The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-07-19
Government Aid for Farm Work.


Government Aid for Farm Work.
In letter to the Hastings Banner of
last week Hon. w. II. Schantz, who is
a practical as well as a progressive
farmer, urges interest in the work of
securing the assignment uf government
agricultural experts to the counties of
the state sufficiently interested to meet
half of the expense, in accordance with
the plans outlined in our columns last
week. Mr.. Schantz, when a member
of the legislature endeavored to secure
action along this line and has since been
interested in the plan for the same as
worked out by congress. Referring to
his work in the legislature Mr.. Schantz
says:
Since that attempt have watched
every effort being made along these
lines with much interest, believing
that the time would surely come when,
to use the words of James J. Hill, "The
Agricultural College must be taken a
field" and l have before me several le.-
tiers from Congressman James G. Nc
Laughlin of Muskegon, who secured
the first $780, 900 for this work in the
northern states.
I'm these letters l find that local
boards of trade in the larger cities and
boards Of supervisors in counties hav-
ing no large cities will be asked to
provide one-half the necessary expense
of maintaining such a man in each
county year by year. During the spe-
cial session of the state legislature held
last winter Congressman Mclaughlin
sent message to Gov. Osborn advising
an appropriation of $4,000 to enable
the state to accept very fiattering
offer he was authorized to make by the
department of agriculture.
In short there seems to be a disposi
tion on the part of the general govern
ment to have the people benefited
stand part of the expense, and this
seems right and hope, if we cannot
take advantage of the present offer
that when the next one comes our way
we will be ready to seriously consider
the matter because can see great good
in store for the common farmer, who
so much needs this kind of help.
Cong. Mclaughlin states that last
year but one such man was in Michi-
gan, but this year twelve will be sent
out, and that it is the aim of Secretary
Wilson to have one man in each coun.
ty of state, one man in each congress.
sional district, and one over the state
at large. In fact the idea of instruc.
tion and assistance to farmers right on
the farms is becoming too strong to be
further resisted and close with few
extracts from one of Congressman Nc
Laughlin's letters to me on certain
phrases OF this matter"
But the people of Michigan. city
people and farmers alike, are coming to
realize that something must be done to
conserve and increase the fertility of
our farms, increase the yield of every
crop the farmer produces and add ma.
terially to the profits of the farm with
out additional outlay of money or lab.
or. The city man is getting furious on
account Of the high cost Of living and
he is showing not little ill.feeling
toward the farmer on account of high
prices of farm products. Some of these
people evidently think law ought to
be enacted reducing and limiting the
price q farmer can receive for his pro.
ducts. They fail to appreciate that
farming is not and has not been very
profitable notwithstanding high prices
and that conditions cannot change ma.
terially until farmers are able to double
their production without increase of
cost of labor"
'The high cost of Lying hits city
people much harder than it does the
farmers. The cost Of farm products
may and often does determine the
amount city man and his family may
eat, whereas farmer uses all he needs
and all he wishes regardless of cost.
When the city man, whose approval of
appropriations for teaching better az.
riculture is necessary, realizes that he
is even more interested than the farm.
OF In some Of the problems of sgricul.
ture we shall be able to secure money
necessary to carry on instruction and
demonstration work. IL is up to US to
make the people understand the situa.
ton, and when they do the money will
be forthcoming.