516 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The value of these sessions of the Farmers' National Con- 

 gress is made apparent by the diversity of public questions 

 which come before it for discussion and action, and by the 

 practical questions aflecting the community at large which it 

 seeks to lay before Congress and the State Legislatures for 

 their action. 



Some of the States make provision for the payment of the 

 expenses of their delegates, while others do not ; but it 

 seems to your delegates that a provision made for paying 

 the expenses of a limited numl)er of delegates would be wise, 

 as it would insure a representation in the body, a desirable 

 consideration in itself. 



A closing paragraph or two relating to Indiana and 

 Indianapolis. Indiana was settled in the last half of the 

 eighteenth century, and was admitted into the Union of 

 States in 1816. It has an area of 33,809 square miles, 

 divided into 92 counties, and in 1890 it contained a popula- 

 tion of 2,192,404. It is a fertile and productive agricultural 

 State. The acreage under wheat cultivation for the year 

 1896, according to the report of the Bureau of Statistics, 

 was 2,862,236, — an increase over 1895 of 144,048 acres; 

 producing 24,574,853 bushels, — an average of 8.5 bushels 

 to the acre. The corn product for the same period was 

 3,706,146 bushels; oats, 1,098,700; rye, 148,899; barley, 

 33,222; potatoes, 1,451,272; pigs enumerated, 1,159,939; 

 hogs, 1,452,715; sheep, 832,538; lambs, 511,578; wool 

 clip, 4,691,883 pounds; horses, 692,917; mules, 60,075; 

 milch cows, 468,096 ; and all other cattle, 495,066. The 

 productiveness of the State of Indiana is a marvel to one 

 who has spent his life in New England, where climate and 

 soil are less favorable for the production of agricultural 

 staples. 



Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, and its chief city, is 

 situated in the centre of the State, upon an extensive level 

 plain ; was first settled in 1819 ; made the capital and laid 

 out in 1821 ; chartered as a town in 1836 and as a city in 

 1847. It is an important railroad centre, has a large trade 

 in grain and other agricultural products ; contains many 

 houses of commercial importance, commodious business 

 structures, good hotels and many fine private dwellings. It 



