The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-01-16
Will Be Introduced in Both
Branches Of the Federal
GoYsFAlIAIalssntI;

a iplH OF great 1mpqt ance VIII De
introduced ingthe House Of Repre-
teentatiYes on "Wednesday " Repre-
sentative Lever, 81 South Earolina,
and on the same day, IL win be pre-
septed in the senate Jointly 81 Sem,
at6rs Hoke Smith and Page. Thei
bill provides for the further endow-
ment and support of agriculture
colleges to enable them to assist in
getting. into practice The best meth
DDS of agriculture evolved by oper-
atoms of the plan Of establishing
and maintaining agricultural coll
leges and experiment stations in
the various states.
This measure is the Joint work
of the National Soil Fertility League,
the executive committee Of the col
leges of agriculture and the states
men above named. 1t is in line-with
the Presidents recommendation In
his address at the National Con-
servation Congress at Kansas City,
Mo-, September %, 1si1, 1T has the
support of the House leaders of both
parties, and 1t may be regarded as
an omni-partisan measure
According to the general plan out
of which this measure springs, 1t Is
proposed that the procedure shall
consist of getting into general prae-'
tice the best methods known TO
scientific agriculture by employing
trained agriculturists, or practical
farm demonstrators, skilled in the
most approved methods sof farm
practice, to take to the farmer, on
his own farm the information or
knowledge that viii enable him, the
latter, to interpret and adapt to his
local conditions the best methods of
farming. In plain terms, 1t will as
rapidly as possible, place trained
practical man, selected and directed
by the respective state agricultural
colleges, permanently in each agri-
cultural county of the United States.
and enable the farmer to become
master of his calling aided by the
best services the country can fur
nish, and supported by federal and
state funds.
according to the provisions of the
bill there will be an appropriation
beginning at the rate of-less than
one cent per- capita and will approx
innate three cents per capita by the
time the annual appropriation shall
have increased from 100000 per
year, the starting. point, to a little
over three million dollars, when it
reaches the maximum. To have a
clear idea of the distribution of
these funds 1t must be understood
that each state receiving its share
of the fund must appropriate an
equal amount for this purpose.
Most authorities have expressed
the belief that the operation of this
plan will in few years increase the
farm output at least fifty per cent.
That means an increase of wealth
per capita of about $4,000 per an
mum, and It adds to the country's
assets four and one-half billions in
national resources. The average
acreage in Europe gives from two
to three times the yield of the
American farms, Notwithstanding
their soil has been producing for
centuries more than the lands have
been cropped here
In the Presidents opinion this
promises to be the most valuable
constructive legislation in recent
years, Speaker clark says the mind
can not grasp the benefits that
should grow out of this movement.
Majority Leader Underwood Nex-
presses the belief that it wild do
more good to more people than any
o3her single enactment in a genera
ton. Mr.. H.-H. Gross, Of Chicago,
president. of the National s6il Fer
tility League, says he has submitted
this specific plan, to every agricul-
tural college in the land, there has
been no adverse criticism aud about
hinety-five per cent have strongly
endorsed it; it has been approved
by about 400 public bodies, such as
boards OF trade, commercial associ-
ations, business mems clubs,
women's stubs, ETC., and nearly a
thousand influential newspapers
have expressed a willingness to sup
port it.