Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-03-24
Conducted by
J. W. BARROW. Chatham. N. r..
Press Correspondent Neac York State
Grange
NEW YORK STATE GRANGE.

the opera mousse All COIlidLu, ~. -, oh
Feb. 2, Hon. e. B. Norris. state mas
ter presiding. Nearly the full dele
CATION, numbering this year ITO, was
in attendance, and Patrons visiting
brought the number up to fully 500.
On the first day the annual address
of the state master was given. On the
subject of good roads he said there
is a strong and increasing demand for
a better system of road building. While
we do not believe in wanton expendi-
ture of money to secure good roads, we
do believe that wise legislation, with
a just and economical expenditure.
will result in enhancing the value OF
farm land. The great work before the
grange is to see that wise legislation
Is enacted, also reasonable amount OF
money appropriated by our nation and
state, not to build expensive boule-
wards, but to construct them with a
view to practical uses
He called the attention of the grange
to the fact that careful inspection
should be given to all the tax bills in
troduced in the legislature, and an ac-
tive opposition should be pursued
against any bill that does not fairly
represent the agricultural interests in
equity with others. Good road legisla-
ton will be pressed for passage In the
present legislature. The canal appro-
priation bill submitted to the people
at the last election for the expenditure
Of S1O1 100000 was ratified by a large
majority. Although the grange did
not believe it wise or expedient to
bond the state for this large amount Of
money to enlarge the Erie canal. yet
the will of the majority should be
recognized, he said, and it now re-
mains for the grange to see that the
money Is judicionsly, economically and
honestly expended.
The extension during the past year
of free rural mail delivery secured by
the earnest work of the grange Is proof
of its increasing popularity. The legis-
lative committee in its recent con-
ference with the postmaster general
was informed that the rural service
would be pushed with renewed vigor
during the year 1904 and that an ap
preparation Of $15,0OO,O0O would be re-
quired to maintain the service during
the fiscal year AS the farmers Of this
great nation get in closer touch with
one another through the channels Of
organization and with the modern
methods of transportation, better fa-
ciities for mail delivery must essen
TALLY follow. Our Order is assuming
a prominent place in legislation and
will soon take its position among the
Industrial interests of our country.
AS we review the situation, the an
nual receipts from agriculture bewilder
our vision. Notwithstanding the new
and enormous markets within our own
borders and the increase in the con-
suming power, without doubt the time
will come sooner than we expect when
production will be far beyond con-
sumption. Busy as we American peO-
pie are today, the inevitable struggle
for commercial supremacy in the mar
kets of the world for our surplus prod
ucts will be increased or modified in
proportion to our preparation to meet
the problem.
The secretary submitted his report,
from which we take the following
facts:
The report of the secretary ends
Oct. /. 1908, and at that time there
were 567 active oranges In the state,
~ of them having been organized the
past year. The total membership is
5S.172, gain Of S136 the last year.
This is the actual membership, as ev-
cry grange that has not reported with
in the year has been placed ON the
dormant list, and no dormant or un-
affiliated members are reckoned in
the grand total of 5S,172. There are
80 Pomona or county oranges, hav-
ing been organized the past year. The
grange is now represented in AZ coun-
ties Of the state. The total cash re-
ceipts of the secretary's office were
SIS
The report of the treasurer. r. A.
yelling, showed the total receipts
from the secretary. excluding balance
on hand Jan. /. 1903, of 1859, to be
SIT ,903; accrued interest, $290.O4; total.
$31 ,352.36. Total disbursements for
1903 were $15.940.12. showing a bal
ance on hand Jan. /, 1904, of $15,-
41224
At the evening session an address
of welcome was delivered by Judge
Eggleston Of Cortland, which was re-
sponded to by State Master Norris.
Other speakers were Hon. George S.
Ladd, master of Massachusetts state
grange. and Professor l.. II. Bailey,
Cornell university. Readings were
given by Miss Zoe Welch and Miss
Rogers, and music was furnished by
male quartet from Cortland.
Hon. E. B. Norris, Sodus, n. T., W:
reelected master for the fourth term.
The grange in Michigan is certainly
awake to the Importance of instruction
in agricultural studies not only in the
v.fT ltvrrn nI nvxI tn, tI,a