The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-13
some POINTS in
WORST'S ADDRESS
HARD FACTS FURNISHED TIE
MEMBERS OF THE LEGlsLA-
TURE BY A. C. PRExY.

Bismarck, n. D., Feb. 13.-President
Worst Of the Agricultural college in
addressing a joint session of the leg
islature on the relation between the
A. C. and the government experiment
station, said in part:
The relation OF the Agricultural col
lege and experiment station TO the
states one great neutrality-suspicious.
us of such a nature that but few
really comprehend its far reaching
missive. For instance-if every item
asked for by the agricultural college
and experiment station for the next
biennial period were to be appropri-
ated by the present legislative as
sembly-and II. in addition, every sum
of money asked for by the demonstra-
ton farms, the sub stations, and for
all other purposes having a bearing
upon agriculture and agricultural edu-
cation were to be passed. 1t would be
a fair question, then to ask, What
can these institutions do to repay the
state for this money!" Let me an
swer.
without taking into consideration
Li6 ACIES EEGdCu ~ 4AcAsAB NcNNof hJeSAANSt
rye, potatoes, corn and hay, and with
out taking into consideration the
horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry
all of which can be vastly improved
and made more valuable and profitable
by means OF agricultural education
and the research work of the stations
but considering only the wheat area
approximately 100000 acres--if
these institutions can increase the
average wheat yield FIVE pounds per
acre, 1t will return 70 the state every
dollar asked for. Every additional
pound Of wheat, per acre, adds 100000
annually to the wealth Of the state.
If, on the other hand, they can return
one additional bushel per acre and
would at So cents per bushel, it would
add $5,950,O0O annually to the capital
Of the state and increase the value OF
the land, by increasing its dividend
paying power S224,0O0,OOO.
1t is worth while? Should these
institutions be compelled to exist upon
the least possible sum of money that
will keep them alive? Would il not
be consistent for these institutions to
be given ample means to do their best
science of the state were properly
awakened-a thing that can never be
accomplished, however, except it be
lative recognition-it would, within
lative recognition-it would within
the bounds of reasonable possibility,
ultimately increase the productive
power Of every cultivated acre of
North Dakota soil to the extent of at
least IS. In other words, it would
raise the average yield Of wheat from
about twelve to twenty bushels per
acre, and other crops in proportion.
II would also imply the improvement
of livestock, proportionally.
This, without any increase of acre
age, would add annually $S4, O00,O00 to
the wealth of the state and raise the
value of land, according to the rules
governing stocks, bonds, ETC., S1,40O,-
100000.
Is it worth while? Appalling as these
figures are, there is no water in them,
and the possibilities they represent
can be realized.
England produces an average OF
thirty-two bushels Of wheat per acre.
Holland and Belgium do as well or
better.
There is not a nation irR existence
that would not pour out unlimited
treasures to possess a province like
North Dakota. The Almighty per-
formed His best work when He poured
into our soil the elements Of wealth,
rivaling that of almost any other
country.
And yet, our craftsmanship seems
to be directed in other though doubt
less, important ways, as the nearly
500 bills introduced would indicate.
But are we not too largely overlooking
the major problem-the highest stakes
for which this state can plaY2