The Topeka state journal., 1902-01-09
John nj. StahI Tells of AdVan-
tage of Hello System.
Farmers Work Greatly Facili-
tated by Use OF Telephones.
STATE BOARD SESSIONS
Members Welcomed by Governor
Stanley and Mayor Hughes.
Secretary Coburn Makes an In
teresting Report.

John NJ. Stahl, secretary of the Far
mers' National congress, is evidently
good deal of an enthusiast on the sub
ject of farm telephones. At least this IS
the conclusion one would reach from
hearing the address he made at the ses-
sion of the state board of agriculture
last evening.
Mr.. Stahl, who is also the editor of
the Farmers Call, of Chicago, took for
the subject of his address, Three New
Farm Hands, which he applied to the
farm telephone, rural free mail delivery
and the trolley on the country roads
The farm telephone, Mr.. Stahl said,
has gone a long ways towards taking
away the isolation and loneliness of
country life. Northern Illinois is be-
coming covered with them. In some in
stances the farmers maintain their own
systems and in others the toll lines run
ming through the country are connected
with farm houses along the line, and
the farmers are allowed the free use or
them for $3.50 a month 1t is great
convenience for farmer to sit in his
own house and talk to a friend miles
away just as though he were within
arms reach. 1t saves him miles OF
travel He can secure help, engage his
thraShing machine and corn shelter and
do all sorts of things by telephone.
When a tramp or a peddler or an agent
appears in a neighborhood the news is
sent on ahead of him by telephone and
preparations are made for his reception.
The rates in Chicago, Mr.. Stahl said.
were so high, $50 a year, that he could
not afford a telephone, but the tenants
on his farms could. He said he was out
on his farm at one time and casting
On a machine was broken. The tenant
telephoned into Chicago to the factory.
and the rural free delivery carrier the
next morning brought the casting from
the city, and scarcely any time was
lost.
Mr.. Stahl also gave an array of sta
tistics concerning the good which rural
free delivery has done the farmer, and
also made some predictions concerning
the extension of trolley lines through
the country, advising the farmers to
give them a right of way along one side
of the public highways.
Governor Stanley made the address of
welcome to the members of the state
board of agriculture last night and he
ernor Click, Q. p. Updegraf and others
who had attacked legislatures in gem
eral In discussing the state fair PROPOSE
ton during the stock breeders meet
fngs. He said that the farmers make
up two-thirds of the members of the
legislature and he was sorry to see
some of the distinguished farmers
among the stock breeders criticise them.
The governor said the farmers rule
Kansas and they can have the Iegisla-
ture do anything they want.
Mayor Hughes welcomed the farmers
on behalf of the city and President Ed
win Taylor made the response, in which
he said:
THE purpose of these annual meet
ings you no doubt understand. We are
here to compare views and experiences,
Tor the enjoyment of the programme
the secretary has prepared, and, as our
more serious duty. to review with the
secretary the work of the past year.
then to elect his successor, and with
him, map out a programme for the
next year The reports of the board
prepared by its secretary are in effect
A Farmers University Extension
Enr1y
able system of publications of value to
all classes of our farmers. Every re-
port has been reprinted commented
upon by the press of the state so that
reached and our most alert have found
themselves quickened. 1t is in part
owing to these reports-in part it is ow-
ing 10 the fact that we have little the
best state in the Union, as we think,
and population that matches it's en-
vironment-but it is in part owing to
the stimulus of the reports of this board
that it has come about that there is no
place on earth where a days work of a
man win produce more of the staple
food of the world. bread and meat
than right here in Kansas.
1T is eminently proper, in my esti-
nation, for you in your official capacity
to recognize as you are doing the pres
ence and proceedings of an organization
which directly and Indirectly, has given
to Kansas agriculture a spur and uplift
everywhere acknowledged To be sure
-
ing mount and opportunity to its
spokesman. and the secretary, whom it
selects an army board might select
commander. But that selection it has
always made SO judiciously that from
the time of Alfred Gary, its first secre-
tary, down to the present time, it has
not failed in providing for that respon-
sible position a capable incumbent The
work of that office when Alfred Gray
entered upon it was unexplored coun-
try, and had to be developed without
pattern or suggestion; and yet, so sure
was he of his directions that the lines
he laid down for bringing the office into
close touch with the people of the
state, and then for making his office
positive factor in the DEVELOPMENT of
the state, are the lines which. in the
main, are still followed. And it is
combination of the perfection of this
system, together with the zeal and hard
work and genius of the present secre-
tary, that have resulted in the series of
publications, put forth by the secretary
of the board in recent years which are
regarded by many the first of their
class in the United States-so pro
nounced by the secretary of agriculture
at Washington.
There is no dissenting voice among
our citizens as to the merits of the
Coburn literature. In all our dairy
barns you will find Cow Culture hunr
up by string, like an almanac: no
fockmaster among but looks llnon
The Modern Sheep as his wade mecum:
every stable boy has a COPY of The
Horse UsefuP in his pocket; The Help
full Hen has furnished suggestions for
thousands OF chicken tyros. and has
helped to lift many a mortgage; The
Beef Steer (and His Sister)' has been
both guide and incentive in the whole
sale production of beef for which kan