The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-18
Scientific Farming Encouraged
by Western Railway Lines.
Rock Islands Big Campaign
Meets Public Approval.
BUILD UP COUNTRY.
This the Roads Do Despite Late
Hostile Feeling.
Other Items of General Inter-
est to Traffic World.

'eWhile public agitators have been
putting forth their utmost exertions to
create in the popular mind feelings Of
hostility towards the railway compan-
ies of the country, these companies
have been quietly but persistently and
necessarily pursuing their plans for
the rapid development of the country's
resources and the enrichment of the
people," says the Railway Record.
''Their efforts have taken many diff
ferent forms and been put forth in
many diverse directions, all of which
have met with much gratifying sue
cess.
lone of their latest enterprises for
the betterment of the general condl-
lions has been the campaign Whlch
they have been conducting in all sec
lions of the country for the improve
ment of agricultural conditions and the
increase of agricultural products This
campaign has been largely educatlVe
in it's character.
Grains have been sent out along
the lines of the various systems and
through the agricultural communities
located thereon having experienced
scientists on board for the purpose OF
delivering lectures to these agrlcul-
tural communities on the benefits to
be obtained by the adoption of scien-
tific methods of farming These lee
lures have been attended by large
numbers of people who have eagerly
listened to the Instructions given and
been quick to adopt the suggestions
offered them regarding the improve
ment of their methods of operation.
But the railway companies have
not stopped with the importation of
these instructions. Many OF them
have established experimental farms at
various points along their lines for the
purpose of giving ocular demonstra-
ton of the benefits to be derived from
the adoption of the methods of farm
ing which have been recommended by
the lectures referred to. All branches
of agriculture have been embraced in
these dem onstrationS. Stock raising
and feeding in all its branches, fruit
growing and other special lines have
been carried on extensively and with
the greatest attention to matters of
detail so as to afford the fullest op-
portunity to those for whose especial
benefit these enterprises were under
taken of deriving the utmost benefit
from their prosecution.
zone of the latest illustrations of
what has been and is still being done
in this direction is furnished by a cam
paigu which the Rock Island Lines
have been conducting in Oklahoma
with the view of enabling the agricul-
turists of that state to increase large
~ the yield and improve the quality
of the WI eat crop of the state. The
successful prosecution of this cam
paign will, it is believed, result in in
creasing the wealth of the people of
Oklahoma by many millions of dollars
annually. This campaign was under
the immediate direction of the Rock
Islands agricultural commissioner,
Professor H. NJ. Cottrell, who is being
supported in his efforts by the faculty
of the Oklahoma Agricultural College.
A train is now traversing the lines Of
the system instructing Kansas farmers
in hog raising. This train has been
met by large crowds at every station
where it has stopped. Lectures are be-
ing given by Professor CottreH and
his expert assistants. There is every
reason to believe that this campaign
will result in inestimable benefit to
the people of the west and the rail-
way company conducting it is to be
heartily congratulated on the success
which is attending its beneficent ex-
ertions in this direction"