The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-17
The INSTITUTES
MUST Be SAVED
GRAND FORKS TIMES DISCUSSES
THE IMPORTANCE OF FARMERS,
INsTITUTEs--HAvE DONE MORE
TO DEVELOP THE STATE THAN
ANY OTHER ONE POWER.

Grand Forks Times: A convention
of the commercial bodies of the state
has been called to meet at Fargo on
April "a, for the purpose of devising.
IL possible, some means by which the
money can be provided to continue
the farmers institute work in the
state. This course is made necessary
because Governor Burke vetoed the
appropriation made for this purpose bv
the last legislature on the grounds
that the state funds would not stand
the expense. 1t is matter Of regret
that this action makes it necessary
for the people of the state to levy a
special tax upon themselves to carry
on this great developmental work.
while there seems to be money in
abundance for other far less naeritous
enterprises.
1t is not necessary for The Times
to repeat its position as to farmers
institutes. 1t has said repeatedly that
they have done more to develop North
Dakota than any other one power
The pioneers were wheat growers who
learned to grow that one crop in the
hard and costly school OF experience
They learned how 20 draw anon the
rich storehouses Of nature that had
been millions Of years In accumulat
ing, with an unstinted hand. But even
In a soil as wonderfully rich as ours.
this process reduced certain essential
elements of grain life SO that crop
yields became less with each succeed
ing year. The soil had not been de-
stroyed; it had only been abused.
Science knew the methods by which
this overdrawn vitality could be re-
stored. Reduced to practice, 1t meant
diversified farming. The farmers
We're ready and anxious to do what
was necessary to recover their lost
soil wealth, but they did not know
how They could not take a course
at the agricultural college and learn,
The farmers institutes solved the
problem. In a couple Of days the in
structors could give the farmer enough
information that with his own expert
ence and intelligence he could carry
out the plans for restoring the soil
fertility without the loss of a crop
In fact, could make money while do
ing SO.
Five years ago the farmers, insti-
tute in this city could have been ac-
commodated in room ten feet square
on the opening morning. and was ae-
commodated at the most largely al
tended session in the courtroom ~
the courthouse with half Of the chairs
empty. This year a large auditorium
was necessary and 400 or 500 farmers
were In attendance. Five years ago
instructors asked for places TO hold
Institutes; this year il would have
taken the corps of instructors three
Years to fill all the places demanding
institutes These things prove that
the institutes We're meeting popular
demand. Farmers were not spending
good money In this year OF grace to
attend these institutes for no purpose.
They wanted to know more about
scientific farming; how to restore the
soil fertility; how to conserve the
moisture; how to grow new crops and
how to utilize them with profit, The
institutes We're doing those things for
them.
The legislature made liberal provi-
sion for their continuance and enlarge
ment. It was only justice to the
farmers. They bear the burdens Of
taxation and they should have some
Of the profits. The governor seems to
have thought different and to have
decided he could put the farmers
taxes to better use.
In view of these conditions. ii be-
comes necessary, Ii this work il to
continue, to double tax the people BY
means of private contributions The
Fargo convention Is movement in
he right direction and every CONNER
stal body In the state should be repre-
Iented Just what plans can be de-
rised to raise the necessary fund, we
10 not know. But the united wisdom
md judgment OF the assembled con.
'ention should be able to provide ways
nd means which will give the farm
RS what they deserve without making |
he burden excessively heavy.
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