Barton County democrat., 1911-04-14


more than 30 per cent of her peo-
pie on the farm. In Denmark.
approximately 80 per cent of the
farmers own the farm they till.
while in this country, with Uncle
Sam still giving away farm lands
four out of every 10 farms are
occupied by tenants.
We're Kansas as denSely popu-
lated as is Denmark. we should |
now have over 9 million people |
instead of less than IL million. /
Denmark supports this vast pOpu-
latlon and exports SO worth of
fcodstuff for every acre of land
under cultivation. With a better
soil and more favorable climate.
does Kansas, with its limited pop
ulatlOn, export this much food
stuff?
An appropriation was made TO
support the teaching of agricul-
ture and domestic scionce in the
norma | training high schools.
That Is to say, the high schools
OF the state seeking to prepare
teachers will now be helped by
an appropriation of $4,000 to
train these teacehrS so they may
give instructions in agriculture
and domestic science. This is
another move toward the intrOduc
ton OF the industries into the
grades and rural schools.
A vast majority of the farmers
of the country enter upon their
occupation between their 18th
and 10Th years. To reach them
with instruction that will make
OF them better citizens and more
successful huSbandman and busi-
ness men, means that they must
be reached beOfre they leave the
rural school. Moreover, a large
majority of those who 60 into the
Industries find their places in
the shops as operators or appren-
tees before they are 16 years old,
and these must be reached with
instruction in drawing, manual
training, commercial law, ecOnO
mics, etc. in the grades, if at all.
Another important and far
reaching step in the improvement
Of the public schools was the law
providing for the consolidation
Of rural schools when a majority
of those living in district ex-
press a desire through their votes
to have such consolidation. and
making the transportation of pu-
phS mandatory in such districts
when they live beyond = miles
from the school.
Another law was enacted Civ
ing district boards, as at present
organized, authority to transport
pupils living 215 miles or more
from school. This applies to all
classes of districts.
A law was enacted providing
for free tuition in high school to
all pupils in counties having a
population of less than 10000.
IL which such provision does no
already exist.
Other important legislation was
enacted in the interest of the city
schools; making one date for the
annual school meeting throughout
the state; permitting two or more
counties to joint together for
the conduct of a normal institute; !;
making persons eligible for cOun-
Ity superintendent who do not
live In the county; authorizing
the annexation of territory for
school purposes to all of the larg-
er cities, and authorizing the es-
tablishment of twOnship high
schools in rural communities.
A thoroughly first class road
law was enacted. The benefits
to be derived from the use of the
drag were recognized, and failure
to drag the roads is punishable
by fine. The road tax is made
payable IN cash. Unfortunately
the House failed to enact into a
law the bill which the Senate had
passed almost unanimously, Civ
ing more authority to the high
way engineer in designing
bridges, etc. .
Of much Importance in portions
OF the state is a carefully adjust
ed system of drainage laws adapt.
ed to Kansas conditions.
Laws in relation to the control
OF contagious and infectious dis
eases Of live stock were complete
J " revised and cOdified and put
into more workable form than ev-