THE STATE GRANGE 657 



farmers, and the proper steps are being taken to that end. This will call 

 upon state and local granges for assistance, and each should meet require- 

 ments when called upon. 



There are many matters of interest regarding the proceedings of the 

 National Grange that I would gladly convey to you but time will not 

 permit. 



PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRANGE. 



Pennsylvania is the strongest in granges and grange work of any. state 

 in the Union. Its record all along the line is a monument to successful 

 co-operation. It has successfully led a demand for a just revision of the 

 tax laws of the state whereby many millions of dollars formerly paid by 

 farm properties are now paid by those that escaped payment before. The 

 Pennsylvania State Grange held a special meeting at the same time of the 

 National meeting in order to entertain the National Grange the better. 

 Nothing was spared that would add to our comfort and entertainment. 

 The City of Harrisburg very complimentarily recognized our presence. 

 Governor Hastings called and encouraged us. 



INDIAN SCHOOL AND GETTYSBURG. 



Public receptions and excursions to the Carlisle Indian School and to 

 the battle field of Gettysburg were given. A description of either might 

 consume hours. I cannot, however, pass Gettysburg without brief notice. 

 It was here in July, 1863, that the Union and Confederate forces under 

 command of Generals Mead and Lee, respectively, fought the same ground 

 over and over again for three successive days. After reading about 

 Seminary Ridge, Culp's Hill, the Peach Orchard, the Wheat Field, Cem- 

 etery Hill, Round Top, Little Round Top. Devil's Den and the Valley 

 of Death, to go and see them seemed a revelation, for the scenes enacted, 

 as you have them pictured in your mind, came vividly before us, and the 

 silence of the many cannon that are standing here and there to mark the 

 places where, during those eventful days, they sent forth their flame of 

 death, seemed but in honor of the thousands of dead, sleeping in patriots' 

 graves near by. The scores of monuments, standing here and there over 

 that large tract of country, to mark the positions held by regiments and 

 army corps at the time of certain eventful periods in the battle, are 

 grateful tributes to heroism on the part of the several states that erected 

 them, and at the same time they tell a touching story of the cruelties of 

 war. At the close of this great struggle the contending forces were short 

 about forty thousand men. 



THE ORDER IN GENERAL. 



The Grange throughout the United States has made substantial growth 

 during the past year. Several of the weaker states are demonstrating 

 that they want the Grange, and are now gainiug ground rapidly. Notably, 

 Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Kentucky. Others are doing well and 

 show increased interest. One hundred and forty-one new and about 75 

 re-organized Granges have been added to the National list. 

 83 



