sInns OF the Brownlow Bill which contains
many excellent features.
Mr.. W. ". Crosby, road engineer OF Ralti-
more county, addressed the club from Il
county standpoint. In opening his speech.
| lie paid high credit to the Deer Greek Farm
| crS' Club as the originator ot the good roads
| movement as well as many other good
| movements i'll the State. The subject OF good
| roads is one III which every iHhahitant -
personally interested. Whether hV he aware
| OF the fact not, he is materially affected I'M
| less he produces on his property very article
| he or his family uses from birth to death UNI
less he receives no mail, pays no taxes and