The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-11
FARMERS EXCURSIONS TO RALEIGH
DURING THE SUMNER.
AFARMERS' SUMMER SCHOOL AT COLLEGE
Low Railroad Rates Would Secure Large At
tendance and the Institute Work Could
be Conducted by Officers of the
Agricultural Department and
Members Of the Co..
lege Faculty.

What a great institution could be
made of this" said President Winston
the other day of the North Carolina Col
lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts
''My head is full of plans by which this
might be done, if only we had a little
more money and the cooperation of the
public spirited people of the State, as we
now have"
Just what these plans were DR.. Win
ston did not state at that time, but yes
terday referring to the quickness and
ease with which the students are repair
ing the damage done by the fire Tues
day night, and the mechanical skill dis
played by many men now in college there,
he said
I'VE need a manual training school in
connection with the college-a school in
which men may be taught both in theory
and by actual work to be skilled mechan-
les, carpenters, blacksmiths and the like.
Already we have fine chronological
college, but such an institution is never
quite complete without a manual train
ing school in connection with it,
Another plan that DR.. Winston has for
popularizing the A. and NJ. College and
at the same time directly benefitting
the agricultural interests of the State. is
by securing from the railroads blanket
rate for Farmers Excursions" to be
run here during the summer months.
Il don't know that I'll be able to do
it, he said, "but I'm convinced that it
would be good thing for all concerned.
1t would give the farmers of the State
a pleasant and inexpensive trip, that
would both afford them a much needed
rest and broaden their experience Of
men and affairs. They would visit their
State capitaT and become familiar with
the college which, above all others, is
theirs and stands for their profession.
Raleigh people would be glad to have
them here and the railroads would make
money by bringing them.
These roads could afford to give
and should give a blanket rate of So to
Raleigh and return. to any farmer or
member of farmers family in the State,
on these excursions-no matter how far
away he may live. BY this means those
who live in the extreme east and west
could afford to come. The railroads
might protect themselves in this against
others than bona fide farmers by requir-
ing that proper certificate should be
made here before the ticket would be
good for transportation back.
"The northern railroads run labor eX-
cursons for factory employees on SINH
lar plan"
And it may be added just here that if
Dr. Winston's idea is ever adopted it
will go long way toward solving the
Farmers Institute problem with which
the Commissioner of Agriculture is now
wrestling In his report to the Agricul-
tural Board the other day Mr.. Patterson
said that the Institutes as now conducted
were not the success they ought to be.
He recommended change, and sug-
gested that instead of holding these farm
ers' meetings here and yonder all over
the State a number of permanent sta
tions-say some twelve or fifteen, in
different sections of the State-be select
ed and that at these Institutes be reg
ularIy held. Under the present haphazard
system of holding them the Institutes are
seldom well attended, and often there IS
difficulty in securing the assistance of
professors from the A. and NJ. College in
holding them.
Now if Dr. Winston's plan for Farm
ers Excursions" can be adopted these
difficulties will be overcome. Institutes
can be held here all summer after the
crops are ''Iaid by''-a sort of summer
school for farmers, at which the Com
missioner of Agriculture, the State Chem
list, the State Botanist and all the faculty
of the A. and M. College will be present
and give instruction.