Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-01-07

with various KINDS OF machinery |
which have been invented in recent
years have reduced it almost to a
science and many of the hardships
have been eliminated For the past
few years the Board of Agriculture
has been doing much to better the
conditions on the farm and bring to
the attention of the farmer infOrma-
ton on the improved methods of
farming and various kinds of crops
which are best adapted to our
soil. The farmers institutes which
have been held through our State
under the direction of the Board
have enabled the farmers to exchange
ideas and to learn from the expert
enced men who usually address them,
how they can remedy a great many OF
the mistakes which they have made
in the past. This Board should be
given all possible encouragement, as
the field is a broad one and it can ac-
complish much for the people of the
entire State I recommend that a
liberal appropriation be made for its
use, in order that il may increase its
efforts and accomplish much more in
the future.
The Experimental Station, which is
being maintained in part by the State
at Delaware College, has been a great
advantage to the Board and enabled
it to accomplish much. The farmers
day at the College is now well at
tended Here they may send samples
Of their soil, which will be analysed
for them, and thereby learn just what
fertilizer to use in order to obtain
the best results l recommend that
la
for the Station i'm order that it may
continue the excellent work which il
has been doing and the people of the
State may continue to receive the adj
vantages Of it.
Public Highways.
This is a subject which should go
hand in hand with agriculture, for
the improvement of our public roads,
which are the means of access to our
farms. would of itself improve and
enhance the value of the land.
The increase in our taxes, which
it would be necessary to make in or
der to improve the road from the
farm to the nearest town, would soon
be returned to the farmer, because
his land would not only increase in
value but it would not be necessary
for him TO keep so many horses or
mules. as they could pull much heav-
Ter loads on good roads. Then the
roads, if properly built. would afford
drainage for a great portion of the
land. which would be of almost in
estimable advantage to some of the
low lands of Sussex county. Every
citizen of the State, no matter what
his occupation or profession may be
should take an active interest in this
question, because there are times
when we all must necessarily use the
public roads, and we will then appre-
ciate it if we find them in good con-
dition. IN my message to the Legis-
lature of nineteen hundred and eley-
en- I suggested the building of road
by the State to extend from the Penn.
sylvania line on the north, through
the counties of our own State to the
Maryland line on the south, and | an
still OF the opinion that such roat
would be a great advantage to thu
State and that the advantage woul'
be realized more and more each year
Since that message was written
one of our broad-minded and gener
Gus citizens has offered to build sucl
road without one cent of cost Z
the State in construction, and actual
~ commenced the work, but some o
our citizens who did not realize tn
advantage to be derived by them, a
we'll as the whole State from such al
undertaking, put themselves on rec
ord as opposed to the project, and
is now held up by the Supreme Cour
of the United States. The people @
our sister States of Maryland an
PENNSYLVANIA were amazed whe
they learned that some of our cit
.t.,rn oppocfno c1rqb a nripppl
gift which they are spending vas
sums of money out of their publ
treasures to provide for. I recon
mend the passage Of all reasonabl
laws that will enable Mr. DUPONT
Droceed with the construction of thl
road so that it may be completed !
the near future This question of in
proved highways is being agitate
throughout this country every da,
conventions are being held at variou
places. attended by delegates frol
most of the States in the Union, fC
the purpose Of discussing the dinei
ent kinds of material to be used an
the best method OF construction. lf
time will soon come when the sta
will be compelled TO build such
road as Mr.. dupont now offers
build. and the cost OF the same WI
be very great
Education. ....... ~
There lis no institution of the sta
more important than its schools,
behooves us therefore to be constan
" alert to their changing needs az
to encourage their progress by liber
legislation and by ample appropri
tions.
Our schools have increased great
in efficiency in recent years, but 4
progress has been confined largely
the graded schools The rural schoo
have made little real progress.
seems to me therefore that the pr
blen of the rural school should 7
ceiye special attention. The local d
trict is too small a unit for efiicie
administration, and il seems III
some steps should be taken towar
the consolidation of the districts
order 10 provide for better sch'
facilities and more economical a
efficient administration.
The qualifications OF the teachers
apthe schools are becoming high
every year and the salaries are SLOW
increasing The teachers in
schools will not do their best NC
unless the system of supervision
more strict At present the super
tendents visit the average rural sch'
once a year, sometimes twice. Unl
tho teachers have the frequent h