Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-30

st. PAU, Dec. ~, AoAV. G"in vi
nine cars pulled out over the Northern
pacific tracks from the Union Depot,
St. Paul, one day early in June, 1910,
hound for long run OF more than two
oyrousand miles, not counting the return
;ourney-a train that was neither
yuassenper" nor a freight" 1t con-
.isted Of fiat car, two baggage cars,
three coaches, diner, sleeper and a
parlor car ), ).
the yards explained it's character and
w. nurpose NORTHERN PACIFIC
RETTER FARMING SPECIAL" on a
hammer 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 a distance of more
than 1000 miles, including nearly a hun
bred stops at small towns and stations,
ranging in length from two to four
hours still further explained the pur-
nose of the train which was operated
bv the Northern Pacific Railway, at
It's own expense, in pursuit of it's
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-
handry," "Agronomy," "Dairying and
Poultry" Home Economic" -explained
whv 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 $3.50 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 $50 p NJ, on Friday, June
18th. The following announcement was
printed at the end of the North Dakota
schedule:
"The Moth 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 Montana
Agricultural College on Saturday and
Sunday, ready to start on the Montana
"trip Monday morning"
The first meeting in Montana was al
1900 A. NJ, at Wibaux, Monday, June
s2Oth. 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 recognized, al
Pullman, Washington, and taken in
charge by the representatives of the
State College of Agriculture of the
State of Washington, thence to go on 9
similar mission of instruction. inspra
ton and encouragement through the
great agricultural districts of Eastern
Washington.
The train really constituted a schoo
Of agriculture on wheels. Members Of
the faculties of the Agricultural Colleges
Of the states traversed made up The
stats of instructors. Farming in nearl!
every imaginable phase was discussed
what to do, and when to do it; what t.
avoid and what to emphasize, were
pointed out by men who had made {
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 b.
specialists in these various lines.
The train of nine cars was loaded will
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 fiat car were such farm ma
chimes and implements as would be re
quirei for a farm of ordinary size. II
one OF the baggage cars the types o
dairy and beef animals were represente,
by living specimens, comfortably stale,
IN booths provided for them, also swim
and sheep representing types adapte,
to Northwestern conditions. Lecture
on dairying and stock raising were thu
accentuated and illustrated by specimen