The relieved, as far as possible from the responsibility of their success. County Agricultural Societies should take a decided hand in these matters, and make them county affairs as near as can be. The people of the county should be made to feel that it is their home institution, not in the sense of filling the house with eager listeners, but in supplying the platform by calling upon their practical men to prepare papers and deliver addresses, giving the result of their labors and investigations on the farm. This will awake many from their slumbers and they will become more enthusiastic in their investigations, as well as independent of foreign assistance. The mission of the State Board is not to stand still, so being relieved to any extent in one direction, its efforts will be spent to the extent relieved, in some new direction or new work that is requiring attention to enlighten and benefit the farmer. I believe these institutions have already been productive of much good and the County Agricultural Societies should see to it that they become permanent as well as successful institutions. The publication of crop and stock reports has been continued in the same manner as heretofore. The information upon which these reports are based, is furnished by correspondents in the several townships, who serve their country for the country's good. They are, as a rule, practical farmers, whose judgment in relation to crops and stock can be relied upon. The preparation of these reports and their distribution costs much time and labor, as well as expense, but the benefits derived from them to the farmers of Ohio, justifies the outlay. Commercial fertilizers are now well known in Ohio, and the inspection and analyses, under the law passed March 6, 1881, of those sold in Ohio, and the publication of the result, is an advantage of decided value to the farmer. Considerable time and labor has been spent in this direction, but good results have followed and the work will be continued. The State Fair, held the first week in September, fully equaled the expectation of the Board and the friends generally of that institution. The number and character of the exhibits in the several departments clearly demonstrating that the State Fair is growing in importance, and is becoming more and more a recognized and positive factor in advancing the agricultural and mechanical interests of the State. In the arrangement of the premium list for the past few years, and the adoption of rules and regulations governing the fair, your Board has entirely lost sight of quantity as a consideration, and has worked solely with a view to quality. Every discouragement has been given to animals and other exhibits of an inferior character, while the greatest possible inducements have been extended to those of superior worth and merit, the result being that every department of the Fair has been characterized by a class of exhibits representing only the best, and such as are calculated to benefit the people by showing to what an extent of perfection any class of animals can be brought, to what uses steam and horse power machinery can be placed in the work of the farm and the utilizing of waste forces and material; how successfully crops can be grown and to what extent the domestic arts and sciences can be practized to our profi, health and convenience. The Fair of 1885 was liberally patronized by all classes of our citizens, and I venture the assertion that there was no class left the grounds without having seen and examined something from which they gained knowledge or information that was of practical benefit, that would in turn benefit the community in which they lived, and ultimately, though perhaps indirectly, the whole State. The State Fair has passed its infant age, and arrived at that point of life where it wields a beneficial influence in molding the character of younger industrial associations that have sprung up in every county to advocate and foster the interests we represent, and which are so essential to the people of the State and to every business pursuit. For the present advantages we enjoy in the good resulting from the State Fair and its kindred associations, we are indebted to the earlier members of the State Board, the fathers of the fair, who by their persistent efforts and careful training, reared this institution, of which to-day the people of the State feel proud and honored. Some of these men come to this Convention year after year, and it is a pleasure to see their faces and be benefited by their experience. Occasionally, but surely, a face is missing. They are passing over the river to their reward, but a monument has been erected to their memories, that each year grows larger in proportions and the inscription more brightly and clearly defined. I desire now to remind this Convention, that the State Board of Agriculture of 1883, viewing with pride the growing propensites of the Stute Fair, deemed it wise and expedient, as well as necessary, to take the initiatory steps toward establishing it on permanent grounds, that should be owned by the State and that could be better fitted up to suit the purpose and the growing demands. The first thing, of course, was the securing of land, which you have heretofore been informed was done, but inasmuch as the work of establishing the fair on grounds owned by the State is now fairly under way, I submit to you a more detailed account of the matters connected therewith. The purchase of the following parcels of land were made by and with the authority of the Board. They are located in Clinton Township, only two and one fourth miles from this State House, and directly along the line of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway. Parcels one, two, three and four, to which your attention will be called, were purchased by W. N. Cowden and L. B. Harris, as trustees in trust for the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. The former being then President and the latter Treasurer of the Board. These purchases were so made, pending the enactment of a law authorizing the Board to purchase and hold real estate for State Fair purposes. The General Assembly of Ohio on March 25th, 1884, passed such a law, and the parcels of land purchased thereafter, were deeded directly to the Board. In June, 1885, the trustees in trust executed a deed to the Board of the parcels purchased and recorded in their names. About July 1st, 1885, all mortgages and notes held by persons for deferred payments on the lands, and assuined by the Board in the purchases, were paid or arranged for payment, and first mortgage was then executed on the whole to E. K. Stewart, trustee for the bond holders, to secure the payment of bonds issued, in accordance with the act of the Legislature, passed May 1st, 1885. The first parcel of land purchased, was from Thomas Cassidy, and consisted of forty-five acres, located on the south side of the Neil and Innis free pike, two five acre lots in the parcel extencing to the township road on the south; the consideration was $12,410.00, or about $275 per acre. The second parcel consisting of twenty-three and three-fourths acres, joining the first parcel on the west and giving a railway frontage, was purchased from Mrs. Annie E. Dennison, for $7,134.70, or $300 per acre. The third, fourth and fifth parcels, consisting of five acres each and fronting the township road on the south, were purchased, the third from Mrs. Mary Innis, for $2,500, or $500 per acre; the fourth from William Murdock, for $1,750, or $350 per acre, and the fifth from Turpie & Jones, for $3 000, or $600 per acre. The sixth parcel consisting of five and fifty-five hundredth acres, was purchased from Mr. H. T. Chittenden, for $5,550, or $1,000 per acre. This purchase carried with it the agreement of Mr. Chittenden, to donate land and open and gravel Woodward Avenue, from its then terminus to the grounds. This made the grounds directly accessible from High street and the horse car line, and squared out the south front of the gounds, with the exception of two half acre lots, containing small houses and barnes. These were finally purchased as parcels seven and eight-seven from Joseph Monnett, for $1,500, or at a rate of $3,000 per acre, including buildings, and eight from Abram Dow, for $1,200, or at a rate of $2,400 per acre, with buildings. This gave the Board some ninety and a half acres of land, at a total cost of $35,044.70, or an average cost of about $388 per acre. Early in 1884 the work of preparing the grounds was begun, first by a thorough system of underdraining and a general cleaning. Later on the services of a skilled landscape gardener were secured, and after the adoption of plans for laying out and beautifying the grounds, that work was begun and pressed forward as rapidly as possible, and a regular transformation scene has taken place. On July 1st, 1885, the Board placed $60,000 of its bonds, and after the adoption of carefully considered plans submitted by the architects appointed, a contract was entered into on the 4th of August following, with Mr. W. O. Rowe, in the sum of $45,467.28 for the furnishing of material and construction of a power hall, cattle, sheep and swine buildings, horse stables and a grand stand. These buildings are now all under roof and the contract nearly completed. On November 22d, 1885, a contract was entered into with Mr. W. King, for furnishing material and constructing entrance ways according to plans, and for the construction of a picket fence around the entire grounds, (labor only). His proposition being $1,582 for the entrance ways, and 61⁄2 cents per lineal foot for the fence. In the execution of this work, together with the landscaping, graveling, tree setting, etc., the Board has exhausted all its available funds, including the $15,000 appropriated by the last Legislature, to be spent on the grounds. There is much, however, to show for this expenditure, and the Board feel that the General Assembly and the people of the State will be well pleased with the substantial character of the buildings contracted, and the beauty and convenience of the improvements generally. It will yet be necessary to provide for the erection of a main building for the exhibition of farm products, fruits, flowers, manufactures and fine arts, and for this purpose the Board has asked the present Legislature to make an appropriation of $50,000. This sum will erect a substantial and commodious building, and thus enable the Board to complete the grounds in time for the State Fair of the present year. I believe the Legislature, with your endorsement, will make this needed appropriation. If so, Ohio will be provided with facilities. for the exhibition of agricultural and mechanical products, second to none in the United States. I hope the members of this Convention, or as many who can, will visit the grounds and examine for themselves the work they have entrusted to the State Board, and I should also be pleased if every member of the Legislature would see the work that has been done, and which, by law, becomes State property, for I feel sure in that case, the needed appropriation to complete would be cheerfully voted. There is but one other matter to which I wish to draw your attention, and which may be thought worthy of consideration. Two years hence will dawn upon this now prosperous State, the centennial of the settlement of the Northwestern Territory, including that portion now known as the great State of Ohio. The wonderful progress that has been made since 1788 in transforming a wil derness into busy and densely populated cities, thrifty villages and broad acres of well cultivated fields, can hardly be realized except by tracing back our history as a State and noting the changes that each year have taken place. It seems to me right and proper that two years hence should be made a commemorative occasion, and a proper way would be by a grand exhibition represent ing the industries of the State, in which all the people could participate. Columbus would be the proper place for such an exhibition,-first, because it is the Capital of the State; and second, because it is readily accessible to every city, town and station within our borders, and is amply able to accommodate the thousands of our patriotic people who would hail with delight the opportunity to join in such a commendable testimony. The State Fair Grounds could be made to do duty in this connection, if the authorities of the State should so decide. This suggestion may seem premature to some, but it should be remembered that the preparation for an exhibition and celebration of this character would require time, more than can be crowded into one year. I simply allude to this subject as one worthy of your consideration and the attention of our General Assembly. Before closing, I desire to bear testimony to the faithful manner in which the members of the Board have represented you in the interests committed to their care. They have given much time and attention to your work and care. fully considered every proposition presented. As the presiding officer of the Board, I have had the able assistance and co operation of each member, and also of the Secretaries and clerk, who have been pressed with business that has been carefully transacted. Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention, and now await your pleasure in the further business of this Convention. The Treasurer submitted the following report: ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Being for the year ending December 31st, 1885. OHIO STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, The following statement, compiled from the Journal and Ledger record of itemized accounts, gives a complete summarized showing of the financial transactions of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture for the year 1885, ending December 31st, and is respectfully submitted, together with the books, vouchers, checks, etc., connected with the records from which the compilation is made. Respectfully, Percentage on speed entries..... ..... Percentage on class stock entries............................................. .................. .................. ..... Sale of exhibiters' tickets........ $3,478 50 1,707 45 $1,195 69 special tickets 53 50 .......................................... grand stand tickets..... general admission tickets...... 1,409 50 19,029 00 500 00 40 10 $29,706 51 Miscellaneous. From refund I. B. & W. R. R., account same......................................... .................. From surplus fertilizer license fees of 1884....................... ......................... ................ From W. I. Chamberlain, Sec'y, drawn from State appropriation and deposited to credit of Treasurer, to replace amount advanced from funds in Treasurers' hands, for expense of farmers' institutes, prior to passage of appropriation bill...... From W. I. Chamberlain, account of salary.. Jas. W. Fleming, Frank Fleming, 66 66 Blance from amount drawn for expense of members to New Orleans Exposition....... $728 62 418 71 416 65 312 50 125 00 141 05 70 00 66 refund by L. B. Harris, account same................................................................... 10 25 45 00 balance from amount drawn for expense of members attending Live Stock Convention at Chicago. From other miscellaneous sources................................................................................................................. Sale of bonds to the Deshler Bank, Nos. 1 to 120 inclusive, In the accounts, Salaries-Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Regular Clerk, and Crops and Institutes, is included the amounts advanced from funds in the Treasurer's hands prior to the passage of the appropriation bill for 1885, which amounts were drawn and re-deposited to Treasurers' credit at bank, as shown in receipts. |