The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-09-10
NATIONAL
Structure For Agriculture Al
Chicago
A Permanent Home To Pro.
mote Farm Industry

NhVdso, oepl. ~ lnlS Guy Is tOA
have a $5,O0O,000 permanent agricul.
.tural exposition building for the sew.
eral states, the organization of an
American Agricultural Association
and the establishment of National
Agricultural institute. Plans are now
being perfected. The primary pur.
pose Of the project is to promote ag.
riculture by coordinating efforts of
various agricultural movements, to
assist prospective homeseekcrs in
finding homes and employment in the
country and to protect them from un-
|scrupulous spectators.
Twenty-Five governors have indors
ed the project and have signified the
Willingness Of their states to partici-
pate. Besides these the project has
the support of many of the country's
leading educators and the financial
backing OF leading business men. The
proposition is the outgrowth of the
back-to-the.farm movement inaugural
ed last year by the National Associa-
tion of State immigration Officials, of
which August G. Carton, Of Michigan,
is president and Louis V. Guye, of
Nebraska, secretary. A. b. Hulit,
commissioner general of the associa.
ton, is the originator of the idea.
Indications are that nearly every
state in the union will have space in
the proposed building to be known
as the National State Exposition
Building and Agricultural Institute,
and which will be the largest struc.
ture of its kind in the world. II will
occupy an entire city block, 600 feet
by 400 feet eight stories high and pro-
viding 100000 feet of floor space.
The state exhibits, which will occupy
the entire main floor, and which will
be open to the public free every day
in the year, will display the products
of the various states, afford bureaus
of information and offer literature
for distribution. Each one will be in
charge Of state official.
The. American Agricultural Associa.
tion proposes to be composed of gov.
ernors, presidents of agricultural col
leges, prominent agriculturalists, men
of national prominence and repre-
sentatives of other organizations hav.
ing Kindred aims. The plans include
an annual convention for the purpose
of hearing and passing upon resolu.
tions setting forth the activities of
various organizations such as good
roads, reclamation, conservation, etc.,
investigation of all such projects by
committees and the formation OF
platform from those deemed worthy
of support.
The permanent organization pro-
poses to make available reliable in
formation concerning agricultural and
other resources OF each state and the
agricultural enterprises therein for
the purpose of assisting prospective
farmers in the selection of their land
and protecting them against land and
stock sharks. An employment bureau
is also part of the project. DR.. J. B.
McFatrich, president OF the Chicago
board of education. is talked of as
head OF the association.
The proposed National Agricultural
Institute, one of the other essential
features OF the project, will offer short
courses in agriculture both to present
classes and by correspondence. = One
representative from each state agri-
cultural college and some from the
national government, it Is planned,
will constitute the faculty, to give lec-
lures as a part of their extension
work Dean E. Davenport, of the ILL
nois Agricultural College, is proposed
as head of the institute.
Chicago ami some outside business
men, under the incorporation OF the
American Agricultural Exposition
Building Company, will finance the
project. with & capitalization of &c.
500, ,OOO The president is A. B. Hulit,
John C. Roth is treasurer, and Walter