The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-08-07

but it is practically worthless because
of an ignorant population, while land
in Belgium, originally little more
than a sand-waste, has become in
tensely valuable by reason of the
presence Of an intelligent population,
and intensely fertile by reason Of the
wise methods Of cultivation Abrac-
ticed by these intelligent farmers.
Even If man has no boy or girl to
send, the school tax Investment is a
good one for any property-hold be-
cause of the increase in value that al
ways results from the presence Of an
intelligent citizenship.
Education and the Individual
AS to how much education means
to the individual, the time has long
since passed when it was necessary to
argue that point. The boy Or girl
who starts out in life without the
fundamentals of good education is
tragically. almost hopelessly, handi-
capped. The parents Of such a child,
If it is ignorant by their Neglect, have
committed crime against it almost
as serious as if they had suffered its
right arm to be cut off, for an educat-
ed mind is in very real sense ones
right arm in the struggle for exis-
'tence-and nowhere is this truer
than on the farm If the South had
had for fifty years schools even as
good as We have today, there is little
doubt but that our average farmer
would be making very nearly his ex-
ira $500 year more without agita-
tion on our part.
Work for Better Schools Right New.
Wherever the public school is in
sufficiently supported, the school
term not long enough, or the school
fund too small for the employment Of
the best teachers, we earnestly urge
our Progressive Farmer readers to
band together, get their neighbors to
help them, and set about the i'm
provement Of their educational sacil-
tiles. Right now while the crops are
laid by" is the very best time for the
work. Consolidate your districts If it
Is necessary; it Is better that your
child spend two hours getting to a
good school where he can do six or
eight hours of good work. than spend
half an hour going to a school where
wot.S Of only half as much efficiency
can be done.
Resolve now that you will get bet
ter schools. Discuss the matter Of
consolidation of districts with your
neighbOrs, and the matter Of local
taxation as we'll. Bring it up at your
church meeting, at the store or post
office, at your Farmers Union or
Alliance meeting. Get the advice Of
your County Superintendent if you
wish 1t. Arrange with them to get
some good speaker to address your
people on the subject, and push the
matter - a conclusion. There is no
finer service you can render your
community.
Then see to it that there is a good
building-not merely one large
enough and light enough and airy
enough, but a building of some arch :
itectural beauty, no matter how sim
pie. Your State superintendent will
doubtless be able to help you in this
respect See to it also that a good
library is installed; there is hardly
any way by which money invested
will bring bigger returns to the COM
munity
Work for Better Roads.
The subject of schools in all its
phases, however, is so fully treated
| elsewhere in this issue, that we leave
1t now and turn to the matter of
better highways. This is another
matter there Is no better time for
agitating than right now during the
| leisure season on the farm. Write
the United States Department Of Ag-
riculture, Washington, ID. c., for it's
bulletins on good roads, especially
No. 81, sand Clay and Burnt Clay
Roads; No. 321, "The Use of the
Split-Log Drag on Earth Roads," and
No. 33S, "Macadam Roads," postal
will get all three for you without cost
Then If you wish any further infor-
nation. write the Office of Public
Road Inquiries, United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, Washington, d.
c., and also your State good roads au'
i fhnrifioS