ANNUAL MEETING. 37 



makes it possible for tlie farmers to get the daily papers every evening 

 to read at their own firesides. We used to have to be satisfied with a 

 weekly paper, which we got when we Avent to town on Saturday. 



By getting together here and exchanging views you will still further 

 improve the conditions of yourselves and your neighbors. And not only 

 that, but by the exhibitions you give at our State and county fairs you 

 are interesting the public in your work. 



Allow me to say again that in behalf of the city of Indianapolis we 

 welcome you. We are glad to have you with us, and we want you to 

 enjoy while you are here all the good things we have in the city. I 

 think we have the most beautiful, the most progressive, and I might 

 say the most moral inland city in the world. We are pleased to have 

 you come to us in conventions like this, bringing the highest and the best 

 from the various parts of the State of Iildiana. 



In conclusion I will say that, as far as lies in my power, anything 

 I can do to make your stay pleasant will be gladly done, even to giving 

 you the keys of the city. And if anything should happen to you while 

 you are here, if you will call me up I will see that our metropolitan 

 police force will furnish you a conveyance to take you to your various 

 places of abode. The fact of the matter is that I have already had one 

 call. Mr. Conger has sent word that he wants a patrol wagon to help 

 him to get to hi^ home at 7 o'clock this evening. He said he had fallen 

 into bad company and hud been kept up until 3 o'clock this morning, and 

 he would need our help to get home. 



I am verj' glad to have met you, and would be glad to have you come 

 to my office while you are in the city. There I shall be glad to shake 

 you by the hand. 



The following reports were read by Secretary Downing: 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Indianapolis, January 5, 1904. 



To the President and Members of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture: 



Gentlemen— I herewith submit a report of the receipts and disburse- 

 ments of the Indiana State Board of Agriculture for the year ending 

 January 5, 1904, as follows: 



Receipts. 



Balance in Treasurer's hands January 5, 1903 $2,213 25 



Appropriations from the State $10,000 00 



Rent from track, stable and grounds 2,433 18 



Stall and pen rent 2,009 00 



Privileges 5,277 60 



Admissions 33,017 25 



