312 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoC. 



than from all the rest of Pennsylvania combined, I do not think I am 

 exaggerating in the least. Lying on top of that limestone is a fine, 

 productive soil, and we are proud of the agricultural interests of 

 this county. One day, as I was riding through the county on a train 

 and we had passed into the section where myself and Mr. Seeds 

 reside, a lady said to a gentleman sitting by her: "My! I believe half 

 the people of this county commit suicide." And the gentleman said: 

 ""Why?" She said: "Look at those hills and bluffs; there is nothing 

 to live on.'' Up on those hills there is as fine land as there is any- 

 where in Pennsylvania, and 1 have y^t to know of any one commit- 

 ting suicide there. 



This county has been devoted to agriculture for one hundred 

 and thirty-five to one hundred and forty years. Our forefathers 

 came here from the eastern sections and settled, and have been 

 following the pursuits of agriculture for that length of time. The 

 farm that I have the pleasure of owning and living on has been cul- 

 tivated for one hundred and thirty years, and others in this section 

 have been for nearly the same time. We have, besides the agricul- 

 tural, other interests. We have a county that has produced a 

 number of great men. We have contributed to the welfare and the 

 building up of this Commonwealth. We have had the honor of hav- 

 ing a Governor, Potter; a Secretary of Internal Affairs, J. Simpson 

 Africa; an Auditor General, General Gregg; two United States Sen- 

 ators, John Scott and William A. Wallace, two of the levelest 

 headed men of this Commonwealth and a number of Congressmen. 

 Among others, I might mention R. Milton Spear, whom I consider 

 one of the brightest men Pennsylvania has produced, H. J. Fisher 

 and a host of others. 



We have a number of interests here that I would like you to visit, 

 among which are the J. C. Blair Manufacturing Company, the Key- 

 stone Manufacturing Company and many others. We have situ- 

 ated in this county the Silica Brick Works at Mt. Union; the coal 

 operations at East Broad Top and other industries. We have 

 also located at the end of town a State Normal School, known 

 as the Juniata College, of which our friend. Prof. M. G. Brumbaugh, 

 is president; and on the outskirts of the town is located the Hunt- 

 ingdon Kcformatory, one of the finest institutions of its kind in the 

 State. All of these extend to you a cordial welcome. I know that 

 your <'oming amongst us will do oui* agricultural interests good and 

 I hope your stay will be a pleasant one. 



We are now ready to proceed with the program of the evening. 



HON. A. L. MARTIN: Before starting upon the program proper, 

 it might be well that we have a committee elected or appointed to 

 take charge of what is known as the "question box," to collect ques- 



