The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-06-10
THOUSANDS
VISIT OUR CITY
LARGE CROWDS VISIT STATE
COLLEGE.
GOVERNOR R. S. VESSEY
AND PROF. p. G. HOLDEN ADDRESS
ExCURSIONlSTS

rIludy UIOuSHJ W lue CITY lHo largest
crowd of visitors that Brookings has
been called upon to entertain in some
in every particular. 1t is estimated
that at least 5000 strangers were here
during the two days, but this is very
conservative, and counting the people
of the county who drove in we think
the total would reach fully 1000. At
least half of the eXcursionists were
farmer boys, to whom a special invi-
tation was extended this year, and to
Judge by their expressions they were
highly delighted with the college and
city and were already planning to
come back next year. The bringing of
the country boys to Brookings was in
charge of State Superintendent U.s.
trud, who gave the excursion his per-
sonal attention. and a great deal of
the credit for it's success is due to
him
Both the Milwaukee and the North
Western ran special trains on the two
days, and in addition the Northwest
ern brought in large number on the
regular trains The first day the
Northwestern ran a special from
Gettysburg, coming by way of Red
field and Watertown and bringing the
crowds from the northern part of the
state The Milwaukee ran train
from Milbank by the way of Bristol to
Lake Preston and from there 1t came
in over the Northwestern track. The
crowds on the second day came from
the west and south. The North
Western brought in trainload from
Yankton by way of Iroquois. and from
Pierre, Rapid City and other points
on that line. The Milwaukee train
on Friday came from Canton by way
of Madison and Lake Preston and
from there to Brookings. On Thurs
day the South Dakota Central road
brought a big crowd from points
along it's line and connected with the
regular train at Arlington.
The excursionists were met at the
train by the college band on both
days and automobiles and carriages
furnished by the citizens carried
them to the college. The trains ar
rived about noon each day, or shortly
after, and did not leave until seven in
the evening, giving the visitors five
or six hours in the city.
The visitors were entertained on
both days by splendid addresses by
Governor R. S. Vessey and Prof. P. G.
Holden of Ames, Iowa, the famous
corn expert On Friday Ex-Governor
Bachelor of New Hampshire, master
of the national grange, delivered a
very fine address. On both days the
excursionists were entertained by
military maneuvers and sham battles
by the college cadet battalion, under
the direction OF Captain Chrisman,
and drills by the physical department
under the direction of Miss Fromme.
All the departments of the college and
experiment station were thrown open
for inspection and the visitors evinced
keen interest in the work OF the stu
dents and with the immense expert
ments being carried on with grains,
vegetable, fruits, shrubs and live
stock.
Governor Vessey gave splendid
talk on each day and one that was in
structive as we'll as entertaining. He
spoke of the immense resources OF
the state, which were just beginning
to be properly developed, and urged
the farmers present to send their boys
and girls to the college in order that
they may be prepared to take part IN
this work of making South Dakota the
leading state of the Union. He stated
that South Dakota was or soon would be
greater than Iowa as an agricultural
state, and only by the proper educa
ton Of our farmer boys could we hope
TO keep in the van.
Prof. Holden's addresses were
along agricultural lines and he held
the closest attention of his audiences
on both days. He urged the farmers
to take more interest in stock-raisine
and diversified farming, and to make
their farm homes more comfortable
for themselves and their children
To keep the boy on the farm it must
be made attractive to him, not only
the work but the compensation, and
this could only be done by improved
farm methods. He declared that
many farmers move into town to die
and when they do it kills both the