The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-17
REGARD AGRICULTURE
AS SOURCE OF INCOME
TRANSPORTATION Companies Beginning to Give
Special Attention to Its Development What
Recent Investigation Shows.
TSpecial 70 The Times

Especial to The Times -Dispatchl
Washington, July l6.--That many of
the transportation companies OF this
country are coming to APPRECIATE ag-
riculture as a source of income and are
giving special attention to its develop
ment is shown by Investigations re-
Gently made by the farmers institute
division of the office of experiment sta
lions of the Department of Agriculture
In conducting these Investigations
inquiries were sent to more than 100
railroad corporations of the United
States and Canada requesting infor-
nation as to what each company has
done. If anything, is assisting agri-
culture. Replies were received from
all who were addressed. These replies
show that of the 103 companies send
ing in reports. ffty-two have been ac-
| tive to greater or less extent in
rendering assistance in an educational
way TO the agricultural interests of
the districts which their lines traverse
special investigation into the ex-
tent Of the operation OF agricultural
instruction trains in the United States
Just completed reveals the fact that
ftty-two of the leading railroad COM
panies had engaged in this form OF
disseminating agricultural informa ton
during the year ended June so. 1910
The number OF cars employed aggre,
| gated 233. an average of as cars per
train. The iiftytwo trains traversed
altogether during the year 40,772
miles OF track, and occupied in doing
SO the equivalent of $50 DAYS for a
single train. One thousand seven
hundred and ninety-three stops, rang
ing from forty minutes TO two DAYS
each. were made. during which lectures
upon agriculture and domestic science
topics were delivered. demonstrations
made. and exhibits Of animals, charts
and agricultural products.
Cost of Operating.
The cost of operating the trains per
day was reported by thirty-one Of the
companies. and averaged $3.50 each.
aggregating for the 336 days during
which these trains were run s32, 1888 so.
If the trains run by the companies
not reporting the cost equal this aver
$50 days would reach total of $50
i2e.i3. Forty-three of the trains re-
ported the number OF lecturers carried
at $40 These lecturers contributed
altogether 3soe days OF service. an
average OF about 1919 days for each
lecturer. with eight lecturers TO each
train II the other trains that ran.
ana occupied cighty-seven days In the
aggregate had the Same number of
lecturers, eight per train, It would add
CSC days, making a total of 1906 DAYS
or period OF instruction equivalent
to 1875 years OF 800 days each II
the lecturers employed received an
average salary OF $500 per year the
amount would be $4,000 This sum
| added 10 the cost Of running the trains.
| would make the aggregate expense for
the year s9l.42243
Reports received from twanty-six OF
the trains that We're run show an at
tendance or fsesi5. II the other trains
whose attendance was not reported
cqualed this number, it would make a
total OF persons reached during the
year $4,000.
Important Results.
1t is interesting TO note how soon
important results valuable TO the rail
road companies are accomplished
through extending comparatively