THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 53 



was found. Many of them were exhibited at the meeting. 6 

 On the same evening Vice President F. W. Putnam spoke 

 of the results of a search among the heaps on the coast of 

 Maine. 7 



Monday, Jan. 15, 1883. Mr. S. S. Blanchard, 

 formerly of Boston, now of Fargo, Dakota, gave a 

 familiar talk on Dakota, alluding to its resources, the fer- 

 tility of its soil, its large crops raised with little labor, 

 the mineral products, etc. He also spoke of the social 

 advantages, schools, churches, and other public institu- 

 tions. Wheat farming was particularly noticed and a 

 large picture of the harvesting of wheat on the Ingraham 

 farm was shown ; on these large farms machinery is being 

 largely introduced and farming is reduced to a system. 



Monday, Feb. 26, 1883. E. W. Kinsley, Esq., of 

 Boston, spoke informally on Mexico and its business re- 

 sources. He alluded to the steamers between New York 

 and Vera Cruz in complimentary terms. The beautiful 

 scenery of the country by rail from Vera Cruz through 

 the moUntainous districts was fully described and also the 

 magnificent views as one descends into the city of Mexico ; 

 the hotels were comfortable and rapidly adopting modern 

 improvements. A visit to one of the large haciendas with 

 the immense crops stored in large warehouses was fully 

 sketched. A very enthusiastic and hopeful account of 

 the Mexican Central and Atchison and Topeka Kailroads 

 was given. 



Monday, March 5, 1883. Vice President F. W. 

 Putnam spoke on the recent explorations that he had 

 made in the valley of the Little Miami Eiver, in Ohio, 



See Bulletin Essex Inst., Vol. XIV, p. 158. 

 7 See Bulletin Essex Inst., Vol. XIV, p. 161. 



