Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-14
GARRY WORK OFARAS
Plan of Ames College Manage
ment to Bring Instruction
to Rural Firesides
EXTENSION OF WORK PROPOSED
Field Instructor to Visit Schools and
Teachers Institutes - Correspond
ence Course in Agriculture to Be Es-
tabIished College Growing More
Popular.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines, June 14.-Altho prog
ress has been greater in recent years
than ever before at the Iowa agrjcul-
tlral college and the activities of the
college are reaching out in more dt-
rections than ever before, yet under
the leadership Of Professors Holden,
Curtis, Stanton, Mckay, Pammel and
others, preparations are under way
for a wonderful extension of work the
next few years. The college will make
an exhibit at the state fair in August
that will call to the attention of the
farmers the great work being done, and
1t is hoped that in this way there will
be intelligent direction given to the
general demand in the state for some
new work Of special value to the farm
ers., Last winter the efforts of the
college and of those interested in agri-
cultural education were directed to Sc
curing the four agricultural high
schools, but the demand was not suffi-
cient to secure these. The effort to
secure such schools will be renewed
before the next legislature with some
prospect OF success.
1t is the Intention OF Professor Hol-
den, of the state college, to ask for an
appropriation which will enable him to
employ a special agent to do work
among the schools of the state all the
time. He will work among the teach
ers and at institutes and give instruc-
ton to the teachers how to proceed to
organize and teach classes in elenen-
try agriculture. Some work OF this
kind has been done by Professor lIol-
den, on invitation of progressive county
superintendent, but there is demand
for special agent who will devote
himself entirely to this work. 1t is
stated that there are practically no
satisfactory text books to be placed in
the hands Of teachers relating to agri-
culture and therefore there is demand
for personal direction to teachers as
to how to proceed. In several coun-
ties of the state this work has been
started already. But the state college
people cannot afford to devote much
time to this work with their limited
force.
The plan of the Ames college people
to carry the college to the farms and
to do instruction work around the fire.
sides Of the farm homes is an arnbf-
tious one. It is the intention to es-
tablish a correspondence course in ag-
riculture for this work and to have it
4; h oarr1fv Tho
college is in touch with something like
10000 Of the young people of the state
who are already asking for more in
formal ton in regard to agricultural
science. The only way they can be
satisfied is by establishment Of some
sort Of a correspondence course for
teaching them at their homes. The
college is better fitted than any other
to do this work. The last legislature
was asked for modest sum to begin
this work The next legislature will
be asked for $4,000 to start it off, and
evidence will be produced that will
convince the legislators that this sum
ought Ito be given. The demand for
this year is already strong and it will
be made stronger the next year.
& The experimental work Of the col
lege, its extension work in carrying
the short courses to the people, its
demonstrations on various farms in the
state all have so popularized the col
lege and it's work that another legisla-
ture will not dare to turn down its rec
concentrations, even in the face of
sharp criticism over extravaganza in
appropriations.
The organization Of the insurance in
terests Of the state at a meeting held
here is taken as indicating that there
will be good deal Of activity the next
year or two in regard to the legislative
and executive relationship to the iusur-
ance interests In the state. The chief
point of attack will be that OF the
Iowa anti-compact law. The insurance
people have contended all along that
this was great mistake. They will
insist that as result of it the people
are paying more for their Insurance
that they would otherwise pay. The In
surance people therefore very much de-
sire that the law be repealed. They
will also attempt to secure what they
regard as more liberal Interpretation
of the insurance laws Of the state.
There has been a great deal of COM
plant that the insurance laws have
been too strictly enforced and the COM
panies are under entirely too many
restraints.
Information has been received here
that the railroad managers are not a
unit on the policy they are to take
with regard to the complications grow
ing out Of reduced fares and other
regulations in Iowa and other states.
At the first conference which was held
in st. Louis no decision was reached
as to what should be done in retaiia-
ton: Some OF those present wanted to
reduce the number of trains, but not
all roads would agree to this and some
insisted they should put on more
trains. Some OF them declined to join
in the clamor for cutting of all excur-
sion business, saying that the excur-
sion business was profitable and they
needed the money. But 1t has been
agreed that on most of the roads there
will be reduction Of the train service
and the withdrawal of all special
rates for conventions, fairs and similar
gatherings. AN cut rates will be end
ed. Inasmuch as some OF the leading