The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1909-09-09

Farmers Round Up Institute
Held at Mississippi A. &
M. College.
Nine hundred and eight regular
farmers institutes have been held
in the state of Mississippi during
the last six weeks. The average
attendance at these institutes has
been a little above two hundred.
The roundup is the growing even
of institute work in the state. The
average attendance at the round
up has been nearly three hundred
Professor Lloyd, director OF Farm
ers' institutes, says that the attend
ance and interest manifested IN the
regular institutes and the roundup
institute has been better than ever
before. The farmers of the state
seem to realize the great value to
be derived by attending these in
stitutions and are already asking
for institutes next year.
Among the most interested and
enthusiastic visitors to the A. q M
College during the roundup 1nsti-
tute are thirty or more agents OF
the U. S. Department of Agricul-
4ure in Mississippi. Most of these
men are the lenders in the promul-
cation of the new agriculture IN
their respective sections, and are
not only attending the institute en-
masse themselves but have been
instrumental also in securing the
attendance of many of the progress
.sive farmers of their localities. The
farmers demonstration work is un
der the supervision of Dr.. S. A.
Knapp of Washington, D. G., and
under his efficient direction is be-
coming more and more popular
throughout the state as a means OF
placing the most up-to-date agri-
cultural methods before the people,
The administration of the work in
mississippi is under Mr.. R. S. Will
#.son, State Agent and Messrs. H
ID. Tate and B. L. Moss, District
Agents, and about twenty five To-
cal agents in as many counties
These men express themselves as
being much impressed with the
excellent work being done by the
College and Experiment Station
and the hearty cooperation exist.
ing between the state and national
officials in their respective lines oi
work is already exerting strong
influence for the betterment of Mis-.
sissippi Agriculture.
The morning session of August
25th was devoted to good roads.
Professor w. D. Brown, of the A.
& M. College, delivered most ex'
cellent address OIL this very impor-
tant subject. He said that the
states have long since abandoned
the idea of obtaining aid from the
Federal Government and over hall
of them are proceeding with funds
given from their own treasury fol
the permanent improvement oi
highways. New Jersey led off in
1891. Connecticut followed in 1895,
then came Massachusetts, and Yer.
mort in 1898 and so on to the pres
ent; when we find twenty-five
states with organized highway
departments. The state aid plan
briefly stated is as follow:
A direct appropriation by the
State Legislature, the roads are
constructed under the state aid tc
be paid for partly by the state and
partly by the county. In Masachu-
setts the state pays seventy-fve
per cent of the cost, Pennsylvania
pays seventy-6ve per cent; the
counties I2-I-5 per cent, and the
townships IL II per cent. Ohio
pays IS per cent, counties fifty pei
cent, town ships IS per cent, and
the butting property ten per cent
Public sentiment on the side o
permanent Improvement is mos
powerful organ, so We ought t
hold agitation meetings In all th'
counties and enlist the enthusiastic
support of as many people as posi-
Bile; encourage the state to boos
good roads. invite railroads ant
other corporations to take hand
all of which will be preparatory Il
enacting law creating an appro
asio e. rara..nnosaA i..as.s1.sno