Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-07-25
Picked Up For the Courier.


Meeting former Kansas farmer in
the road the other day he called our
attention to the curious migratory
flight of the Rocky mountain chop
pers". Shading the eyes and looking
toward the sun myriads of these very
destructive little creatures could be
seen taking flight for new fields and
pastures green. AS they were sailing
high in air on the wings of the wind
their passage could be discerned by
reflected light from their silvery wings.
A poet unacquainted with their habits
might sing of them as fairies of the
upper air carrying peace, pleasure
and plenty to the children of men.
The eight horse road grader is a
great road maker. When it is prop
erly handled and the road we'll round
ed up in the the middle neither rain
nor snow find it comfortable resting
place. Every mile of such road as
Steen Nelson, James Canham. and B..
A. Upton know how to make increases
the pleasure of driving and will there
fore, have a tendency to enhance the
value of farm lands. Let more of
such highways be built. free delivery,
the telephone, and groves of shade
trees find their way to each homestead
and let graduates from normal schools
or other state schools conduct our
countrv schools. then will the cities
and towns be relieved of much Of their
surplus population.
Reports coming from the summer
schoo! now in session at Coopers-
town indicate an Improvement on
former years. Two periods of recita-
lions are in progress, and the con
ductors having each had expe rience
in managing country schools. The
teachers are getting informaticn there
fore that they can use, including in
struction in the course of study. Next
year let there be an other conductor
added so that first grade branches
may be taken up by those who wish
to higher climb. Cooperstown has a
| ''crack' ball team why should Griggs
not have a ''crack" not cracked) lot
of first grade teachers.
The school library book man has
been abroad in the land He visited
the writer of this. There were two of
him. We had narrow escape. Hav-
ing z very severe headache at the time
we protested. This only made him
the more eager He was armed to the
teeth with recommendations from those
high in authority. He was solicitous
about our health. We were blowing
with four horses, we stopped the
horses. He felt our pulse he
went away. The next day he came
again. When he refused to send us
the books for examination before buy
ing we bade him good-by. We. We're
glad he came not again. Many were
caught in his net. They bought as
many libraries as they had schools in
their district. These libraries were
all of the same kind. Hence no ex-.
change among the school could be
made. The libraries should each lie
unlike the other. There should be more
books for the children. The teachers
a few Of her more advanced scholars.
lovers of good books in the district
and especially, the publishers and
their travelling agents will be greatly
benefited. County superintendents; be
a little more careful. The books are
standard works of biography. poetry,
travels and fiction. That's all right,
but would you, school boards, buy
three OR more binders when you did
not really need but one? Would you
buy binders so heavy that your team
could not pull them? Would you
take the money out of your own pocket
and do this? Would you buy a team
of horses without looking at them
from a sample of horse hide shown
you by the dealer? Would you take
even the governors word for it.? But
we must not crow you over. We our
selves had narrow escape. They
made you believe that you were doing
a fine thing for the schools and may
be you were. Many schools would
never have libraries if the school
boards were not :'gulled" into buying
them.
Greenwich, Steele county, enjoys the
distinction of furnishing the first and
only graduate under the new law from
the common schools of the county.
We learn that Griggs county, also
has one graduate. The questions to
be answered by applicants were hard
err than those for a third grade county