Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1912-12-11
A GREAT SHORT COURSE
FIRST Agricultural Short Course for
Winneshiek An Unusual Success.
OVER 400 STUDENTS
IN VARIOUS CLASSES
Aggregated Nearly Ten ThtE
and. Course for Next Veg
Already Assured.

Agricultural Short Course fo in
neshiek county, held in Decf' all
last week, was great suc( 1t
took an immense amount of to
create public sentiment in its favor,
and it was not thought possible to
interest the people of the county in
its value to the extent that the at
tendance would be sufficient to meet
all expenses the first year, but such
has been the case. 1t has been a
success from every standpoint, all
expenses will be paid, as well as all
premiums, and substantial balance
will probably be left in the treasury
for future use.
We believe that nothing has hap
pened in this county in many years
that will prove of greater or more
lasting value. In addition to the sci
entific information gained by all who
attended the various classes, it has
had great influence in demonstrate
ing the inseparable relationship of
the city and the country, in an agri-
cultural community. 1t has done
much to do away with the feeling
against Decorah that has been grow
ing for some years past, and that is
not only foolish, but dangerous to
the best interests of the farmer as
we'll as the citizen. The people of
DEBORAH have always been exception
ally liberal in everything that bene-
fits the farmer; they have always
exhibited a desire to help the farmer.
They realize that what helps the far
mer helps Decorah, and the reserve
is Just as true-that what helps De-
corah helps the farmer. This was
remarked many times during the
week and we feel certain that bet
ter understanding, a greater desire
to work together for the common
good. now exists than did before.
What we have stated of Decorah is
Just as true of all other towns in the
county.
The professors from the Ames col
lege expressed surprise at their re-
eeption here, surprise at the inter-
est taken by the citizens of Decorah,
and at the preparations made for the
course before their arrival, as well
as the liberality of the people OF De-
corah and the unusual number that
participated in the course. They all
state that the course from every
standpoint was one of the best first
courses they have ever been connect
ed with. 1t is evidence that all ap-
preciate the great good to be obtain
ed from a scientific study of agricul-
ture.
Our last paper gave the names OF
men taking the full course, the names
of those entering for premiums In
the farm products exhibit, the pro-
fessors in charge, etc., so that there
remains little to include in this re-
port, except the list of premiums.
These we started to work on, when
we found that all have not yet been
announced, and that it will be I'M
possible to procure complete list
until next week, when it will be pub
lished.
There were a few over four hund-
dred students in the various classes
during the week, almost exactly di-
yided between the mems and women
classes, 204 in the former and zoo In
the latter. The total number In at
tendance at all the gatherings OF the
week were between 5000 and 10000.
In our last issue we reported the
Monday and Tuesday evening meet
ings at the opera house. "Wednesday
night DR.. Lysles gave very inter-
esting lecture upon Three Things a
Boy Must Know" Thursday night
A. G. True of Edgewood spoke upon
bee culture, and Prof. Grannis upon
Iowa soils, both very instructive ad-
dresses. Friday evening was the much
talked of county spelling contest, and
the opera house was packed. There
we're "a contestants, from schools
throughout the county. Co. Sup't
sigurd Reque had charge of the con-
test, and with Prof Lysles and Mrs
Kalyestrand acted as Judges, while
supt. Eva M. Fleming of the city
schools pronounced the words to DC
spelled by the contestants. Fourteen
of the contestants did not miss Q
word in the first series, and these
fourteen were given another set o.
words, being seated as they missed
until but five were left, VIZ: Helma
Halvorson. Harold Meyer. Nora Ber'
aeson. Louise Larsen and Agnes Gull