CHICAGO MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

THOUGH placed so near the bottom of our list, this is well nigh, if not quite entitled, to "out rank" all the other active associations in the state. It is a local organization of great worth and practical utility; and circumstances occurring since the presentation of this report to the general assembly have invested it with a peculiar interest in the eyes of the State Agricultural Society. A full history of the Chicago Mechanics' Institute, (or materials for constructing it,) was promised for this volume; but circumstances, needless to name, have prevented.

The exact date of the creation of this society is not known to the writer. It was incorporated by act of legislature, February, 1843, and has held six annual fairs-all more or less abundantly successful, and especially creditable to the mechanics of Chicago. Here was shown the first model of Atkins' Raker, and other inventions of the state of Illinois; and indeed several of the fairs of the Institute have surpassed those of the state society in the show of art and inanufacture-the product of the genius and skill-the enterprise and energy of the head and hand workers of Illinois.

This association has also encouraged a show of the products of the field and forest, the orchard and garden, and has held trials of agricultural implements, and in various other ways invited the attendance and co-operation of the farmers of Cook county. And in this liberal policy of a kindred society may be found the reason why Cook county has no agricultural organization; and may, perhaps, also account for the premature death of the horticultural society of the so called Garden City.

The Institute has a library of three or four hundred volumes, which is open to members and their sons and apprentices. The hall is lighted up evenings, and the board of directors holds weekly meetings. During the winter public lectures are given; and at one time this was a prominent feature in the doings of the Institute.

Such influences are not always apparent to those most affected by them; but in our opinion the city of Chicago is greatly indebted to the associated mechanincs for its wonderful growth and progress. The declared objects of the Institute are, "to establish schools, hold fairs, and excite emulation among the mechanics, and bring their work to the notice of the public." And well have these objects been accomplished. What western city has more or better public schools? What society in Illinois has held more or more successful coun

ty fairs? And where is there a more healthy and friendly emulation--and where a new city, the handy work of whose mechanics is better known to the western public?

Twenty-one years ago, the writer of this notice saw the wild wet "Skokie" stretching for leagues-only dotted, here and there, with a rude cabin or "shingle palace" of the squatter order of architecture, where since

"Uprose like magic the proud dome,"

and almost literally a stretch of leagues of swart workshops, with the neat, and often tasty residences of Chicago's mechanics now cover this same wet prairie -to pass over, or rather through which, we hired a guide, (and found it a wise precaution) not twenty years ago.

Such men (still operating there) as John Gage, ex-mayor Gray, Dr. William H. Kennicott and alderman Granger, were among its early officers and present members; and some four or five years ago, "Dr. J. A. Kennicott," dentist of Chicago (not our "old doctor" of THE GROVE, the Prairie Farmer and state society) was exceedingly active as the secretary of the board of di rectors; and did memory serve, in the absence of notes, we should be tempted to extend this list of those to whom, we think, Chicago owes much of her present and prospective prosperity, in connection with the action of her associated mechanics.

The officers of the Institute, for the current year, are

President-C. T. Boggs.

Recording Secretary and Librarian-C. E. Holmes.

Corresponding Secretary-H. W. Zimmerman.

Directors-E. Granger, J. L. Milliken, L. H. Waterhouse, H. W. Zimmerman, N. Mason, S. D. Childs.

Secretary of Board-S. D. Childs.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CONVENTION.

HELD AT GRANVILLE, NOVEMBER 18, 1851.

In accordance with previous notice, a convention of farmers was held at Granville, Putnam county, on Tuesday, the 18th day of November, 1851. The attendance was quite large, and from various parts of the state.

The convention organized by appointing Hon. Oaks Turner, of Hennepin, chairman, pro tem., and Mr. M. Osman, of Ottawa, secretary pro tem.

Mr. Ralph Ware moved that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to nominate permanent officers for the convention, which was agreed to; whereupon the chair appointed Messrs. Ralph Ware, John Hise, and Sidney Pulsifer said committee.

The committee, after a few minutes' absence, returned and reported the following persons as permanent officers of the convention.

President-Hon. Oaks Turner.

Vice Presidents-Hon. Wm. Reddick, of Ottawa, and Prof. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville.

Recording Secretary-Mr. M. Osman.

Corresponding Secretary-Mr. Ralph Ware, of Granville.

On motion,

The report was adopted and the committee discharged.

The President then stated that he was not fully advised as to the real objects of the convention, and suggested that some one better qualified should make them known.

Mr. Ware stated that according to the call, they had met to take into consideration such measures as might be deemed most expedient to further the interests of the agricultural community, and particularly to take steps towards the establishment of an agricultural university.

On motion of Mr. Greble,

A committee of three was appointed to report business upon which the convention should act. The committee consisted of Mr. John Greble, Prof. J. B. Turner, and Mr. Lewis Weston.

During the absence of this committee, short addresses were delivered by Messrs. Hise, Greble, Ware, and others.

The committee returned, and stated that they would not be fully prepared to report before evening; and suggested that the afternoon be devoted to a general

discussion of such subjects pertaining to agriculture as might present themselves.

A lively discusion was then commenced on various subjects, in which Powell, of Mt. Palatine, Butler, of Spoon River, Greble, of Putnam county, Weston, of La Salle county, Gilmer, of Granville, Reddick, of Ottawa, and others participated.

After which the convention adjourned until half past six o'clock in the evening.

EVENING SESSION.

The convention was called to order by the chairman.

Prof. Turner, as chairman of the committee on business, reported the following resolutions for the future action of the convention:

Resolved, That we greatly rejoice in the degree of perfection to which our various institutions, for the education of our brethren engaged in professional scientific and literary pursuits, have already attained, and in the mental and moral elevations which those institutions have given them, and their consequent preparation and capacity for the great duties in the spheres of life in which they are engaged; and that we will aid, in all ways consistent, for the still greater perfection of such institutions.

Resolved, That on the representations of the industrial classes, including all cultivators of the soil, artisans, mechanics and merchants, we desire the same privileges and advantages for ourselves, our fellows and our posterity, in each of our several pursuits and callings as our professional brethren enjoy in theirs; and we admit that it is our own fault that we do not also enjoy them. Resolved, That, in our opinion, the institutions originally and primarily designed to meet the wants of the professional classes, as such, cannot in the nature of things, meet ours, no more than the institutions we desire to establish for ourselves could meet theirs therefore,

Resolved, That we take immediate measures for the establishment of a university in the state of Illinois, expressly to meet those felt wants of each and all the industrial classes of our state; that we recommend the foundation of high schools, lyceums, institutes, &c., in each of our counties, on similar principles, so soon as they may find it practic ble so to do.

Resolved, That, in our opinion, such institutions can never impede, but must greatly promote, the best interests of all those institutions.

After reading the above resolutions, Prof. Turner proceeded, in an able and interesting manner, to unfold his plan for the establishment and maintenance of the industrial university.

The convention then adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.

WEDNESDAY MORNING, Nov. 19.

Met pursuant to adjournment.

On motion,

The resolutions were again taken up and read, and after some deliberation, severally adopted.

Mr. Hise offered the following resolutions :

Resolved, That we approve of the general plan for an Illinois state university for the industrial classes, presented by Prof. B. Turner, and request him to furnish the outlines of his plan, presented to this convention, to the committee of publication, for publication in the Prairie Farmer, and all other papers in this state which will publish the same; and that one thousand copies be published in pamphlet form for gratuitous distribution.

Resolved, That W. A. Pennell, M. Osman, L. L. Bullock, and Ralph Ware, be a committee of publication.

Resolved, That the committee of publication forward to each editor in every county in the state a copy of the publications of this convention, with a request that they should publish the same; and also send a copy to our governor, senators and representatives and state officers, and to all others who may be interested in the same.

Resolved, That each member of this convention do all in his power to promote the circulation and reading of the above publications, and through this and other means to secure as far as practicable, speakers to lecture on the subject in each of the counties in the state.

Resolved, That Messrs. J. B. Turner and Marcus Morton, of Morgan county; James McConnell, Elijah Iles, and David L. Gregg, of Sangamon county; John Davis, of Decatur; John Woods, of Quincy; John Hise, of La Salle county; Aaron Shaw, of Lawrence county; John Dougherty, of Union county; L. S. Pennington, of Whiteside county; W. J. Phelps, of Elm Wood, Peoria county; and Dr. Ames, of Winnebago county, be a central committee, to call a state convention to meet at Springfield at an early hour of the next session of the legislature, or at such other time and place as they and the friends of the cause may deem most expedient.

Resolved, That this convention earnestly solicit the governor of this state to enumerate in the call for an extra session of the legislature, should one be held before the next regular session, the objects of this convention in the estab lishment of an industrial university, as business to be acted upon by that body at that time.

Resolved, That a memorial and petitions be prepared and furnished by the publishing committee for the purpose of petitioning the legislature upon this subject.

During the discussion of these resolutions the convention adjourned till 1 o'clock, P. M.