Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-06-25
SPECIAL Train
At BISMARCK
EARLY TODAY
Nine Exhibition Cars Garry q
Complete Institute to the
Farmers
Is First Better Farming Train
to Make Tour Of North
Dakota
Northern Pacific Supplied
Specially Designed Cars
for the Trip
Rx c. B. Winter.

ing TO ule TeSlu0utS OIL 6uIAeI6u GULL
ty the Northern Pacific Farm 1nsti'
tute special train arrived in the Elk.
position City at an early hour this
morning. Despite the sweltertng
weather encountered Monday on the
Mott branch, the crowds that visited
the nine exhibition cars were among
the best of the entire trip, and dis
played unusual interest In both the
lectures and the various displays.
Farmers Carried to A. c.
Prior to the enactment of the law
lowering railway rates in North Da'
kota to two and one half cents per
mile, both the Northern Pacific and
the Great Northern mad made spe.
oial rates to farmers, so low that all
might take advantage of them, to
transport the INTO the agricultural col
lege for two days visit that was de-
signed to be educational and instruc.
tive. In those days the railroads car.
ried the farmers to the agricultural
college.
College Carried to Farmers.
Today the old conditions have been
changed. The enactment of a law
lowering the railway rates in the
state resulted in the abolition Of all
special rates for any purpose whatso-
ever. The annual journeys of farm
ers to the agricultural college were
abandoned. Two years ago Prof. T.
A. Hoverstad of Fargo, superintend.
ent~ Of farm institutes in North Da'
kota, conceived the idea Of a farm
institute special train that would car
nv the AGRICULTURAL college to the far.
mer.
First Better Farming Special.
Prior to the enactment of the law
establishing lower railway rates In
the state, the agricultural college had
sent out Good Seed" trains, bear.
ing a corps of lecturers and seed ex-
perts but no demonstration cars. In
every community visited farm inst1'
tutes were held lasting only forty
five minutes. One hundred and fifty
of these institutes were held within
period extending over less than
four weeks. However the time limit
was so short that doubt was express.
ed as to whether these institutes did
80 much good as was desired. When
the Better Farming train was first
thought Of it was decided to lengthen
the stay in each town or city visited,
and to carry exhibits Of good crops,
seeds soils etc., in cars obtained Tor
that purpose. The flrst train was
sent out in 1910 and was a decided
success in every particular.
Arranging For Present Train.
Last winter President Elliott Of the
Northern Pacific called Prof. Hover:
stad to St. Paul and asked whether or
not the agricultural college would
equip another of these trains this
year. He offered rolling stock and
transportation tree Of charge and
Prof. Hoverstad accepted his propos'
al with enthusiasm. The need OF bet
ter farming methods was never more
apparent than during the past two
years, when conditions proved Tar
from favorable. Consequently the
second North Dakota Farm Institute
special train was arranged.
Northern Pacific Interested In Project
The Northern Pacific company fur
nished the cars, nine IN number for
exhibition purposes, two tourist sleep
ers and one standard dining car. The
railway company also remodelled the
interior of the cars designed for de-
monstration uses to conform with the
needs of the various departments. J.
l.. Burnham, travelling freight agent
for the Northern Pacific with head
quarters at jamestown, was placed IN
charge Of the train, and the prompt
ness with which the special has fol.
lowed out it's schedule, as well as the
parking Of the trains In the very
best portion Of each community VS.
tied is due in no smalI measure to his
ability and enthusiasm over the pur'
pose Of the trip. Many contingen.
cies have arisen at odd times that
required brains and ability to meet,
but in no instance has Mr.. Burnham
failed to keep things "humm1ng
along" and moving on schedule time.
College Furnishes Institute National.
The agricultural college has furn'
ished the lecturers, demonstrators
and farming experts for the trip, in
addition to the exhibits and displays
of every department. The institute
work is under the active charge OF
Prof. Hoverstad. The experts and
lecturers accompanying the train
comprise men who have a national
reputation in agricultural sircles.
Composition Of Better
Farming Special.
There are nine exhibition cars on
the farm institute special. The frst
car contains live stock, q Hambleton'
ian draft mare, Holstein dairy COW,
short horn beef heifer, q Shropshire
ram, eve and two lambs, and two
pure bred swine. Adjoining the live
stock car is flat car, upon which