The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-01-12


Pacific tracks from the Union Depot,
st. Paul, one day early in June, 1910,
bound for long run of more than two
thousand miles, not counting the return
Journey train that was neither q
passenger" nor freight" 1t con-
sisted of flat car, two baggage cars,
parlor car.
A glance at the train as it stood in
the yards explained its character and
BETTER FARMING! SPECIAL" on q
hummer extending the whole length Of
the foremost baggage car, announced
what it was and suggests what it was
for. A moments study of the printed
itinerary. embracing distance Of more
than 1000 miles, including nearly hum
dred stops at small towns and stations,
ranging in length from two to four
hours, still further explained the pur.
pose of the train which was operated
by the Northern Pacific Railway, at
its own expense, in pursuit Of its
policy of seeking to promote the best
advancement of agriculture in the ter
ritory tributary to its lines. Other
banners on other cars-as "Animal Hus-
bandry," "Agronomy," "Dairying and
Poultry" Home Economics" s"-explajned
why there were just so many cars in
the train-that is, just why each car
was there.
The initial point of the official journey
OF the Better Farming Special' was
Fargo. n. d., on the transcontinental line
of the Northern Pacific, and the hour
of departure was G:3O A. NJ, Monday
June 9th. On the printed itinerary it
was announced that the train would stop
at Beach. North Dakota, 374 miles west
of Fargo, at $3.50 P. NJ, OH Friday, June
18th. The following announcement was
printed at the end of the North Dakota
schedule:
'The North Dakota schedule termi
mates at the close of the Beach meet
ing: the North Dakota exhibits will be
removed from the train and shipped
back to the Agricultural College by
freight; the train will be. removed to
Wibaux and fitted up by the Montans
Agricultural College on Saturday and
Sunday, ready to start on the Montana
trip Monday morning"
The first meeting in Montana was at
900 A. NJ, at Wibaux, Monday, June
Goth. The last meeting in Montana was
held at Heron, 764 miles west OF
WibauX, at 800 P. NJ, Saturday, July
End. A similar announcement to that
inserted after the North Dakota schedule
followed the Montana schedule, stating
that after the close of the. meeting al
Heron the Montana delegation would
return and the train be reorganized, at
Pullman, Washington, and taken il,
charge by the representatives of the
State College of Agriculture of the
State of Washington, thence to go on a
similar mission of instruction, inspira
tion and encouragement through the
great agricultural districts of Eastern
Washington.
The train really constituted school
of agriculture on wheels. Members OF
the faculties of the Agricultural Colleges
of the states traversed made up the
stats of instructors. Farming in nearly
every imaginable phase was discussed
what to do, and when to do it; what to
avoid and what to emphasize. were
pointed out by men who had made a
speciality of the particular problems they
were attempting to explain. Dairying
live stock, poultry raising, dry farming
the care and cultivation of orchards
pruning, spraying and grating, harvest.
ing and packing fruit, the construction
of farm buildings, drainage, sanitation
and water supply, home conveniences
household economics. and other subjects
of like Importance were dealt with by
specialists in these various lines.
The train of nine cars was loaded with
farm machinery, agricultural implements,
orchard and garden tools and products,
live stock, sheaves of grain and grasses
articles illustrative of household econom.
les and the principles of sanitation.
On the flat car were such farm ma
chimes and implements as would be re-
quired for farm of ordinary size. In
one of the baggage cars the types Of
dairy and beef animals were represented
by living specimens, comfortably y stalled
in booths provided for them, also swine
and sheep representing types adapted
to Northwestern conditions. Lectures
on dairying and stock raising were thus
accentuated and illustrated by specimens