The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-18
State Board Opened a Three
Days Session Yesterday
In the Assembly Chamber
BIG ATTENDANCE OF DELEGATES
PRESIDENT EDWARD B. yooR-
HEEs MADE THE ADDRESS OF
WELCOME--THE PROGRAMME.

that New Jersey may be overrun with
theibrown-t tail and gypsy moths, entail
ing thousands of dollars worth of dam
! age, repeating the history Of Massachu-
setts, ignorance of the fundamental prin-
| ciples Of industry among farmers in New
| Jersey preventing farming from pro-
crossing as it should, proposition to
make the state liable for damages, done
by game and criticism Of the present Jer-
sey forest fire laws and defense of the
new forestry policy of the state, We're
some of the most important questions
considered yesterday by the state board
tof agriculture at its 33d annual meeting,
which opened at the state house. The
session is being we'll attended and will
continue to-day and tomorrow.
During the session yesterday afternoon
a thunder storm struck the capitol. Sew
( eral houses and a horse were struck by
| lightning, and woman standing on a
porch was hurled with great force to the
ground. 1t was miniature storm, how
ever, and was produced by Professor
| West Dodd of Des Moines, Iowa, during
/ an address on Natural Physics in Reia-
ming" The lightning was produced. by d
| large electric machine and was realistic.
The lady was miniature also. In her
case the lightning descended from the
"cloud'' attached to the machine, struck
the chimney of the house, ran down tin
gutter to the porch roof, jumped to a
screen door and struck the woman. Pro-
fessor Dodd explained the proper meth
ods Of protecting buildings from Light
ming.
President E. b. Voorhees,, of New
Brunswick, in calling the meeting to or
der, referred feelingiy to Secretary Dyes
illness and expressed regret at the alb
sence of a man who for so many years
has played so prominent part in all the
proceedings of the board, and in behalf
| of the board hoped for his speedy recoy-
cry In Secreary Dyes absence S. B..
Ketcham, of Pennington, was chosen to
act as secretary.
The following standing committees
were appointed by President Voorhees,:
Credentials. B. Ward, Essex; E. L.
Barton, Salem; Charles Barton, Camden
Resolutions-A J. Rider, Atlantic; gC.
B. Crane, Essex; W. J. Moreau, Mem
mouth
Official Reports. H. Bonham.
Cumberland; James L. Cook, Warren;
Asa Moon. Gloucester.
Entertainment of Delegates ohm II.
Cox, Hunterdon; George w. f. Gaunt,
Gloucester.
The report of the executive committee,
of the board relative to she details of its
work during the year was read by the
committees chairman, John /. Cox, Of
Readington. The report of the proceed
ings of the New Jersey State Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry, was read by
George W. f. Gaunt, of Gloucester.
The annual report of the treasurer of
the board, Walter Heritage, of Swedes-
boro, showed receipts to the amount of
4,195.70. which was all expended.
Mr.. Ketcham read Secretary Dyes an
rual report. 1t showed that 1905 was an
unusually prosperous one for the farmers
of this State. 1t stated that while 1904
was an exceptionally good year. it was
surpassed by 1905 by more than half a
million dollars in the value of crops. Ac-
cording to the report there are now 34,-
$50 farms in New Jersey, with an aver
age value of 81 ,692. The total value of
land and buildings it $162, ,591, ,010; Of i'm
plements and machinery, So, $3.50 ,030; of
domestic animals, $20,545,515 making a
total of $1s2, ,466.515. The farm products
| for 1905 aggregated $40, ,49Is 500, which is
equivalent to gross acreageof SIS an
acre.
On the question Of automobiles the re-.
port said:
IF automobiles, which are but rails
road engines without their own tracks
and without competent engineers, are al
lowed on the public roads at all, it should
only be by welI-guarded legal provisions
and not, as is now the case, by usurpa
| ton; and they should in ali cases guard
against frightening or iniuring other
travellers, their vehicles Or animals. The
machines are capable of much usefulness
and If they were driven with common
sense and with due regard 10 the rights
| Of all other ''sers Of the public roads,