Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-03
Money Value of Intelligence.

Every thoughtful man recognizes
the money value Of intelligence IN a
community. 1t is for this, in part,
that the State builds school houses,
and furnishes free education to the
masses. acknowledge is power;"-
even the ignorant respect it, and
pay it many an involuntary compli-
ment. The power consists IN the
ability to better ones condition
more rapidly; and in doing that,
such are the relations of men to each
other, they usually benefit all around
them. The improvements on a
piece of real estate do not affect the
owner alone, but indirectly extend
to the neighborhood, and next find
their way to the assessors books
and thus benefit the nation. 1t is
like the ripple which apcbble starts
when thrown into the water-it
spreads wider and wider, and
though after awhile the visible cf-
feet disappears, we know that it
does affect the whole body, no mat
ter how large. So when something
is added to the worlds wealth, it
benefits the whole world, although
we may not be able to trace its full
effects.
When an enterprising man buys
a run down, neglected farm, with
rickety and dilapitated buildings,
and at once proceeds to improve it,
clears up the unsightly fence cor
ners, drains the wet land, pulls out
stumps or rocks, moves the barn to
the back of the house, and sets the
new house 4 little distance back
from the highway, lays out lawn,
with pleasant walks, and shade
trees and hedges; brings blooded
stock with him and causes his acres
to produce three-fold more than ev-
er before, what man is SO stupid as
not to recognize that that is pecu-
mary gain to the neighborhood?
No matter how selfish the owner
may be at heart, if he makes his
farm more valuable, he does the
same, to some extent, to all around
him. The neighbors like to see a
handsome farm near them, even if
they never think of selling, and
when they do try to sell, the pros
pectlvc buyer will invariably have
his attention called to the handsome
property over the way, or which
adjoins, or at least is not far off,
Spectators holding unimproved
lands, like nothing so well as to be
able to say because nothing is so
potent that it lies in the very best
of neighborhoods, is surrounded
by rich farms in the highest state
Of culture, in delightful region of
walks and drives; that the people
are all intelligent, and their tastes
refined; that schools and churches
abound; and that the value of the
land has been proved by the extra
ordinary yield of crops on the ada
cent farms. When these things can
be said truthfully, the sales are
comparatively easy, and that at the
highest prices.
Does not every enterprising farm
er see then-as well as those who
are not farmers-that there is mo-
ney value in intelligence, and that
the rapiditv of its spread concerns
them very closely? Improvements
on ones own place are well, wise
and admirable; but so are improve
ments around you. There should
be, then, no neglect of the means.-
Every agency which will promote
farm intelligence should be employ
ed and kept up. Farmers Clubs
are useful and have done a vast deal
of good. Agricultural libraries in
connection with them are often es-
tablished, and are very useful
their influence is felt on some minds
which might not be otherwise
reached. The dissemination Of ag-
ricultural papers is also useful, and
indeed among the best of agencies,
because, like the Club meetings,
they come at regular intervals, and
serve to keep dull minds awake, and
that when good book might be
laid away and forgotten. They are
even more regular than Club meet
ings, because bad weather, bad
roads, or poor health frequently
prevents attendance, and then the
interest decreases. They bring,
week. y-or monthly, as the case
may be-fresh thought, fresh cxpc-
riences, fresh records of new and
important experiments, all serving
to awaken thought and investiga-
ton, and to incite fresh efforts in
the line Of improvements. Some of
the contents may be crude, some alb
surd even, but the reading of such
things often does good by awaken
ing thought and confirming man
in the right course by it's contrast
with what is plainly wrong or i'm
practicable.
A textbook on some branch of
agriculture is valuable for study and
reference in the hands of those
whose habit it is to seek informa-
ton, and are ready always to re-
fresh their memories from the ex-
periencc of others, but in the hands
of the average man it may soon be
laid aside and forgotten. The pa
per is better for him, and is good