The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-05-16
PROFESSOR R. W. THATCHER
LEAVES THE STATE COLLEGE

very life and become a vital part of
its being finds it necessary or best
to sever his connection with it. It
is unfortunate even though a man
OF equal ability is found to take his
place, for it takes long time for a
new man to fit himself into the
position and win the hold upon the
institution and it's patrons that is
necessary if the best and most far
reaching work is to be done.
The character or personality of a
teacher or administrator counts for
so much in effective work and his
power depends so largely on his
ability to get into close personal
touch with those whom he may in
fiuence, that the element of time
necessary to get an acquaintance
with the real man is most essential.
Hence the universal regret not
limited to the state of Iowa, his
field for so many years, when Prof.
Holden left the state college of
Iowa for work with private cor
poration. Hence the feeling of per-
sonal loss which so many felt when
Prof. Thornber left our own state
college. To be sure it may we'll be
that the work each has entered may
be, in the end, very influential in
furtherirg agricultural and horti-
cultural interests; for their work,
if not so broad in its influence, may
gain in this, that they both may
come into closer personal relations
with the men actually in the field
and doing the work.
We can appreciate the feeling
of keen personal pleasure" which
Prof. Thatcher says he feels in
leaving administrative work in con-
nection with agricultural develop
ment to take up again my chosen
life work in research fields" And
that work in research fields may be
as valuable in the end in the de-
velopment of agricultural science,
yet we regret exceedingly that his
service of twelve years for our state
cannot be doubled and that we are
to be deprived of the immediate pro-
duct of his mature knowledge and
deprived of the results of his ex-
perience and acquaintanceship with
the people and the needs of our
state.
In the April number of The
Washington Agriculturist we have
his farewell to the college and to
the farmers of the state. We take
the liberty to print portion Of it.
II believe that no state in the
union has now before it any greater
possibilities for agricultural develop
ment. The great variety OF soils
and climatic conditions in this state
means that great diversity of ag-
ricultural crops can be produced.
Up to this time the lack OF suitable
markets has limited to a consider
able extent the production of the
more intensely cultivated farm and
garden crops. With the present
rapid growth in population and the
still more rapid development which
is likely to follow the completion OF
the Panama canal and to increase
local food consumption, and with
the greatly improved transportation
facilities that are now being pro-
vided, better markets are assured
and the possibilities of diversified
ton seem to be enormous. Such
development however, must be based
on correct principles, if it is to be
permanently successful. T her e
must be a scientific study of soil and
crop adaptations as well as market
requirements. The state college
and experiment station ought to be
the chief factor in this development,
because here are centered the men
and facilities for study OF the
states agricultural possibilities. In
formation for new settlers ought to
be available from this institution
rather than from commercial clubs
or other exploitation agencies
Again the fundamental basis for