Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-05
FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
One Township in Hancock Coun-
ty Does Not Await Rural
Consolidation
CERTIFICATE DETERMINES WAGE
FREQ Text Books and Supplies Pro-
vided and School Houses and
Grounds Kept in Inviting Condition
M any Farmers Losing Hogs From
Disease-Wiison's Observations.
to Times-Republlcan.

kanawha, Jan. 5.--Something differ
ent from the ordinary is found in the
manner in which the school board of
Amsterdam township in this county is
managing it's rural schools, Imbued
with the belief that the time for school
in this locality has not
yet arrived and that the district school
house will be seen In the land perhaps
for many years to come. the board
has adopted some plans for rural
school improvement that seem to be
working satisfactorily in the accom-
plishment of the ends desired. Within
the past four years four new school
houses have been erected neat modern
buildings, replacing the old structures
and the grounds of all are being cared
for in manner that has done away
with the neglected appearance that has
come to be generally associated with
rural school premises in so many local
tiles.
The township furnishes all children
with free text books. writing materials
and supplementary reading. rural
mail box is put up for the use of the
teacher and school. and newspapers
and other periodicals are ordered by
the board. and delivered directly by
the rural mail carrier
The amount of the teachers wages is
determined by dividing the average
.to ;our ;rI tod j,, Jov Mt firo IN NV.
two and calling the result dollars For
instance il certificate averages Sc
per cent the holder of it receives SAB
per month. Three dollars per month
additional is paid when the grade Of
the certificate is raised and one of the
teachers in the township who holds
state certificate is allowed still an
other raise of SO, or $50 per month.
Notwithstanding the high wages paid
the teachers and the expense of build
ing, etc, it is said that the tax levy
is lower than formerly when less
attention was given to the manner in
which the school money was expended.
The town of Kanawha is located near
the center of the township and doubt
less some day a central school will be
established there, but until that time
arrives it is proposed to do everything
practicable to promote the efficiency
of the schools as they already exist.
Within the past two months many
farmers In this county have lost their
hogs by disease. This is an especially
serious NATTER this year because of the
price of corn. Swine raising at best is
not over profitable thus. far this sea-
son and to feed up several hundred
bushels of so cent corn to bunch of
hogs only to see them lie down and
die of disease, is discouraging. One
farmer speaking on the subject. said:
II have NOTICED here for many years
that these scourges of so-called chol-
era never occur following a good corn
season. 1t is the year that the farmer
begins the feeding season with an
empty crib and plenty of grain in the
field that he has swine disease to con-
tend with The trouble is not that he
is feeding green or new corn but that
he feeds 1t too freely at the outset.
What would happen to a cattle feed
err who would take steers from the
pasture and attempt ito put them on
full feed almost from the start? It's
much the same with the hog as with
the steer If he is started gradually on
green corn and given little medical
treatment to prevent troubles that at
tend the feeding Of this kind Of ration