The Sentinel=record., 1911-09-09
JUDGE FARMER TAKES UP DEM- DISSIPATION PLOT IDEA WITH
 THE RAILROADS.
Would Have the Right of Way Made Panorama of Physical Proof of What the Soil Win
 Produce.

plots within the right-of- way of the roads, and that panorama of physl- cal proof of thei opportunities of the soil might stand up before the West ern and Southern homeseekers and the tourists passing through on the trunk lines, County Judge Thurston P. Farmer of this county has address lsed letters 10 the officers of the Fris- co. Iron Mountain, Rock Island, Kan sas City Southern and Cotton Belt lines, sumbitting his plans, which he asks shall be taken up with the Agricultural departments of the roads.
 The idea was conceived here through results obtained by Judge Farmer in cooperating with United States Demonstration Alsop, who has in this county picked more than 20 small and unpromised patches of ground, and through ascertaining the adaptabiiity made them each produc- tive of something in first year. with promise of good results later on. ] The pgan by Judge Farmer is out. lined in ihe following letter to B. F. Yoakum of the Frisco, who is consid cred one of the first enthusiasts in railroad circles in the matter of en- couraging immigration and develop ling land, the communication being a samplef of that sent to the officnrs of other roads operating in Arkansas.
 My enthusiasm for the more com plete development of the resources of Arkansas and the urgent need or bringing into forceful demonstration the possibilities of the homeseeker that are everywhere within our rich
 but undevdloped commonweet tn, prompts me to offer for your consid- eration an idea that may bring more fruitful results than any plan yet of fered by any of the agencies now bidding for the great throng of peo- pleI whose attention Is being turned to the West.
 Along the right of way of the var ious railroads in Arkansas are thou sands Of acres of fruitful soil. I ob- serve with favor that the railroads ar now turning their attention to inn proving and beautifying this area of territory that is the first object of scehery to the tourist.
 Why not extend that improvement Ito the establishment of farm demon stration plots within the right of way?
 No more emphatic proof of the op- pcrtupty that Arkansas offers to the homeseeker could be created than the plots here and there along the line of rat'roai travel which are physical Sroofs of what the soil will produce.
 'lp my experience recently with United States government farm dem, onstrators here have been convinced that there is none Of our ground bu wnat is useful to a purpose. The only thing necessary is to find it's adap;anility. That you may realize what has been done in this city, with in the shadows of he courthouse, 1 am inc!osing you a photograph of a soya and velvet bean patch, cultivat- ed by mel under the direction of $. B. Alsop. the United States farm demonstrator, and grown on 8 tract of rocky beaten city property, form erly used for baseball ground, and considered impossible from view point of useful cultivation.
 "The hay cfop from this field will more than pay for the labor expend ed, besides the enrtbhment of the soil for future crops.
 My candidacy for congress in the Sixth congressional distric- mas inst brought me in close touch with the situation as it exists along the right | of way of tine railroads. Where now barren and unsightIy tracts or iand | are passed by with indifferent con- sidesatiin by the hundreds oi tnoa- sands of Western tourists and home seekers, conveyed by our roads, un- der the demonstration plot idea sus- gestea in this there would be the most eager interest from yoir car l windows with the undisputed results l that tourists would use their stop over privileges. investigate ccndis'ons | and after being convinced settle with in our state. become land owners, in- crease the taxable we$tn of the state and add to our building in ev- cry way.
 T am convinced that with the az ricultural departments available the railroads of Arkansas could institute these demonstration plots with but 1t fle outlay. and that further the fruit of the labor would be tenfo q,