VOL. XXX.
INDIANAPOLIS,
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STATE
BOABD.
rull Attendance.   New Officers, Etc.
The meeting of the State Board of Agriculture was held Tuesdays Jan. 8, in their
rooms in the State Honse. The president,
James M. Sankey, presided. Rev. - Dr.
films invoked the Divine blessing at opening of the session. The roll call showed a
full attendance of the members, also a
'good attendance of the county and district societies. The president called Vice-
President Mr. W. B. Hoi ton to the chair
and proceeded to address the meeting. He
spoke ot the success of the last fair, of the
good feeling that had been brought about
between the board and the citizens of Indianapolis, arid commended the work of
the business men of the city in bringing
about the success, to which the Pompeilan
show contributed much. All the Indianapolis business men whom he had met,
he said, spoke of the fair week of 1894 as
one of the best fair weeks in years. Tee
receipts of the fair, he said, were larger in
1894 than in any other year. He showed
that the gate receipts in 1890 were
$15,931 47; in 1891, $21,776 10; in 1892, 19,-
157 35; in 1893, |7,498 25; in 1891, $23,265 50.
The gross receipts in 1890 were $22,740-41;
in 1891, $39,473 93; in 1892, $28,133 74; in
1893, $13,170 71, and in 1894, $31,507.
"Can the Indiana State Fair be kept to
its former high standing without financial
aid from the State?" was a question which
President Sankey discussed at length.
"We have before us," he said, in part, "the
task of completing the equipment and
decorating our beautiful grounds, which
can absorb many thousands of dollars before we attain the ideal which, I believe,
the great State of Indiana should have as
its State fair grounds. The fair's present
conditions are so favorable in some respects that we will not receive due allowance for unavoidable risks or deficiencies.
Experience has taught how evenly balanced are the receipts and expenses, even
with cautious aud economical management. A summer drouth, a few rainy
days, a heated political campaign, a railroad strike, or many other extraneous
causes will turn a balance into a deficit.
"We are now burdened with a debt that
will cost us for the next five years $12 060
for interest and $40,200 as principal. This
debt refers to completing the purchase of
the tract of land we are now occupying.
It would be possible to do without a part
of this land for a few years, but before
long the interests of this great State institution will, in my judgment, imperatively
demand the entire tract, and I do not,
therefore, question the proprie'y of completing the purchase at an early day. The
option price on this land is vastly lower
than the land can be ready sold for,
and from the standpoint of speculation
I wonld say, buy the land "
Mr. Sankey held that the fair justly
claimed the consideration of the Lfglsla
ture. He called attention to the policy of
Illinois and Ohio toward their fairs. Illinois had given $500,000 for the improvement of State fair grounds, and annually
gave $12,500 to the fair. The Ohio Legislature appropriated $180,000 for improvement of the fair grounds, and gave $8,000
each year. He recommended to the board
the.erection of a power hall and manufacturers' building before the-next fair ii
possible.
On motion of Mr. Lockhart, the vice-
president appointed the following committee on presiden't address: Messrs.
Lockhart, Morgan, Stevens, Merrlfield and
Banks.
The committee on credentials was then
appointed as follows: Robert Mitchell,
of Gibson county; J. E. McDonald, Noble;
L. P. Noel, Parke; Edward Sweeny, Howard; Marion Steele, Hancock.
The secretary, treasurer and general superintendent presented their reports. On
motion of Mr. Downing the president appointed the following committee to audit
the books of the offices of the board:
Charles Downing, of Greenfield; V. K.
Officer, of Volga; and M. S. Claypool, of
Muncie. The superintendents of the various departments presented their reports
At the afternoon meeting an address
was to have been delivered by the Hon.
Claude Matthews, governor of the State,
but on account of duties encumbent upon
him at this particular time because of the
convening of the Legislature it was impossible for him to give even a few minutes of his time for the purpose of address
ing the assembly.
The Hon. C. F. Denny, mayor of Indian
spoils, proceeded to address the convention on the subject of the State fair, "What
it was, what it is and what it should and
will be " This paper brought out a very
interesting discussion about the past work
of the board and what the board should do
in the future.
An informal discussion was had, touching upon the management of county fairs,
as well as State fair. Also discussion on
charging entry fees at the Indiana State
fair.
., —   SECRETARY KEUMBBT'S RETORT. -   r
RECEIPTS DETAILED.
Amount on hand last report-...-.... .........„..f   917 52
Amount received from sale ot bonds- 10,850 00
Amount received of interest on bonds —..     720 31
Receipts from fair—all sources......... 31,507 00
Receipts from all rentals...- ......     627 50
Amount from hay..       106 00
Amount collected from.old claims .................     326 74
Miscellaneous receipts.         6 00
Becelpta from Carmel committee   2,C0O 00
Total receipts _ |17,291 C9
DISBURSEMENTS CLASSIFIED.
Members per diem and Mileage, Salaries,
Postage, Telegraph, Express, Printing and
StationeryvAdvertislng, Construction and
Bepairs, Insurance and Bentals.Furniture
and Tools, Claims of pan years, Miscellaneous expenses—total „... ......(12 301 86
Amount cash on hands of treasurer | 4,989 23
Total receif t> for yesr ending Jan. 8,1S95......
Total expenditures. ....._	
Balance in hands of treasurer-	
Memoranda, total outstanding warrants |   297 C5
STATEMENT OF FAIR.
Receipts, 50c admissions.. lis 736 51
Receipts, 25c admissions— .„ -  1270 50
Receipts from grand stand  2,869 75
Beceipts from railroad  3«a 75
Becelpta. special admissions. -  35 00
Entries ln speed department  3,000 CO
Eutrles in classes  2,356 75
Stall rents.,  99J 00
Privileges  1,917 80
Total receipts 131,597 05
Premiums, Expenses, Postage, Telegrams,
Express, Printing and Advertising. f!5,677 91
Net proceeds of the fair f 5,9.9 11
P.&OPE&T Y STATEMENT.
Value of 80 acres and Improvements 1115,000 03
Value of improvements on leased lands    10,000 00
Harrow, Plow, "Wheelbarrows, cha'ns, furniture, etc—	
Uncollected credits       612 to
Balance in bands of treasurer -     4,989 23
Total _. 1163,196 73
UNPAID CLAIMS.
W. B. Burford J2U 39
Fr*nk M. Dell _    12j
Total unpaid claims f212 £9 212 59
Net value of property. —..1162,981 14
AG1NST FOOD ADULTERATIONS.
On Wednesday morning the following
resolution was adopted:
Whebeas, The markets of the country
are being flooded wi<h artificial dairy and
adulterated food products, and
Whereas, This artificial and adulterated imitation food product is greatly detrimental to the industries engaged in the
production and Bale of genuine butter,
cheese, lard and other genuine food products, and
Whereas, The recent decision of the
United States Supreme Court has opened
the way whereby tne several States can
enact laws for the protection of the
makers, venders and would-be consumers
of genuine and wholesome foods.' Therefore
Resolved, That the Indiana State and
Delegate Boards of Agriculture now assembled petition and respectfully urge the
State Legislature, about to convene to enact suoh food laws as will protect the producers and venders of genuine foods prohibit all traffic in deleterious foods and require all producers and dealers to set forth
the exact character of every article and
package of food placed on the market and
that the proper officer be appointed to enforce said laws.
Robt. Mitchell,
Pbof W. C. Latta,
J. E. McPonald,
W. 8. Commons,
Aaron Jones.
UfcettaT %cQisl(itian.
ei?
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I think the Legislature should revise our
road law. The farmers are more directly
interested .in a road law than any other
law that could be made for them now.
The law can be changed so as to be a great
benefit to the farmer without materially
increasing the tax we are now paying. We
have been pay ing road tax and working
roads in Owen county for the last forty
years under the same system, and our
roads are no better now than then. Owen
county certainly wants a change.
Spencer, Owen Co. P.
a right to vote, on such appropriations.
Also give all parties a representation on
the election boards. No one can say but
what that is fair.
The writer thinks that the salaries of all
officers should be so reduced that no officer
would get over $800 or $1,000 per year,
after clerks and other expenses are paid.
That does not include campaign and
whisky bills, as they would amount to
several thousand dollars in each county,
as the thing is now carried on.
The farmers of Indiana should make
their demands and make them early and
it the representatives take no heed they
should then take their representatives
from the farm. I am sure the farmer is
the most sensible man that exists, because
he can make a living and keep his family
and keep the lawyers, doctor, etc , where
one of them would starve to death.
Monroe Co. Bud.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I am in favor of laws as follows: Work
our penitentiary birds on the roads, also
imprisonment for carrying concealed
weapons. Making dreg stores take out
license same as saloons and raise the fine
from $10 to $500 and do away with all
screens. Requiring the State to furnish
all text books free to scholars.
A-law limiting-to five psr cent for col
looting all claims and one making county
officers' salaries not to exceed $2,000 Also
one rate of interest 5 per cent, on contract
6. Also one requiring every voter to show
his tax receipt if challenged.      E. P. L.
Leavenworth.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
As you have invited your readers to
write short articles on legislation I think
they should respond quite freely, although
ihe writer feels that it will ba that much
ink wasted. Oar Legislature two years
ago passed a fee and salary law which was
not what the tax payers wanted, but was a
step in the right direction. But for two or
three men to undo the whole thing Is an
imposition on the farmers of Indiana. I
say the farmers, because the farmers pay
the taxes of Indiana. I hear some one
say, "Well, don't the city folks pay any
taxes?" If they do they have to make it
off the farmers, and the farmer digs his
out of the soil.
The farmers of Monroe county are paying taxes on more than they can cash their
farms for, taking the county over. The
tax payers of Bloomington, who own the
property around the public square, pay
on 40 per cent of the cash value of their
business houses. Some will ask, "Why is
that?" the writer is not able to explain
why, but it is a fact.
Some say change our road law. We
have as good a road law to-day as we need
if it is followed up. There has been more
work done on the roads in Monroe county
the past season than was ever done in one
season before; and why? Bscause the
farmers have found out that they can
build the roads easier than to pay the cash
and be swindled out of half of that by officers. Sol for one say let the road law
alone. If our representatives want to help
the farmer a little let them repeal the 2
per cent railroad tax, that the law allows
the paupers to vote on the tax payers, or
else amend the law so that a vote counted
according to the taxes the voter paid, then
the paupers would not be so anxious to
vote.   Also give the women who pay taxes
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Tn regard to laws needed and present
laws repealed, would say the present fish
law should be repealed and we should
have a new salary law, they are both unjust. I bave talked with leading farmers
indiffjient tar.sof the State, and they
denounce the fish law as an unjust discrimination against the farmers who own
the water courses and lakes, and in favor
of the professional anglers and sporting
men who dp little else than fish and hunt,
I saw as many as ore dozen farmers last
spring coming from the river, where they
had spent the day fishing, with hook and
line, and all of them together did not have
a mess of fish for two persons. Fish are
no more plentiful than before the present
law was enacted. Our fish commissioner
puts young fish in our streams in the
spring and by fall what are not eaten by
large fi sh are liable to be in the Ohio. What
we farmers want is a law allowing seining
from October 1st to April 1st of eaoh year.
The officers salaries should be reduced
to one-half or two-thirds what they new
are. Here in Henry Co,, lam told by
good authority the clerk receives about
$5,000 per year and the other officers in
like proportion. Its no wonder our taxes
have gone up from 85 cents on the one
hundred dollars to. $143 with little or no
public improvements. The sum of $5,000
will secure the services of men thoroughly
competent to fill three of the most responsible offices in the county.
We want a law allowing all indebtedness
to be taken from the tax list, so tbe farmer
that owes from $1,000 to $1,500 will not
have to pay on what he has not.
Let the present game law alone; it's not
the hunter that has destroyed the quails.
It is the cold winter with i;s contined deep
snow. Whole coveys having been found
frcz9n; besides the man that don't want
his quails killed has a law to keep hunters off.
Above all give us a temperance law that
will drive this blighting curse from our
State, that is costing us $75,000 000 annually, s. L. C.
Institutes
At the Gibson oounty institute, Princeton, J. Q A. Seig is going to tell what the
farmer la to do under the present depressed,
condition of things. Everybody wants to
know the answer to that question. Sorry
we can't hear Mr. Seig read his paper.
Perhaps he will send it to ns for publication.
At the Monroe^ Co. Institute, Judge
Myers adjourned court to make room for
the meetings, and himself attended and
took part in the discussion.
Posey county institute will  be held
Cynthiana the 14th and 15th inst.
J. K Welbobn, Cf. D. Smith,
President. Secretary.
at
■1