The daily sentinel., 1913-12-08
HOUSTON PLANS TO REORGAN|zE
DEPARTMENT OF AGR|CULT LTURE
New Secretary Recommends Help For Farm Women, But Advises
Against Any Special Law For the Farmer, Saying That He
Needs Only Treatment Accorded 10 Others.
other classes and for other sections.

other classes and for other sections.
HELPING THE FARMER.
Even though the problem of how
the farmer can best sell his produce
and can improve the conditions un-
der which he can secure the necess-
ary capital were solved, there would
still remain vital things to be ac-
complished before rural life can be
made fully efficient, profitable, at
tractive. healthful and pleasurable,
and before a larger disposition to re-
main on the farm develops. Good
roads are prerequisite for better mar
keting, for better schools, and for
more comfortable rural living. Bet
ter sanitation and hygiene in the
home, in the school, and in the COM
munity are just as vital for the ru-
raj community as for the urban,'
says the report.
ITO gain information to enable
the department better to serve rural
women, the secretary has addressed
letters of inquiry to the women on
$4,000 selected farms covering every
county. Other surveys and studies
were also conducted. Analysis OF
the small part OF the letter as yet
digested shows that farm women de-
sire assistance in all phases of home
management. especially as to ways
OF securing running water. introduc-
ing household power machinery and
labor-saving arrangements. and pro-
viding better hygiene and sanitary
conditions. Many seek advice as to
better marketing of the articles they
produce. Others ask the department
to prove to the men that their work
IL worth something in dollars and
cents. The overwork of women and
children and difficulty of securing
domestic help are mentioned by a
number of the writer's. The depart
ment believes that intelligent help to
women in matters of home manage
ment will contribute directly to the
agricultural success of the farm. 1t
purposes, therefore. to ask congress
for means and authority to make
more complete studies of domestic
conditions on the farm. to experiment
with labor-saving devices and meth
DDS, and to study completely the
question of practical sanitation and
family.
AID FOR GOOD ROADS.
As to federal aid for good roads
the secretary says the federal gov
ernment should deal with the state
as the lowest unit, through an ex-
pert highway commissioner as its
agency. The plan should provide for
maintenance as well as for construc-
ton. Preference should be given to
the improvement of roads over which
products from the farm can be taken
to the nearest railway station. A
scheme of road construction and
maintenance within state should
be developed and mutually agreed
upon. Money appropriated by the
federal government should be appor-
toned on the basis OF such factors
as total population, farm population,
area, taxable valuation and mileage.
Special emphasis is laid on the
fact that the figures for crops quot
ed are estimates. From the esti-
mates at hand 1t appears that the
production OF crops in 1913 was ma
terially below the average, the yield
per acre of all crops combined being
smaller than in any year in the past
decade with the exception of 1911.
The corn crop, the most valuable
product of this country, according
to the estimates fell below $2,500.-
000,0 bushels, which is smaller
than any crop since 1903. Wheat