Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-06-12
IMPORTANT TO AGRICUL-
TURIST.
3D.. Problem Before the Farmers
IL distribution and Utilization.

IS D1SCT1Dut4Ou dAO OV44A6U4VA'
While in Washington city re-
oortlv. the writer had an inter
.sting interview with Secretary
# Agriculture Houston, which is
worth passing on to our readers.
"Without undervalueing in any
depree the great Importance" he
CARED in the outset, "I am new
ertheless wholly convinced that
the most pressing issues facing the
farmers of the nation right now
are those of distribution and utli
lizstion.
"And by utilization" he has
tened to add, 81 do not mean to
nse that word in its narrowest
sense, but in its broadest. l
mean the whole question of the
organization of rural life-the
nroblem of living in it's fullest
measure. The farmer has a right
to have a joyous existence-that
is my conviction-and it should
be the purposes of every organized
.gricultural activity to contribute
to this end.
"Among the newer questions
whose Importance none of us can
fail to recognize, there are three
that stand out pre-eminent
"Q) Better methods of market
ing.
"(2) Better rural credits.
"(3( Better schools for the
farmer"
DR.. Houston went on to say that
he is especially interested in the
problem of better country schools.
lie worked on a Carolina farm
when he was growing up and his
first teaching experience was with
a country school.
"Take a farming community
ten miles from some neighboring
town. What is the fact facing its
average country parent? Moth
ing but the present slip-shod ar
rangement of sending his boy to
attend a school taught by some
poor-equipped girl, through his
earlier grades, and then sending
him to town and paying board
and tuition there, while he does
his work out of the atmosphere Of
the country and in the atmosphere
OF the city.
"The remedy lies in two re-
forms: ID Consolidated element
airy schools, and ~ the establish
ment of a good system of rural
high schools"
And right here DR.. Houston en-
phasized a significant conviction.
81 want to see our rural schools
recognize their duty toward the
adult farmers as well as toward
the Children he declared. Why
shouldn't the schools become cen
tres in which moving picture
shows and other entertainments,
lectures and public meetings are
regularly held? I have not made
up my mind but that elections
should not be held in our school
3houses-instead of in saloons!
"Then there is the matter OF
rural sanitation; and IN this and
in all other phases of the rural life
problem we find the duty of Civ
ing more attention, more thought
to woman. 5.F
d! Veil, believe that's a pretty
good summary Of my creed, the
Secretary remarked in conclusion.
"Of course, it goes without say
ing that 1 am supremely interest
ed in seeing the great mass OF e1-
listing knowledge carried directly
to the farmer. The agricultural
science now in existence would
keep the farmer going a long time,
If it could be carried to them. And
| am also very fortunate in that
President Wilson himself has
shown a very keen interest in all
these matters"
DIR. Houston alluded to the new
appropriation Of $4,000 for a Blu
Eeau of Markets in the Depart
ment of Agriculture. "While L
shal try to get all possible for
elgn light regarding this subject,
he declared, ~ am equally inter
eSted in discovering what we are
doing in this country" The sub
!ect of rural credits is also of keen
interest to him, and. he is one of
the earliest Southern advocates OF
the Torrens system of registering
land titles. Nearly 20 years ago,
Just after going to Texas, he wrote
a strong article urging the Lone
otar State to adopt this important