The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-05-07
PENNSYLVANIA FURNISHES
MODEL FARMERS INSTITUTE.
Society Manages Things fer Itself and
Pays All Bills.

In Washington County in the state
OF Pennsylvania is neat. tidy vii
lage OF about TWO thousand inhabitants
named Cannonshurs Annually there
Is held IN that village farmers insti
tute thar ! am frank 10 say is the ban
ner local institute OF the kind in the
United States Some twelve years ago
the farmers in that section. not being
satisfied with what the laws OF the
state appropriated 10 carry on farmers
Institutes in the counties OF the state.
concluded 20 break away from the
regular order OF institute work and or
ganize for themselves III was the
writer's privilege 20 BE- invited 10 ad-
dress one OF their meetings FIVE years
ago, and again on January rs 1909 II
Is the policy OF the farmers in that
section annually 10 elect a committee
OF nine. known as the general man
ayers A pres ident. q secretary and a
treasurer are elected hy the committee.
also suh-committees which arrange
for the hall. the advertising. the speak
eTs. teachers. musicians and popular
lectures. so an who attend can find
something on the programme that will
instruct or amuse them.
The policy Of this organization has
been carefully 70 canvass the situation
and learn the needs Of the farmers and
then select speakers who can FIJI the
bill Instructors have been brought
from Wisconsin. Ohio. Maryland West
Virginia and New York, and popular
lecturers. elOcutiOnists and singers
have been engaged for the evening en-
Treatments. for which an admission
fee OF - cents Is charged
In the earlier DAYS OF the work
was Informed that. like all new enter
prises. the managers had to work hard
and put their hands into their own
pockets 10 defray a large part OF the
expense, there were plenty who would
Tar rather see their Efforts fail than
succeed. But all this only stimulated
these hardsensed farmers 10 greater
enort 70 make the scheme succeed I'M
III now the farmers institute al Can.
nonsburg is an institution that is
honored and praised by all People
come from far and near 10 attend Il
Even Pittsburg. that great manufac-
turing city. was well represented bv
land owners who were manufacturers
Reporters from the city press were
there in plenty Each and every al l
dress was OF high order. as were
the music. the Rotations and the /
popular lectures. The audience ran
from four 10 seven hundred al the
various sessions. five in number
u Is not my purpose 10 report what
any speaker said bur 10 show first
that when a few men OF good sense
and determination get together and
make up their minds 10 run a famous
institute on their own hook they can
DO u. and DO il successfully. and. more
than that even make that institute
a banner institute.
But there is still a matter OF greater
importance. The country about Can.
nonsburg is naturally no better than
the country in most parts OF Western
Pennsylvania but the effect upou the
farmers who have attended these meet.
ings has been SIMPLY wonderful as
was evidenced by the corn potatoes
apples. wheat. oats and vegetables that
were given space on exhibition. also
alfalfa. timothy and other grasses.
Here Is where an outsider could see
plainly the financial results OF the ef
forts Of this organization
And there is still more 10 be said
These farmers have been yearly listen.
Ing 10 the best and most practical AZ
vel as the most scientific spea kers
hat could be- found the result being
hat the man who goes on the platform
before the audience in Cannonshurg
will need 70 have something well
stored up in his Uranium 10 send on,
IN words Or he will be tripred up.
All in all. is IL not just az weu for
zach community 70 organize and run
farmers institute as 10 ask the state
.or money 10 run them and then have
@ put up with whatever Is sent
whether satisfactory Or note Excess
i've legislative appropriations always
end 20 produce lack Of desire on the
art % those whom the enterprise
'eeks 20 help a. the Caunonsburg or.
sanizaiion is run the people can be-
PRACTICALLY sure Of satisfactory meet.
ng every time. They now will never
ack for means The city. the village
md farms viii send enough who viii
willingly ray the price sufficient t0 de.
ray an expenses N y. Tribune
Farmer
81.