The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-04-07
CoMmENOs ITS WORK
Ohio Senate Compliments the State
Board Of Agriculture.
ADOPTS COMMITTEES REPORT
Affairs Of the Department Critically
Examined aud Found to Have
Been Conducted In u Faultless
Manner - Report In Full.

careful investigation on the part OF a
special committee. the Ohio senate has
adopted resolution which most high
ly commends the State Board Of Agri-
culture for the work it has been doing
and the manner IN which the affairs Of
the department are conducted.
The agricultural department was
given more encouragement by this &C.
ton than it has been accorded since
Its inception away back in 1S4f.
Some days ago Senator austin Of
Toledo presented a resolution asking
that the reports of the agricultural de-
partment be examined and that the
states liability on bond issues be de.
termined This grew out OF some
small objection to the state paying q
bonded Indebtedness for which 1t was
liable.
Lieutenant Governor Harding ap.
pointed q committee consisting OF Sen.
ators Austin, Dunlap, Harrison. Rick
etts and Critics to make the examina'
ton, and after careful work highly
complimentary report was presented
and adopted by that body. The report,
which speaks for itself, is rs follows:
Your committee appointed to investi-
gate conditions relative to the State
Board OF Agriculture felt 1t an incumbent
duty 10 first inform itself concerning the
work Of this board, and the agricultural
department under its management to-
gether with the authority and direction
for the work. and afterwards the source
of means and the application o. the same
for the expense of ths work.
In examining into the history of the
board and its work, We tind that from
1876 TO 1850, its work consisted of the
preparation and publication OF an annual
report. containing agricultural statistics
reproduced from other sources; abstracts
OF reports from county agricultural So
cieties; addresses and lectures on agri-
cultural topics, and the proceedings Of
the annual agricultural convention. held,
agreeable to the statutes of the state, for
deliberatiou as to the wants and pros
poets OF agriculture.
The board conducted during these
years "a general correspondence regarding
the agricultural affairs of the state, but
the greatest work In those years was
the preparation for and the holding jf
the annual state fairs
The permanent office force OF the board
prior to 1850 consisted of a secretary and
clerk. The appropriations made by the
state for the expense Of the office, or
agricultural department, was usually
about $4,000. THIS covered ALL expenses
Of salaries, handling Of reports, postage,
express. telegraph and other contingent
expenses. No part Of the annual appro-
priation was expended fOr state fair eX-
peEse. 1t seems ~ have been the policy
Of the board, and We beneye still con-
tnues TO be, TO request only such appro-
pTidtions from the state were actually
required for the work to be done.
The State Fair and Industrial EXPOSE
tion, now authorized by section 1893 OF
the revised statutes, we ind to be "A self
sustaining Institution, so far as the ex-
pense Of operation is concerned. Prior
to 1883 IL was without permanent place
OF holding In that year the State Board
OF Agriculture had OF surplus State Fair
earnings the sum Of Sl7,252, with which
1t began the purchase of real estate as u
State Fair grounds.
The surplus from subsequent fairs was
also devoted 10 this purpose, when in
lss6 the first Stat. Fair was held ON part
OF the grounds now occupied.
Having secured grounds with its own
earnings, the State Board oi Agriculture,
before holding the first fair on this ac-
quired property requested the General
Assembly to permanently protect IL to
the state, and forbid encumbrance in any
manner without the consent OF the state,
and such a law was enacted May T. 1885.
Since the original purchases, 25 addi-
tional acres We're found to be necessary,
and were secured, payment being made
from the proceeds Of bonds authorized by
the General Assembly Tor fair ground
improvements.
1t is shown by the records OF the board
that some years the receipts Of the fair
did not cover expenses, and the board
was compelled ~ borrow money for pay
ment Of premiums and expenses, but the
borrowed money has always been paid
from the earnings OF succeeding fairs,
and never by any appropriations from
the state II is quite clearly shown that
all surplus earnings Of the annual fairs
have gone into purchase Of grounds,
improvements and betterments.
We find that the state has aided In tho
erection OF buildings and the improve
ment Of these GROUNDS by authorizing the
issue of bonds as follows: BY act May
l. 1885, $4,000, by act OF April II. 1898.
$50, 900. by act OF March 20, 1900, Sl20,-
900 total, $3.50 900,
We find that the total cost OF the State
Fair grounds, with buildings and i'm
provements, has been S557,sG3
h, ~. S,,,. p,a,rI =, ..I,,I,,,s ,L
~ - So. ''.'.I aoa'H W .ne.o
values in the immediate vicinity OF the
'"n s'ouus NV ooIn-
p@liSe @ 10 a ,,0a aen w 'neH
.aiue @ 20 pau AZ so',s.V' hianIhs .ie
M .olai 'a,uo ol .ar srouiius oo 'n, anu Impio'e-
saI aents saa az .IiS ,l'ie ,'o''"s, an Excess OF
honds ,uthor,1sd nv Sc,. ., ,h. Can..oi
oo'us "e' w .''' VI '"s "e"si"'
o. gna ,h,, ., ,bo ,osa ma .a
,s,red IN 500 ooo bav. aIrssdy hsan nata