The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-21
News of the Northwest
MORTON COUNTY TO
GET AGRICULTURAL
AGENT THIS FALL

Mandan, N. D., Jul 21.-A levy of $2,-
600 will be made in Morton county
next year and thereafter for the en-
ployment of a county agricultural
agent to spread the gospel of diversi-
fed and scientific farming. The sum
will be augmented by approximately
$1,000 annually from the state and the
total will go to defray the expenses Of
this work.
After many months Of agitation and
hard work on the part of better farm
ing boosters a large delegation secured
an audience with the county commits
sioners at the close of their regular
session last Friday afternoon and Sc
cured their approval to the plans and
their consent to make the tax levy.
Thos. Cooper Helped Local Men
Thomas P. Cooper of Fargo, direct
or Of the state experiment station and
sub-stations and in direct charge of
the better farming section of the state
agricultural college, came in on No. 3
that morning and joined the local
delegation before the commissioners,
making a strong plea in their behalf
and in behalf of the state work.
Others in the committee which met
with the commissioners were: Mike
Tschida, VIM. He'll, H. Hoist and E.
A. Burmester of Glen Ullin. Eugene
Weigel, Chas. Krauth, Paul Mann and
E. H. Watts Of Hebron. and Otto
Bauer and several other local parties.
S. J. Nagel, commissioner from the
northwestern part Of the county, is
in favor Of the most modern methods
Of farming n proved a valuable as
sistance in bringing about the final
decision Of the remainder of the board.
Work No Longer Experimental.
This work Is no longer an expert
ment. It has been amply demon
strated that agricultural agents are Of
untold benefit and are valuable assets
to any county. Their work is to go
about from community to community
and from farm to farm teaching the
farmers the accepted methods of diver
sified farming, such as crop rotation,
corn growing, silo care and silage use,
alfalfa production, stock raising, etc.
experiment station has charge of the
work at all times.
There have been agricultural agents
in this state for three years. There
are now 26 men INC one m In
this field in North Dakota, chiefly in
the eastern part of the state, and Nor
ton county Is the twenty4 second to
join the ranks of these progressive
counties.
State and County Cooperate.
The state and the county act joint
ly in carrying on the work, the state
experiment station usually furnishing
about one-third of the expenses in ad-
dition to supervising the work. The
funds appropriated by the experiment
station are secured by congressional
action through the office of farm man.
agement of the department Of agrlcul-
ture.
In the case Of Morton county the
levy, about ten cents per quarter, will
net $4,000 and the income through the
state experiment station will be $1,000.
The county will have complete control
Of all this money, which will go to
carry on the better farming work
within its borders.
No Man for the Job.
AS yet on one has been secured for
the position Of agent in this county
n Mr.. Cooper stated that he has no
one in mind, but that he will make a
diligent search n find the best
available man to put in this great dis
triCt. He hopes to have someone on
the job by November, but is not sure
he will be able to do so.
Thus far there are three counties in
this section of the state with agricuI-
tural agents-Bowman, Williams and
Ward, while Mckenzie soon will have
one. Mr.. Cooper was enthusiastic in
his praise of the people of this county
for the step they took.
"Tt is a great thing" he declared.
Il am much pleased with the strong
appeals your men were able to make,
and with the action of the board in
granting their request and co-operat-
ing with them in this splendid de-
velopment work. 1t will put your
county farther in the front ranks thar
now and give it the position it de-
serves"
To Dickinson.
From here Mr.. Cooper went tc
Dickinson to pay an official visit tc
u ~ -A.+iz. L~