The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-01
united BOARD HAS
INITIAL MEETING
Plans Discussed for Joining Agri-
cultural Forces Under
lsl One Head.
SECRET MEETING is HELD
Committee OF Five Citizens Is
Chosen to Confer With
/ Co-Ordinating Body.

With a we'll attended public meet
Ing In the morning and a secret scs-
sion in tho afternoon, the new United
Agricultural Board began it's prelim-
mary work yesterday. The law Great
Ing the board is not yet In effect, and
consequently the body is not officially
in existence, so that yesterdays pro
ceedinEs were tentative.
1t was decided at the afternoon
meeting that the proceedings should
BIO kept secret, and no information
was given out. DR.. S. a. Knapp, gem
eral director of demonstration work
for the United States Department OF
Agriculture, was especially insistent
that the plans discussed should be
kept from the public.
The latter session was participated
in only by the members to be of the
United Agricultural Board, and by
committee OF five who are not mem
hers of the board and who were ap-
pointed at the morning session to con-
fer with the official body.
Many addresses were made al the
first meeting, which was held in the
courtroom of the State Corporation
Commission. The Governor had call
ed the meeting and had invited repro
sentatives of railway companies, prom
inent educators, Industrial agents and
women teachers. The courtroom was
we'll filled. state Senator Charles II.
Gravatt, OF Caroline, was chosen chair
man.
Governor Speaks.
Governor Mann spoke first, outlin-
ing the intention of the legislation
under which the board will work. All
of the remarks made tended in the
RI Of
cooperation and a united effort In
the work of improving agricultural
conditions in Virginia General in
dorsement was given the proposition,
but concrete plans We're lacking, these
being probably reserved for the execu-
tive session.
Or. S. A. Knapp spoke briefly on
the new board and It's work He was
followed by President Paul B. Bar
ringer. of the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute, and by Commissioner of Agri-
culture George w. Kolner.
The latter traced the work of the
Department of Agriculture for the past
ten years. beginning with the time
when 1t had only $4,000 a year to ex-
pend, down to the present. when 1t
spends 100000 to $4,000 without cost
to the state. He believed that 1t had
saved millions to the agricultural in
terests He called attention to the
facts that Virginia is the first State
in the South to run farmers institute
trains and to issue illustrated agri-
cultural reports He said the depart
ment would welcome any practical
help.
Getting Rid of Waste.
The fact that the meeting was moth
Ing more than an informal conference
was impressed by Superintendent j.
3 ID. Eggleston, Jr, of the Department
OF Public Instruction He thought the
trouble had been in the past that
different departments, each striving to
the same end, had not known what
the others were doing, thus causing
waste. I've should" he said "get rid
of the idea that because we are work
Ing for one cause we cannot be in
terested in another. The lesson has
been learned by the business interests
OF the country, Notwithstanding the
efforts that are made TO pull US back
10 the old days of fierce competition"
lie wanted land values increased by
intelligent cultivation. In one district,
he asserted. even if he succeeded in
getting an increase in tax of 10 cents
on the s1o0 for school purposes, it
would yield only sos year. Mr.. Egg
gleston did not thins. 1t did much good
to talk to the people, about going to
the country unless they could make a
living there. One result Of education
had been to make the boys and girls
dissatisfied with the countrya life aud