The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-20
MILLIONS SAVED BY COLLEGE
BRAINS.

Those who read the book published
by R. T. Crane. a Chicago multi
millionaire. condemning collegiate
training. ought also to read an edi-
torial on college usefulness printed
in the New York Evening Post While
not intended as reply TO the Crane
work. it admirably fits that role, and
it is especially pertinent here because
it describes the activities of uni
versity of western state
Perhaps the ciearest idea Of the
value of higher education TO state
can be gotten from very brief sum
mary of the contributions OF the
University of Wisconsin to the eco
nomic development OF that state.
SAYS the Evening Post. First, Pro
|fessor Babcock. by inventing his milk
test, saved the farmers $500. 600 worth
of cream each year that had been
thrown away: enabled them 10 breed
their stock scientifically so that the
average value is now SIS per head
more than southern stock; taught
them improved dairying processes
which increased the price OF their
dairy products from % per cent 70
100 per cent. and increase the total
value OF the states dairy products TO
s50, 900, 900 per year. Then the cheese
industry was put on scientific basis
by the Invention Of the curd test and
the casein test and by the discovery
Of galactose and the origination of the
cold storage process OF cheese ripen-
ing, By which several hundred thous-
ands of dollars extra Is annually adj
ded TO Wisconsin's wealth The horse
raising and poultry industries are
now being put on the same sort OF
been taught 70 prevent cat and wheat
smut by soaking the seed in formal
dehyde, and thus saved an annual
loss of from $1,000. 600 70 s6.10G. 600. 4
new variety Of cars has been deveI-
/ oped and distributed which increases
the states annual crop 5000. 600
/ bushels. a special seed corn has beer
bred and distributed. which has added
/ Is, 600, 600 bushels per year To rlie an
nual production. and q newer and
much better corn is just now ready
TO distribute Sugar beet culture mas
been taught and million dollar crop
ALREADY gathered The peta1o, wheat,
barley. and tobacco crops and the
fruit and berry industries have been
investigated and improved. and great
problems OF drainage, irrigation and
soil fertility worked out with rich re-
turns
The entire financial returns each
year to that state from the university
agricultural Investigations and teach
/ ing alone are simply incaiculable, but
enough measurable concrete cases are
known TO show that this department
alone returns to the state each year
ten 10 twenty times the entire amount
i spent on the whole university. There
i are now $500 graduates OF the vari-
GUS agricultural courses scattered
over the state who are active sources
of light and centers for experimental.
ton and for distribution of new
4 seeds and new processes. The uni
versity has lecturers at 200 farmers
Institutes each year. There are alfal
ia Institutes in alfalfa sections, po
tato institutes in potato sections, and
so on. It has also exhibits of new
products and processes, with lectures
and demonstrations at the state and
county fairs. Preparations are this
year being made for 1000 students o.
agriculture in the university, and cor
respondence courses are offered to al
, others who cannot come improved
seed and intelligent advice are sen
i into all parts of the state on request
teachers of agriculture are now bein,
trained for the public schools. an
now the boys and girls in their home
are being aroused by distribution 0
: seeds for county fair contests estat
lished by the university.