New-York tribune., 1910-01-20
RAILROADS ASSIST
DR.. SchWman Wants Agri-
cultural Courses.
rsy Telesraph to The rribup. !

BY Telegraph TO The Tribune
Albany. Jan. 19.-The fact that the New
York Central and other railroads in the
state have awakened to the Importance OF
agricultural development and are taking an
active part in this work was emphasized
tonight at the session of the New York
State Agricultural Society. which is hold
ing its annual meeting in this CITY. Presi-
dent William c. Brown of the New York
Central lines. who was scheduled 10 talk
on Improved Methods of Agriculture. -
was unable to be present on account of a
sudden illness, but Speaker wadsworth
the presiding officer. called on several prom
inent railroad men. who gave Informal
talks
j. L. Deems. chief OF motor power of the
New York Central said that the Central
was buying up farms along it's lines and
developing them.
George A Cullen. general passenger agent
OF the Lackawanna Railroad. said that the
railroads were performing two tasks-that
OF making the country more attractive 70
the city man and that of feeding the city
man. He said he believed that if many Of
the abandoned farms not far from cities
could be utilized. eggs and other farm
products would not be commanding such
enormous prices
The railroad he said hopes to see
the movement which the agricultural So
ciety is starting result in larger traffic.
not only congratulate you on your work
but am authorized by President TruesCaIe
TO say that the Lackawanna Railroad
stands ready to purchase and turn over to
the agricultural colleges such farms along
our lines as they may develop. 1 believe
that We are about TO see the dawn of
new era
Other speakers informally called on were
Louis Jackson, industrial agent of the Erie
Railroad, and E G. Miner. formerly presi-
dent Of the Rochester Chamber OF Com
merce.
The principal speaker of the evening was
President Jacob G. Schurman Of Cornell
University, whose subject was "Agricult-
ural Education" He said.
It was NOT many years ago since srgi-
cultural colleges were held UP to ridicuIe
even by educators. That day 7 reioica 10
say, has passed and passed forever A
democracy is going TO carry its political
ing the kind of knowledge which will help
them TO earn their daily bread. Educators
are discovering that II is possible TO edu-
cate young men and women in terms Of
their environment. And there is knowl-
edge for the farmer and mechanic as we'll
as for the lawyer or physician or engineer
But interest and enthusiasm are not suf-
hCient for the proper demOcratIzing Of
knowledge We also need common sense
and wisdom. And We have now reached
stage in New York State where these
qualities are especially desirable if we are
10 be saved from serious mistakes and
perilS.
All experience shows that I'm all states.
even the largest of them. there is room
for only one genuine agricultural college
All experience also shows that the proper
place for an agricultural college is in con-
nection with great university.
But. besides an agricultural college, We
need in this state schools of agriculture
which take boys and girls from the farm
and after some months OF instruction in
the elements OF agricultural science send
them back 10 the farm The fOuuda tiOnS
for two or three such schools have al
ready been laid in this state. IL seems to
HE matter of supreme Importance that
these institutions should be retained as
colleges, for which there is no need and
which would only be rivals Of the existing
state College of Agriculture
But besides these special schools of asrt-
culture we need to have agricultural in
struction in the high schools.
These officers were elected: President.
Raymond A. Pearson, Albany; secretary.
Edwin H. Chapman. Albany: treasurer,
William b. Jones. Albany; vice-presidents
John J. Dillon. New York; H. B. Fullerton,
Huntington, Long Island; Gilbert "
Tucker, Albany; w H. Daniels, Ogdens-
burg; W. r. Smith, Syracuse: DR.. d D
Smead, Hector; S. n. Willard, Geneva;
A. E Brown, Batavia. and r. ". Rives
New Hamburg