Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-09
BOOM THINGS WORTH WHILE.

Some good advice for Iowa along
the boosting line is given in news
paper article by Secretary OF state
w. C. Hayward. Mr.. Hayward says
that the practical way to boost Iowa Is
to boom the things in Iowa that are
worth while. Do things, he says, and
let the world know it, He adds:
We have, without doubt the best col
lege of agriculture and mechanics arts
anywhere. Keep It growing; make 1t
every year bigger and better than the
year before Keep it symmetrical. Let
the mechanical part keep pace Win
the AGRICULTURAL. Both are highly prac-
teal and vastly important Push the
experiment station and make its work
statewide Teach conservation OF soil
and such practical methods as Will
give Iowa an average corn crop OF lou
bushels per acre. It can be done. When
the writer was boy his father raised
100 bushels of corn on an acre OF
ground In western New York, and a
few years later, in northern Iowa.
raised 100 bushels of oats on an acre
of ground with a large field going
sixty bushels and the corn the same.
we have a state university that has
been making splendid growth. Keep it
growing; make it the biggest and best
anywhere. Why not? Make it a PRIDE
and boast of the entire continent: II
can be done in Iowa as well, II not bet
ter than anywhere else.
We also have a splendid state
Teachers college. Keep 1t growing
bigger and better every year and an
the time. Let it be known the world
over as the best organized and most
successful institution OF the kind on
the face OF the earth.
The general assembly some years
ago very wisely, in the writer's opln'
ion. provided for a moderate millage
tax for each of the three educational
institutions above mentioned. The
first Of these was to run for period
Of five years, and by later general as
semblies was renewed. The funds
raised in this way were to be used IN
the erection of needed new buildings,
and this tax has been splendidly ut1l-
lied. This method Of raising funds
gives an opportunity to plan ahead
and do things in business like way.
In addition to the state educational
:. institutions there are considerable
number Of private and denominational
schools and colleges, besides the high
schools and common schools OF the
state. Doesn't it seem as If the people
of Iowa during the passing years since
it's first settlement have been laying
the foundation and laying it we'll for a
state that will be noted the world over
for it's splendid educational facilities?
Keep the good work going along. En-
courage and support not only the state
institutions but others as well. There
are some details in connection with
our common schools, and some others
as well, perhaps not entirely satisfac-
tory to all of US, and no doubt there
always will be, but it seems to me the
thing to do is to keep hammering
away. plan and scheme and devise i'm
proved methods; keep agitating; keep
the subjects alive even if we have to
quarrel little occasionally over ques-
tions upon which we fail to agree. The
cream will come to the top in time.
There is another Iowa institution
that we can afford to boom and brag
about, and that is the Iowa state fair
It is already in the front rank of sim
liar expositions. One might fill col
umns over the great work that has
been done by those who have directed
and are directing, it's affairs. 1t has
become a great factor in the education
Of the boys and girls Of Iowa, as well
as the grown people, along agricul-
tural and allied lines as well as me-
chanic. arts 1t needs more new build
ilgs: and it should have them, and
good ones. A millage tax for these
buildings would be a good thing; it
would give knowledge of what funds