The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-12
WORST TALKS ON
EXTENSION WORK
PRESIDENT OF AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOL DISCUSSED THE SAIL
EMIT FEATURES OF LEVER BILL
AND ITS VALUE IN LIGHT OF
COLLEGE EXTENSION WORK.

The merits Of the Smith-Lever bill
which passed congress last week and
which is to SO greatly benefit the
farmers of North Dakota, were well
outlined in an interview last night
with Pres. John H. Worst Of the
North Dakota Agricultural college,
whose personal influence as a mem
Der of the National Soil Fertility
league was so largely felt in the
| passage of the measure. "
President Worst vas speaking Of
the salient features Of the bill and
their particularly great value to North
| Dakotans in the light of agricultural
extension work. In fact college extern
sion has been one Of the hobbies Of
President Worst through all the years
he has headed that great institution
which he has built into n Of the FORE
most agricultural colleges in the Unit
ed States.
Morrill, Acts Importance.
"One of the most important pieces
of national legislation enacted dur
ing the last century was the passage
Of the Morrill, act establishing an agri-
cultural college in every state where
the children Of the industrial classes
might receive a practical and liberal
education for the several pursuits n
professions Of life" said DR.. Worst.
THE tremendous influence Of these
colleges upon the agricultural and me-
chanical possibilities Of the country
is just beginning to be realized.
1.-THE next important piece Of legis-
lation affecting agriculture was the
passage Of the Hatch act establishing
al experiment station in every state
Of the union. Since then the Nelson
act materially supplemented the
federal support for agricultural col
leges, while the Adams act did the
same for the experiment station.
For man. years, however, it was
conceded that the plan for agricultural
improvement was not complete. Sufti-
cient information has been gathered
to revolutionize agriculture, but too
much of it remains, as it were, in cold
storage, in bulletins, magazines,
laboratories, etc.
THE people for whom this informa-
ton is intended, however, do not have
it was necessary to establish an addi-
tional division of college work known
as college. extension.
The Smith-Lever bill, which passed
congress last week, makes provision
for completing the work in agriculture
al education begun fifty years ago;
and although the passage Of this bill
has created but slight attention on the
part Of the public, yet it is one of the
most ~far-reaching and far-sighted acts
of congress in recent years.
with the college for education, the
experiment station for research and
investigation, n the extension de-
partment to democratize n carry
this information to the very homes Of
the people and offer it to them in
terms they can understand as we'll as
nv rroparf on1 damn or 70 tinn rounds
out n completes the great work of
agricultural education and farm man
agement for the country.
j,lf QKQD. Shrdul mfWy hrdl mfWyc
THE contemplated organization
adds to the college two coordinate
divisions, the department of expert
ment stations and the department of
lege, but all correlated for the purpose
Of education, experimentation and ex-
tension,
The passage of the Lever bill means
much for North Dakota. Within sew
years the state should be receiving
annually from the federal government
not less than $4,000, and in order to
direct appropriation or county levy, or
both, will be compelled to appropriate
at least $4,000 annually, making a to-
tai sum Of nearly 500, 900 to be ex-
yearly for college extension
purposes. This will include not only |
actual farm demonstrations and pro-
vide county experts as advisers for
and farmers wives at their
homes, but college extension will exert
4 material influence upon the educa-
tional affairs Of the state, such as eff
a close organic relationship
between the agricultural college and
he rural schools, consolidated schools,
,tate-supported schools where agricul-
domestic SCIENCE, and manual
are taught. independent agri-
cultural training schools and all other
where vocational subjects are
given attention. /
TT is remarkable that a measure of
such tremendous Importance should
scarcely receive attention on the part
Of the public press, while the eccentri-
cities of a degenerate like Harry
Thaw, a train wreck, or a homicide
will be given columns of space sur
mounted with glazing headlines."