Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-14
Mr.. W. NJ. Hamilton, President,

Mr. w. NJ. Hamilton, President,
Commercial Club, Salem, Oregon.
Dear Sir: Your recent favor re-
ceived regarding desirability of con-
tinuing cooperative farm demonstra-
ton work in Marion county. We are
very sorry, indeed, that we. felt it alb
solutely necessary to order the work
discontinued. This was done on
October @. As you are doubtless aware,
it has been much more difficult to
finance this work in Marion county
than in any of the other ten counties
in the State where it is being carried
on. Your difficulties during the last
three months of last year, in raising a
few hundred dollars to meet de-
ficit, made US decide to discontinue
the work this year, before large de-
ficit was incurred.
The usual method of financing this
work in the ten other counties of Ore
gon is for the county court TO directly
appropriate One.half the sum neces.
sary for the year the State providing
an equal amonnt when certification Of
the appropriation is made to the office
Of the secretary of state. In Marion
county, reluctance of the court to ade-
quately provide for the work seems to
be caused, more than anything else, by
the belief that there are only few of
the rural population who are inter
ested in il or who desire to take ad-
vantage of the services of the coun-
ty agriculturist. Judging from the
conditions in the other counties in
Oregon, where the work is being car,
ried on and the fact that there were
on August /, over 600 county agricul.
turists employed in the United States
we believe substantial majority of
the rural population Of Marion county
are interested in the continuance of
this work. If il is to be continued, il
will be absolutely necessary that i'm
mediate steps be taken to convince the
county court of this fact. Provision
should be made at this time not only
to carry on the work to the end OF
this year but also to continue il dur
ing 1916.
We feel that Mr.. Chaplin has accom-.
plishcd great deal in your county,
and we certainly hope financial ar
rangements may be speedily made in
order that the work may be continued
Briefly reviewing some Of his more
important activities--we feel that his
campaigns for more clover and corn
have each resulted in the growing of
several thousand acres more Of each
crop than has ever been grown before
in your county, in one season, His
well prepared plans for seven com
bincd corn shows and farmers insti
tutes at seven different places in the
county, this fall, have .been enthus
iastically received and we hope may
be successfully carried out even
though deprived Of his needed super
vision, In organizing and planning
for the drainage of $4,000 acres in the
northwestern part Of the county, WI
feel that he has started a piece of work
that will be Of inestiinable value tC
the population of that section and OF
the whole county. We hope this pro
iect may be carried out, now that Sc
much Of the preliminary work hai
been done, Mr.. Chaplin has also givei
u tremendous amount of personal hell
to farmers in all parts Of the county
The Potato Growers Association, or
gauizcd under his direction, If contin
ucd, is bound 90 result in standardiz
ing the seed potato crop. Other organ
iaatons organized MS n result OF biz
efforts will undoubtedly he of grea
value to the county, IL encouraged ant
developed, In spite Of things accom-
plished, we cannot feel but that thi
work is scarcely begun and will result
in great things for the agricultural
development Of the county II II car
be continued,
Very truly yours,
NJ. o. Evans, Jrs