The Republicans of the 8th Ward are requested to meet at Hinnershitz's Hotel, Ninth and Washington Streets, this evening, at 7 1/2 o'clock, for the purpose of nominating Ward officers. A general attendance is expected.
Ensign H.M.M. Richards has been ordered to report at the Newport (R.I.) Torpedo Station. Mr. R. and wife left for Newport on Saturday morning.
J. Warren Tryon, Esq., of this city, was elected by the Grand Lodge, K. of P., which was in session in Philadelphia last week, D.D. Grand Chancellor of the Order of Knights of Pythias for the district of Berks.
A young man named John R. Stofflet was run over by the Liberty hose carriage, at the corner of Sixth and Canal streets, on Thursday night, and had his knee, ankle and thigh severely bruised.
There was a larger attendance at the annual meeting of the Berks County Agricultural Society, on Saturday, than has been known in the history of the organization for years.
There will be two City Auditors to be elected at the ensuing City Election, instead of one, Mr. John Keppleman having been elected by Councils to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Col. John E. Arthur, City Treasurer. The Councils only have power to fill vacancies until the election. This will necessitate the nomination of an additional candidate by the Republicans.
Mr. Calvin T. Sellers, of this city, the efficient and courteous Superintendent of the Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville Telegraph Company, was the recipient on Saturday of a handsome and costly silver service from the operators along the line. It could not have been donated to a more worthy gentleman, or to one who has the respect to a greater extent of the officials and employees of that Company.
A young man, a stranger, was found about 2 o'clock, yesterday morning, at the outer depot, with both legs cut off. He was taken into the oil house, where he died about 9 o'clock. He was last seen about midnight, when he was wandering about the depot, and was said to have been considerably under the influence of liquor. He gave his name as William Smith, said that he was from Oswego county, New York, and that he was employed as a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad. His age was about 22 years. The body was taken in charge by Mr. Charles Henninger Undertaker, 716 Penn street, and will be kept until tomorrow, and if not claimed then, a decent burial will be given it.
The alarm of fire on Saturday just before noon was caused by the burning of the japanning house at Keppleman's Foundry and Stove Works, on North Fifth street. A fire larger than usual had been built, on account of the japan becoming cold and stiff, and the japan took fire, which communicated to the building, a frame structure. The alarm brought out a number of fire companies, and the fire was extinguished before much damage was done.
An alarm was raised last evening about 8 o'clock, which was caused by the burning of some shavings and plank at the Furniture Factory of Schrader, Felix & Kline, 446 Washington Street. The firemen were promptly on the ground, and succeeding in putting out the flames before any material damage was done. The fire was an incendiary's work.
Our attentive correspondent at Lebanon sends the following particulars of two destructive fires in that place on Friday night and early Saturday morning. He says: "Last night, about half-past one o'clock, the bakery of Mrs. Buck, on Ninth street between Cumberland and Willow, was discovered to be on fire. The firemen by the utmost exertion saved the adjoining building, in which the family resided. There was a trifling insurance on the bakery in the Washington Mutual Company. About half past 4 o'clock this morning, after the firemen had gone home, the community was again startled by that terrible steam whistle of Coleman's and the ringing of the alarm bells. The foundry of Rosenberger & Light, on North Tenth street, was in flames. The fire spread to Reinoehl & Meily's planing mill and to an adjoining carpenter shop before it was checked by the firemen. Rosenberger & Light had an insurance of $5000 on their establishment in the Washington Mutual Company, but it is rumored that the policy is forfeited for negligence in paying assessments. It is to be hoped that this is untrue, for without this the loss is infinitely heavier than the amount of policy. Reinoehl & Meily had not yet insured their building, it being new. It is the intention of the parties to rebuild their establishments and resume business as soon as possible. It is believed that both these fires were the work of incendiaries."
The 20th annual meeting of the Berks County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was held on Saturday, January 27th, 1872, at the Court House, Reading, Pa., Isaac Eckert, Esq., in the chair. Reading of minutes of the last annual meeting not called for.
The president read the following report:
Gentlemen: The close of the 20th year of the existence of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Berks county is now at hand and reminds us of the necessity of making you a statement of the condition it is now in, suggesting and recommending such plans as are deemed advisable.
It is gratifying to inform you of the prosperous condition our improvements are in those alterations and additions made during the past year are all paid for and our finances leave a balance in the Treasury to pay ordinary expenses. At no one time since our organization could we say that our debts were paid, as we now can. The certificates of loan representing the ownership of the property are, until their money is refunded, the legal voters of this corporation, and when the owners of certificates will have been paid, the legal voters (as I understand it) will be the annual and life members again as in the origin of the Society.
As you are all aware our annual exhibition of 1871 was a complete success, both in character of stock and in a financial view; the meeting was earlier than in former years by some weeks, which suited the time of the ripening of fruit very well, and our display may be called magnificent through all the departments.
You will remember having upon your minutes a resolution authorizing the convertion of Certificates of Loan into life member tickets. This has worked very well, and has brought home a good many of them, losing their claim to that extent, and interesting in attendance a greater number to our list of friends.
For a detailed statement of our finances I call your attention to the report of our treasurer.
During the winter our Secretary wrote to one or more farmers in each township in Berks county, asking a statement of crops raised per acre in their respective districts. From nearly every township a return has been received. It does not fully present a faithful picture of the leading products of our county in detail, but in the main we gather the facts that wheat and corn yielded a full crop, and is of a good quality; hay of first crop light, but the second was abundant and of good quality; potatoes yielded well and are of perfect growth this year.
The grain furnished by the Agricultural Bureau for distribution does not appear to have met with favor. Very few, if any, have given as good accounts of its answering as well as our native wheat, so well known to our agriculturists.
During our Fair of last year our farmers exhibited a large number of thoroughbred animals, showing a marked improvement over any former Fairs held in this county, which fact is very encouraging to the members of this Society, as it is mostly through its influence that this favorable result has been attained. The superiority and goodness of blooded stock will soon force itself upon the attention of our farmers.
We now have among us the Durham, the Devons, the Ayshire, the Alderney, the Holstine and other breeds, recognized in the Herd Books peculiarly for their good points.
It is an undisputed fact that the return from a good blooded milker is far greater in proportion to food consumed, than from the "scrub" or inferior stock, and the cost of breeding them is the same. I need not mention the gratifying pleasure which the superior beauty of the well formed and thorough bred animal affords to the owner, not only to the owner but to every person having the pleasure to see them. Our Society may well consider itself compensated when its influence has brought about a general desire to improve their stock of cattle around their farms.
In regard to our claim against the State of Pennsylvania, which now amounts to nearly twenty-five hundred dollars, I will say, that a bill for the payment of the same, passed the Senate at the session of 1871, but failed in the House, where it did not receive the support we expected. Our claim is a just one, and if fairly represented would not fail to compensate us for part of our losses sustained during our late war. It appears to me that the appointing of a Committee to assist Mr. Lauer, in whose charge this claim was placed, to visit Harrisburg and renew our efforts early in the season, not waiting until a crowd of business will put it out of sight, would be a proper move.
Death has been busy amongst us during the past year and has called away some of our most active members, among whom I name the Hon. Chas. Kessler, President of the Society in 1853 and 1859; John Fehr, one of our most active and energetic members, a contributor in the Pomological department; Joseph Hemmig an active and useful member, attended at all times, and others whose assistance we can have no more.
Entering upon a new year with the strongest encouragement, I can merely say that I hope that we take encouragement in our joint action in support of the enterprise that brought us here to-day, with renewed exertions to make the next Fair still more interesting then any in the past.
I beg to tender my acknowledgements to the Hon. Frederick Watts, the well fitted Commissioner of Agriculture at Washington; to Hon. J. Lawrence Getz, our efficient member of Congress, for kind favors received, and to all the Ladies and Gentlemen who assisted in the work of the society the past year which very much lessened the duties of the officers; to A. Wilhelm, Esq., of Cornwall, for his kindness; to J.S. Cooper, Esq., of Cooperstown; J. Wiest, of Lancaster County; George Yound, of Lebanon and to the many other contributors to the exhibition, we offer our sincere thanks.
Col. H.R. Hawman, Chairman of the Committee on Grounds, presented the following report:
Reading, Pa., Jan. 27, 1872.
Isaac Eckert Esq.: At the close of the fiscal year of 1871, I, as Chairman of the Committee on Grounds, submit the following report:
The building of the dwelling on the grounds and the appointment of a Janitor on salary to live there and take care of the property of the Society, has worked most admirably. The grounds, fences and buildings are in fine order, the continued presence of the Janitor or his family keeping from the grounds and buildings, persons, who, before the adoption of this plan, made it a practice to trespass, purloining boards and other matters that they could use.
During the past year we have expended for lumber three hundred and sixty-six dollars, which was used in building a number of very fine cattle sheds, a needed and good improvement; a stand for the use of the Bands during the Fairs, a fine and permanent improvement and one much needed.
We have also erected an addition to the implement house in which the floral display of last Fair was held. Although not what it should be, it answered very well for that purpose.
We have made considerable improvement in the fences and other matters on the grounds.
The amount returned by the Treasurer as paid out for labor includes the watchmen, police, guards, and all other labor performed on the ground during the year.
The keeping the grounds closed during the summer has furnished us during the last years more hay than we use at our Fairs, doing away with an item of considerable expense.
Prior to the last Fair, the Committee ordered that none of the stands for the sale of eatables, etc., during the fair should be located along the east side of the exhibition hall, but should be placed against the track fronting the implement house.
Although the stands did not bring quite as much money at the sale, I am sure the satisfaction to exhibitors is the fact of a more perfect security from fire was felt and appreciated by that class of our friends besides giving the people that attended the fair the use of the ground formerly taken up by the mentioned stands.
On the whole, every matter connected with the grounds is in order.
Respectfully,
Henry R. Hawman,
Chairman Committee on Grounds
[Treasurer's account]
An election for officers of the Society for 1872 being in order, the President vacated the chair, and called upon Hon. Hiester Clymer to preside.
On motion of Hon. S.E. Ancona, Isaac Eckert, of Reading, was re-elected President.
On motion of Peter D. Wanner, Esq., Henry Flannery of Union, Wm. Taylor of Heidelberg, Marks B. Scull of Reading and Solomon Kirby of Maidencreek, were elected Vice Presidents of the Society.
On motion of George Lerch, Esq., Hon. Geo. W. Bruckman, of Reading was re-elected Treasurer.
On motion of Isaac Eckert, Esq., Frank B. Shalters, of Reading, was re-elected Secretary.
On motion of John L. Rightmeyer, Esq., B. Frank Boyer, Esq., was elected Corresponding Secretary.
On motion of H.R. Hawman, Esq., Peter D. Wanner and James T. Reber were elected Auditors.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be tendered to the President and officers of the Society for the able manner in which the affairs of the Society were conducted the past year.
Mr. Clymer vacated the chair, Mr. Eckert resuming his place, then on motion it was
Resolved, That the President appoint a committee of three to act in conjunction with Mr. Lauer in prosecuting our claim against the state.
The President appointed Hon. Hiester Clymer, Hon Jeremiah Hagenman and Col. Henry R. Hawman as said committee.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the President appoint the committee of Arrangements for 1872 at his leisure, and announce it through the press.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the privilege of converting shares of loan into life membership be extended for the fiscal year of 1872.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the Treasurer be directed to place five hundred dollars of the money now in the treasury on interest, not less than 6 percent, until October 18th, 1872, said interest to be for the benefit of the Society.
The President announced that the Hon. J.L. Getz had forwarded a large number of reports of 1870; to be distributed to the members, when on motion of George Lerch, Esq., it was
Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be tendered to Hon. J.L. Getz, our member of Congress for the reports just distributed.
Hon. S.E. Ancona offered the following which were adopted:
Resolved, That this Society has heard with deep sensibility the announcement of the deaths of Hon. Charles Kessler, Joseph Hemmig and John Fehr, who were among the earliest and most active promoters of the interests of the Society.
Resolved that in the deaths of these gentlemen the Society has sustained an irreparable loss.
The President called the attention of the members to samples of Probsteier and Excelsior Oats on the table from Wm. Newton, Esq., of Henrietta, New York, which were inspected and much admired.
The President also announced that he had received a variety of sample seeds from N.P. Boyer & Co., of Parkesburg, Chester county, Pa., which were distributed.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
Frank B. Shalters, Secretary
The subscriber takes this opportunity to thank the Fire Department for the promptness and efficiency displayed by them at the fire which occurred to his property on Saturday morning last.
John Keppleman
W.H. Mechting, Phil.
A. Stoudt, Shoemak've
C. Melcher, Fleetw
J. Shappel, Shoemak'v
D.M. Heitner, Slatingt'n
D. Haley, Douglasville
W.R. Merkel, Pa.
H.H. Lenhart, Hamb'g
G.K. Yorgey, Douglasv
J.B. Stryker, Sch Hav'n
A.H. Gernant, Leesp't
J.H. Gernant, do
J.L. Moyer, Stouchsb'g
W.K. Shollenberger, Phil.
L. Guth, Leesport
T. Penrose, Maidenc'k
W. Fulmer, Topton
T. Shaner, Boyertown
D. Bornemann, do
J. Lewis, Robeson
J.S. Parvin, Leesport
H.H. Fegeley, Moselem
L.B. Butz, Phil.
E. Sailer, Pottsville
W. Rahn, Leesport
T.B. Carver, Myerst'n
D.F. Minahan, Lebanon
S. Guildford, do
J.B. Huttten, Phil.
H.M. Nagle, Reading
W.K. Huey, Shartlesv
C.M. Shrom, Hamb
T.A. Baldwin, Hamb
R. Herbein, Leesport
A.W. Kaufman, Bland
P.W. Fisher, Topton
J. Maley, Douglasville
S.H. Lenhart, Shoem'kv
Elias Becker, do
T. Mengel, Ontelaunee
H.E. Bard, Robesonia
D.B. Fisher, Leesport
W.G. Hendershit, Oxford, NJ
J.M. Merz & wf, Williamsport
J.S. Koch, Pottstown
?.M. Darpnie, Chest co.
?.M. Schonour, Womd'f
P. Rehil, Boylen Spring
Submitted by Nancy.
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