The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-10-01

before Deen KNOWN Among SIoCh pi0C"-
ers.
Practical Experience is Recognized.
Private corportions are invariably
the concerns that secure the services
of the best men, while state, county
and municipal interests, with few In
stances, have to content themselves
with such services as they can secure
at the meagre salaries that are usual
ly held out. This is the underlying
reason why so few men of exceptional
ability can be induced to remain in
the public service. The law makers,
county commissioners and others who
are responsible for fixing the salaries
of the men to be secured for public
work seem to think that any one from
the horde of applicants is sufficiently
capable, and it does not occur to them
that public interests demand the best
service and adequate compensation,
Just as much as the rule holds good
in the case of private business. we
have in mind in writing these lines
the resignation of Mr.. j. F. Littooy
from the office of horticultural in
spector of Snohomish county. Mr.. Lit
tooy has been in the service OF the
county for several years at salary
of 81 200 a year. He went there when
his experience and knowledge were
greatly needed by the hOrticulturists
and small fruit growers OF that county.
He has labored hard and earnestly
against many discouraging obstacles,
and Just as success is browning his
efforts he is called by private cor
poration at much larger salary to
direct affairs over in the Wenatchee
valley.
That Mr.. LittoOy'S work in behalf or
horticulture and general farming in
Snohomish county has been a success
is attested by the magnificent returns
now being secured by those intelligent
farmers there who have been follow
ing his advice and suggestions. In
formation comes from that county to
the effect that the farmers consider
his work SO valuable that as soon as
they heard he was considering an offer
to go elsewhere they set to work Pc
titioning the county commissioners to
raise his salary to $4,000 year, in
order to retain his services. 1t is evil
dent however, the commissioners
failed to appreciate the Importance OF
offering sufficient inducement for Mr..
Littooy to remain. In a letter to the
editor of The Ranch Mr.. Littooy an
nounces that he will be in Wenatchee
after October first, in the employ Of
the Wenatchee Canal Company. Be-
sides a very good salary Mr.. Littooy
will have an interest in the company
4o:x @
ing that he accepted the position, since
it means more than $4,000 year TO
him.
The Wenatchee Canal company will
put some 10000 acres of irrigated land
on the market, starting with a thous-
and acres this fall. Mr.. Littooy is to
direct the horticultural interests o.
the company. The Wenatchee valley
is one of the best fruit growing Sec
tons in the Pacific northwest and Mr.
Littooy will find a large field in which
to operate. We have not the least
doubt but that he will induce such an
immigration into the section that the
company's lands will shortly be fully
settled by fruit raisers from all sec
tons of the United States.
The Ranch is sorry for Snohomlsh
county in the loss it is sustaining.
The people of that county will have 10
look long and earnestly before they
secure a man of Mr.. Littooy's ability
and experience to fill his shoes in the
office of the horticultural inspector.
There is danger that the position will
be farmed out to the first man who
comes along with long list of So
called recommendations. 1t is not
such documents that make the horti-
cultural inspector-but it is his knowl-
edge of fruit growing and the needs
of the county, as well as a fund OF