The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-08

! and the undeveloped areas OF Tue
community.
The Farm Woman.
! To gain information that Would en-.
able the department better TO SEW
rural women, the secretary aoaleeSs
letters of inquiry to the women ~
* 600 selected farms covering every
county, Other surveys stuoiee
! were also conducted. Analysis OF -
! small part Of the letters as YET ~
gested shows that farm women oe,
sire assistance in all phases oa n ~
management, especially as to ways ~
san,r;np running water, introducing
| household power machinery and lapor-
| saving arrangements, and proVlolns
| better hygienic and sanitary conot-
tons. Many seek advice as TO me
better marketing Of the artlcles tley
produce. Others ask the department.
to prove to the man that their WORK
is worth something in dollars any
cents. The overwork OF women anu
| children and difficulty Of securing 40
mestic help are mentioned ny a nuAn.
Der of the writer's. These letters nave
furnished valuable suggestions for
constructive work in this field. The
| department believes that intelligent
help to women in matters OF home
management will contribut tdirectly
to the agricultural success or tne
farm. It purposes, therefore, 10 ash
| congress for e and authority 10
make more complete studies OF 90
mestic conditions on the farm, to e1-
pertinent with l~abor-saving devices
and methods, and to study completeiy
the question Of practical sanitation
| and hvgienic protection for the farm
family.
NF~- NAF.A:. Gk@[A ae%i%II$INnC. -.
To eliminate duplication of effort
| and friction and bring about greater
co. coordination between the state land
| grant colleges and experiment sta-
| tions and the department, several con-
| f~erences were held with representa-
| tives of these institutions. The eX-
ecutive committee and the secretary
signed a memorandum formulating
certain views. In substance this mem
orandum holds that the federal de-
partment's primary function is to I'M
dertake the study Of problems and reg
ulatory work that are more partlcul-
larly' regional, interstate and 'lnterna-
tional in character and that upon the
station should rest the responsibility
of investigating problems within it's
state. Provision is made for union eff
fort where cooperation seems neces-
sary. Committees on projects ana
correlation of work, relations and pub
LEGATION of research will be appointed
to bring about closer relations. 1t
was agreed that the extension and
demonstration service through which
information is carried directly to the
people should be administered under
the immediate direction of the col
leges; that extension service projects
| maintained by federal funds should be
| entered nn1V after fnnfnn1 qnnTOEAl
by the department and the colleges
| and that federal funds be distributed
! ind expended under proper federal
check; and that extension appropria-
! tons by the states be under state con-
troll. The congress will be asked to
provide necessary legislation which is
embodied in the Smith-Lever bill to
establish machinery for extension
work throughout the states, bring
about a decentralization in this work
and enable the department to conduct
this service with the full cooperation
of the agricultural colleges. Legisla-
ton whereby the department, the coll
leges and the stations may coordinate
their research activities and avoid du-
plication of work should be enacted,
The department is of the opinion that
in the administration of the Hatch
| and Adams acts, it will regard unwar-
ranted change in the personnel and
unnecessary interruption of projects
as calling for inquiry and possibly
warranting the withholding of funds.
Federal Road Policies.
There has been a steady movement
for better roads during the past TWEEN,
ty years, and today about thirty-foul
states have highway commissions Oh
some other state highway agency.
The total annual expenditure of tht
states for construction and mainte'
nance of roads which ten years ago
amounted to but 50, 900, 900, has grown
to SAB, 900, 900 in 1912. The fedora
government should take the lead in in
Vestigational and experimental work
and there is need for a central agency
which can furnish the best informa,
ton on al problems Of road building
and maintenance. Recently congress
made an appropriation of $500. 600 fol
improving post roads, expenditure tt
be contingent on the appropriation o
double the amount of money by thu
state or local highway subdivision. Il
federal aid is to be further extended
in highway development, Legislation
to that end should incorporate thi!
cooperative principle. The fedora
government should deal with the statt
? as the lowest unit. through an exper
highway commissioner as it's agency
The plan should provide for mainte'
nance as well as construction. Pref
erence should be given to the i'm
provement of roads over which prod,
: ucts from the farm can be taken to thu
nearest railway station. A scheme o
road construction and maintenance,
within a state should be developed anc
mutually agreed upon. Money appro,
priated by the federal government
! should be apportioned on the basis O
such factors as total population, farm
: population, area, taxable valuation
and mileage.
Permits in National Forests.
The national forests are being class
flied to segregate lands valuable 70
agriculture and to establish perma
nent boundaries for timber production
and water protection. The earning
from timber sales and other source
increased $500, 600, or Is per cent owe
= 1912. The forests should produce al
. the timber they can and supply tn,
= public need at the lowest possible
: cost under conditions that protect tn
public against monopoly.
Seventy-siX W~ater-power project
! have been developed and thirty NOR,
= are under consideration. The law per
hitting only a r~eVocable franchis
= should be changed to allow ffty-yea
permit for power purposes, under pro
visions protecting investor and tn
: public. " "
Future s of the 1877, OO0, 900 acres
. which does not interfere with mor