Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-18

things as well as to know certain
| things. This is the age of action, not
OF inactiOn, an age of achievement, not
of dreaming Our demands should
therefore be- that the rural schools be
made to keep pace with the constantly
changing conditions Of rural life to the
| extent that they shall develop men and
women OF power, who shall be "cul-
turad'' 10 dc the worlds work We
believe the rural school is of great
| value to the country, not only from an
educs tional and ethical point of view
but from u financial standpoint; for We
know that where schools have been
abandoned land values have deprcciat-
ed That thesrural school may be-
come the uplifting force which we de-
sire it to be we believe the pupils muse
be given instruction in the rudilnents
of agriculture and nature studies. and
that the teachers training classes
should receive instruction that will fit
teachers to teach these subjects.
The National Grange is advocating
the passage of q bill appropriatng $780,
O000)0, ten million TO be available each
year Tor the construction OF improved
highways; the money TO be fairly and
equitably apportioned among the states
which only needs the united action of
all the grangeS to succeed. The great
interest manifested in highway i'm
provement evidences regard for the adj
vanLdges OF superior facilities for
travel and transportation. The state
becomes the active ally of the in
dividual and municipal effort. and the
prosperity and contentment of COM
munitice is promoted by relief from
unsatisfactory conditions The state
encourages comprehensive effort by
supplying engineering skill and Il part
Of the fund, and to draw from these
contributing factors universal benefit
is the problem that awaits solution.
Conservative inclination must be re-
Sarded. Fanciful and expensive
schemes must be carefully considered
the interests of all the people duly
weighed and only such plans and meth
DDS approved as surely promise desir-
able results.
The Grange has an important part
to play in the work OF improvement
ami its wisdom should he exercised to
see THAI only the best means are en-
Nl0ycd. The character ana cost OF
improvements should be adjusted 10 the
needs Of the whole State. and no local
ity lie allowed to profit a the expense
of others. 1t is too often the mistake
thot many assume, that farmers are
the only ores benefited by the i'm
provement of highways generally. Any
thing that lifts the burden from agri-
culture by the leSseninS Of it, operat-
c1ntentmert and sunshine elsewhere
With highways in condition for use at
all seasons, supply and demand will be
adjusted more equitably. the cost of
transportation reduced. and the saving
IN haulage will inure to the benefit of
both the producer and consumer. The
rewards and pleasures that come to
agriculture constitute the real founda-
ton for all prosperity, therefore every
class and avOcation is affected and
the public welfare promoted by re-
moving oppressive influences from the
| parent industry.
The subject Of agriculture and IDS
! great Importance to all interests, is so
vast and so far reaching that it can
! only be touched upon at a time like
this and can only be referred to in Il
general way.
Eeoi"Hilc feVOiuuOn III the art and
science of agriculture within recent
years has tremendous effect upon the
nations prosperity. Crops so large as
TO be beyond any rational comprc-
hension have strained freight carrying
ability of railroads the department of
| agriculture tells US. Taken at that
| point in production at which they
| acquire commercial value the farm
products of the year have a farm