The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-05-18
Farmers, Institute at wasco.

representatives of the State Agricultural
college is sample of what that institu-
ton is doing all over the state its impor-
tance to the farmers of Oregon cannot be
overestimated. The meeting commenced
on Wednesday morning and continued,
with Intervals for sleep and meals. till
II p. m. Thursday. There was large
attendance of the farmers for miles
around Wasco, who with one voice pro-
nounced the meeting complete success.
Two of the college professors, Messrs.
French and Letcher, read papers especi
ally prepared for the occasion and good
naturedly submitted themselves to the
cross-examination of the audience.
Professor Letcher made an interesting
statement as to the object and work of
the agricultural college, a synopsis of
which has already appeared in these
columns. s. K. Husbands, of Mosier,
read an interesting paper on Rural Life
and Home on the Farm" Superin-
tendent J. B. Hosford read a very ex-
cellent paper on "Our Public Schools"
D. Harrington, of Lower Fifteen Mile,
gave an excellent essay on Poultry
Raising Professor French read
paper on 'Silos and Ensilage," which
elected much enquiry and discussion.
1t dealt largely with the results obtained
by actual experiments at the college
farm and the writer has obtained
paper shall be prepared for publication
in these columns in the near future
The chairman, John Medler, read a
paper conveying some valuable sugges-
tions on Summer Fallowing" Prof.
Letcher read carefully prepared essay
on road-making. William Holder.
lecturer of the state grange, delivered
ringing address on Farmers Organiza-
tions." County Clerk V. C. Brock gave
some valuable facts and figures relating
to the question of Transportation, and
Professor French closed with paper on
the "Cause of Smut in Wheat" In the
absence of Mrs. A. G. Freeman, who was
on the programme for an essay on Flow
ers," and General Varney who was
billed for one on horticulture inter,
esting impromptu speeches were made
on these subjects and much valuable in
formation was brought out on the sub
ject of fruit pests and the means of ex-
terminating them. Excellent music was
furnished by a choir of picked voices
and by the Wasco brass and string
bands. Each day at the noon hour a
fine basket dinner was spread to which
all were freely invited. The meeting
from commencement to close was in
tensely interesting and profitable. The
professors succeeded admirably in in
fusing some of their own enthusiasm
into their audience whose rigid cross-ex-
aminations they bore with the utmost
good humor and patience and thus two
days were spent III imparting andreceiv-
instructions which will long be reme1n-
bered with pleasure by all the partici-
bants.
The Portage Road to Be Built at Last.
Portland Oregonian.l
The state of Oregon, despairing of aid
from the general government in the mat
ter of the construction of portage rail-
way around the Cascades, has at last de-
cided to build one out of its own funds.
The farmers of the Inland Empire, the
merchants and trades-people of Portland
and residents of the state generally
(since whatever benefits one section, is
in a greater or less degree benefit to
all), will rejoice that the question of
''how not to do it, has at last been set
tied, and the dependence upon outside
assistance being broken, that self-help
has been intelligently determined upon,
and that for the first time in all the his
tory of the long struggle to secure an
topen river" there is reasonable pros
pect of the speedy fulfilIment of the
proposition. The late legislature, in ap-
proprIating $50, 900 for this purpose,
placed it in the power of the state to
help itself in improving its commercial
facilities. The necessary red tape has
been reeled off, and work will be begun
on the road at once, with a prospect of
completing it in time to move the vast
surplus of the wheat crop OF Eastern
Oregon and Washington this year.
This last statement has familiar sound;
so familiar, indeed, that but for the fact
that there is back of it sturdy determi-
nation on the part of the people to do it,
it would be received with incredulity.
The action of the board of portage COM
missiohers in pushing this matter, in the
face of official obstacles, to point which
promises long-sought relief to the con-
congested commercial condition of a
large portion of the state, is commend
able, and will no doubt be commended
| by all citizens.
| A movement in its incipiency in Vir-
| ginia has for it's object the removal from
| Baltimore to Richmond of the body of
the late General Joseph E. Johnston.
The illustrious Confederate was a Vir-
ginian born. s4
| -