The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-08

stanoa osncialS Ware cement Younda-
lions In moist alkali SOIL have almeee
entirely disintesratsd. While the tests
have not been completed. enough has
been learned to make out q pretty bad
case for cement work set In alkali soil.
There are today in the Omitted States
about 1900 rural mail routes. served
by some 10000 carriers. who receive
on the average q salary OF $500 per an
mum. Many Of the routes are nos self
sustaining and are largely responsible
for the annual de6cit which has exist
ed for the past TWO or three years
Patrons on such Improbable routes
ought to realize more fully than they
do that after being given q fair trial
good many OF such routes will be dis
continued. 1t Is up to the patrons
whether the service they have shall be
kept up.
An old codger We read an account Of
the other day got his name into the
newspapers by swallowing the claims
of smooth stranger without 20 much
as winking and paying SO for three
little bottles OF dope which It was
claimed would cure any ailment OF
man or beast Of however serious char
acter. The item did not so ON to say
whether the stun In the bottles later
turned out to be plain water, vinegar
or machine oil. The important thing
Is that the fool was parted from his
money. This kind ought to take tho
new dollar or dollar and q half they
set aad subscribe for and also read
their local paper. in which skin games
and swindles OF this and other brands
| are exposed every day.
A leahet recently published by the
Wisconsin experiment station places
the annual loss Of phosphoric acid In
that state at 1900. 900 pounds. worth
$75O.O0O. and attributes the loss chiefly
to the sale Of animals and grain and
the improper handling Of barnyard
manures. two-thirds Of the loss being
traceable to the last named cause. 1t
Is estimated that on an average 100
acre dairy farm there b an annual
loss Of thirty pounds Of phosphoric
acid. while on a 100 acre grain farm
the loss is 6l5 pounds. In nfty years
cultivation II Is estimated that one
third Of the available soil phOsphates
are removed. Experiments with phos-
phate fertilizers showed that the ap-
plication Of 800 pounds per acre great
~ increased the crop yields.
1t would seem reasonable to assume
that much might be done along the
line of keeping boys aud girls ON the
farm II more pains were taken to make
| the rural neiGhborhOod more attrac-
| tive. In one respect particularly do We
believe q great Improvement might be
made-that is, In the building Of more
attractive and commodious school
houses and the keeping Of the grounds
In better shape. There IN little reason
to wonder that the young people OF .
community aren't particularly impress
ed with the educational and social life
| OF the district when the school facili-
ties are SO neager and 80 poorly main
tanned. They argue. whether rightly
or not, that this state Of things pointD
to a virtual disregard for education
On tue part OF poNOuD 00O 01E&CUObD
and that a development Of the head
isn't worth while when It comes TO
achieving success in agriculture. The
net result Of this attitude IL that those
who have got the brightest minds and
most energy light out when occasion
offers for some place and type Of work
where their capacities win be given
| opportunity to develop. We do not
hold that their action II wise. There
is great provOcation for II. It II be-
coming more evident every day that
| there is no field Of effort where brains
theoretically directed will bring uni
| fOrmly larger or surer rewards tha1 In
| agriculture. The great need Of the day
is to get the boys and girls to a0pre-
ciate this fact. A mere Wholeoomo and
wide awake attitude.0n ne part Of the
| old FOLKS who are taxpayers w0uld help
TO bring this about. It u time aSri-
| cultural communities appreciated the
| opportunities at hand and put on &ss-
| ter front.