The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-01-02
SCIENTIFIC FARMING
is MAKING PROGRESS
Farmers Telephones in Iowa.

The farmer has learned that success
means he must be in the same quick
touch with the worlds affairs as the
banker OF the business man. The
telephone supplies this need and
completes the circuit between
agriculture and commerce. 1t is ut
last possible for the formation oil
mutual companies in communities LOT
the construction OF lines with circuit
of 20 to so miles at the bare cost OF
material and labor.
The Iowa Co Mutual Telephone Co is
the result of a proposition by three or
more farmers to erect a private line for
neighborhood use. This was the nucleus
az a company OF 40 farmers aud q
number Of business and professional
men who subscribed for stock i'm the
corporation in shares of S25 each The
capital stock of the corporation was
fixed at $1,000 to commence business,
when one-half was paid in. 1t might be
increase d by vote to any sum not
exceeding 10000.
Each holder OF one share Of stock is
entitled to the use OF the line and the
telephone box placed in his residence.
Patrons OF outsiders are charged for
the use Of the line at the rate Of l5c for
the first five minutes and DC for each
additional five minutes. Each
stockholder collects the fee and RENTS
at stated periods TO the treasurer.
Each member having box is at the
expense of keeping the instrument in
repair. The outside use Of the line is
depended upon for keeping up the
necessary expenses. The aystem 10
operated with the Bell plug stop device,
each box.holder is furnished code Of
signals OF ringe and each subscriber
has an individual call signal.
The line starts at Genoa Blnif, an
inland postoffice, having several
branches from the main lire en- route,
running to Marengo, by way of I.adora,
a distance of IS miles. The cost of the
line was about s6.65 per mile.
A continuation OF the line southwark
and east is in contemplation, besides
numerous branches, so that this IS
miles Of farmers telephone is only a
small beginning of the network Of
wire.web that will knh together these
prosperous rural communities.
Teaching Farming ia School
In the manner and methods Of teach.
ing agriculture in the public schools
some Of the countries of Europe are
away ahead Of ne. School gardens are a
feature of Sweden, Austria, Belgium,
France aud Switzerland and TO the
training which the boys receive, more
than to anything else, may be ascribed
the fact that Swedes are the hest GARDEN
ers Of any OF the immigrant lAhortrs who
come TO this country. Whee possible
a garden OF an acre or 30 is attached TO
the school. In this are plante' fruit and
shude trees, vegetables, How're and
plants OF different kinds, for botanical
purposes. The instruction lie ehlnently
practical and consists OF the can Of the
garden and lectures based upS the
growing plants. Such instructtl not
only inculcates love for things bauti.
ful, but has proved of great benet in
introducing new aud improved met DDS
throughout the farming districts. Mich
taste is displayed in laying ont rnny
Of the gardens and in beautlfYng Se
school grounds. This system can vi
be adopted in this country and in h
few instances where II has been trie
the results are highly satisfactory. !
General Purpose Parming. III
The general purpose farmer who isa
good gardener gets better living for
himself and family than the special crop
farmer. lie raises his own dairy pros
duets, beef, pork and mutton, eggs and
fowls, fruit aud vegetables, and II he
wants 70 eat them he is not Obliged to
stop and count the cost. lie has no fear
of starvation through the stoppage Of
railroads or strikes. lie is not az badly
affected by poor season, Tor he has
several crops 10 depend upon, and as he
usually sells more than he bnys u is an
,.,.,, ,,,attar IN kaan mt of debt.