The San Francisco call., 1905-08-16
WHY STATIONS
MUST BE MOVED
Professor WicksOn Issues
Statement in Answer to
the Citizens of Tulare
INTERESTS GOVERNMENT
Appropriations Endangered
by Continuance of Policy
Followed in the Past

BERKELEY, Aug. 15.-Professor Z.
j. Wickson, dean of the agricultural
college, issued an official statement to-
day giving an account of the college
policy with respect to disseminating
sub-stations, which hitherto have been
maintained in various parts OF the
State. At meeting of the Regents
last Tuesday citizens of Tulare pro-
tested against the ~diseontinuance of
the sub station of theS university near
that city. Their arguments are be-
lieved by Professor Wickson to be fully
answered in the following statement he
has issued:
First-It was never the intention to main
tain these establishments perpetually Ihey
existence to be determined by their useiut- usei,t
ness In accordance with this view two otner o
stations established at the same time nave
already been discontinued.
Second-As the station work of the uni
versty has expanded, many unantlclpated
lines of investigation have forcibly suggested
themselves, and as the demand for speclaI
work has arisen among many classes OF pro-
ducers in various parts of the State. the sys-
tenn of permanent sub-stat1ons mas been Iouiiu .L
to be cumbersome, fnelastic and expensive,
and to interfere with proper direction OF our
effort and expenditures to accomplish tne
greatest good in scientific discovery ana IN m
practical help to farmers in their difficult
problems. We equipped ourselves with apie
men. but have not been able to get the most
should work with have been consumed IN
maintenance of permanent stations which are
neither praiseworthy in appearance nor ade-
quately productive of valuable results.
Third--It is a plain teaching of experiences
that the investigator must undertake ms
problem where it actually exists and in the
environment which surrounds it. and our most
significant results have been reached where
we have secured the use of property during
it's usefulness, for investgational purposes, and
no longer.
Fourth-The discontinuance of sub-station
does not mean that we are forsaking WORK
in a district, locality 1t simply means
that we are proceeding in more direct
and rapid way TO serve the whole State
ing our men and equipment for limited pc
riods to the very places where they can 90
the best and most useful work for agricultural
science practice, or for both.
Fifth-The diversion of money from the
maintenance of permanent sub-stattons Is not
for the purpose of expending 1t at the cen
trail station, but 1t is for the purpose or ex-
tending investigation in every direction and
into pressing subjects.
Sxth-The maintenance of permanent sub
stations endangers our revenue from the
Hatch funds. We have been in conflict with
the Department of Agriculture for years on
sharply to account for using the Hatch funds
in this way. In a letter written June 20
1905 DR.. A. c. True, Director of the Office OF
Experiment Stations of the United States De-
partment OF Agriculture, says:
Congress Is insisting on more strict ex-
penditure OF the Hatch fund I hope, there
| fore that, as far as possible. you will be able
to make an arrangement by which the Hatch
! fund can be withdrawn from the sub
stations.
I'VE hold that. strictly speaking the Hatch
fund II used at all for outlying work, should
be devoted to special Investigations limited In
scope and extent and carried under con-
ditions which will permit their discontinuance
or removal to other localities soon as the
special problems which involved in them
are solved TO the extent which may reason
ably be expected. according to the character
of the experimental inquiries undertaken. In
outlying work conducted on this basis the
Hatch fund may be used for any expendi-
lures on account of the Investigations, includ-
| ing salaries labor, apparatus and supplies,
but not Including the purchase or rental OF
| land or the erection of buildings. If the
station authorities insist maintaining sub
stations after we have advised the withdrawal
| of the Hatch fund from them, can ask
| the Treasury to withhold further payment OF
| the Hatch fund until have reported the
| matter to Congress-