Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-11
sage 1O Be APPOINTED
Has Had Long Service as Head
of Iowa Weather and Crop
Bureau
DEs MONIES JANIToRs REBEL
DEs MONIES JANIToRs REBEL
Moving Days in the Basement of the
State Capitol Come as an UnweI.
como Disturbance to Their Peaceful
Lives-state Fair in oes Moines
Next Year.
Special to Times-Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 1.-THE state agri-
/ cultural board has officially endorsed
John r. Sage for reappointment by the
and crop bureau, and he will be APP
| pointed. Two years ago when the mat
ter came before the board Mr.. Sage
stated that he desired another term
| that he wished to round out career
| and complete the work which he then
| had in hand. That which was in his
mind chiefly was the collection OF the
| complete records of the state and pub
| lication of the same. He has done this
work and has firmly established the
weather bureau and given direction to
Its field of usefulness. He did not ask
for endorsement again, but expressed a
Willingness to remain in the harness
just as long as the board believes he
can be useful.
II feel that 1t is time for me to re-
tire said MFR. Sage. "Some men never
know when they get thru with their life
work. do. i realize that l cannot do
| the work which did a few years ago,
though feel better than l did two
years ago. With Holmes would rath-
er be 20 years young than 40 years old.
But felt that l had no right to ask
tanything further of the board. I am
tn u, no har oo
long as the board believes can do the
work better than any other. When
the board feels that another should be
selected and put at this work, I will
step down and out gladly
The governor can appoint to the
place only on the recommendation of
the agricultural board. and the ap-
rein tment will be made in the spring.
The incumbent OF the Office must a.sy
suit Secretary Wilson. OF the agricul-
turnl department, and his assistants,
for the work is done in conjunction
with the agricultural department crop
service. Ms. Sage is. in addition to be-
| ing at the head OF the state crop SER
vice. district director of the government
crop and weather service. This is a
position not dependent at all on his
standing as n state crop reporter, but
II gives him additional authority. The
government and state work is done in
perfect harmony and the two supple
ment each other.
The Iowa crop service costs the state
about $2,f00 a year and little extra
for printing. The government, how
ever. expends about $4,000 year in
the same line of work in Iowa. When
the bill was pending thirteen years ago
for the establishment of the Iowa crop
and weather service, or rather for con-
solidating the two and enlarging work.
Mr.. Sage, then and for many years a
| newspaper man, urged that the good
could hardly be foreseen and that Its
work would spread rapidly. He went
| before a committee of the legislature
and stated then that the time was
coming rapidly when the farmers would
nearly all have telephones in their
homes and there would be great oppor-
tunity for circulating the weather re-
ports. He was met with expressions of
doubt. But today. at least 10000 far
mers OF Iowa are served with daily
weather reports by telephone. Mr..
Sage says 1t will be only short time
until at least 100000 are able to get
the reports in this way. This illustrates
the growth OF the business done In
the Iowa weather and crop bureau.
Another matter about which Mr..
Sage is much concerned is his physical
inability to meet all demands made
upon him for lectures and addresses
in the state. Two years ago he de-
livered a great many addresses at
county farmers Institutes, but rather
overtaxed his strength. Last winter he
was able to go to but few meetings.
He stated yesterday that he intends
going to a number Of county Institutes
the coming season and engaging in
lectures just as far as possible. Il
| find there is great interest in the sub
| ject. The farmers of the state are
hungering for just such information
as can give them and such facts al
ought to come to them from the head
OF the weather and crop bureau. They
ought to get this information. 1t
ought to come to them from the man
who has made q special study of the
| subject in the weather bureau. ! Will
| do all that l can along this line, but
| the time must soon come when d
younger and more active man must
take up the work. The field is so great
and the good to be accomplished SO
much that am willing to continue as
long as can be of any service
There is trouble In the state house
among the janNors. They are wei!
entrenched and some of them are hard
to move. But moving days have come
in the basement of the state capitol
and some of the janitcrs who have
smoked undisturbed for many years In
coy corners they have held will havs
to seek new quarters The other day
an order went forth for the inventory
of the books and documents in one OF
the rooms used as a stroehouse pre-
paratory to having the documents
moved to the new warehouse. The vet
eran janitor who presides over the lit-
tie storeroom was stubborn and wanted
to know what and how.
.Td like to know why the elective
officers do not assert their rights" he
declared. "and see to 1t that appoint