Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-08
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
Up to tho State to Supplement Funds
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The following letter from Represen-
tative Lever is a reply to letter from
the editor Of The Enquirer asking for
certain information about the Coop
erative demonstration work, and more
especially as to where the money
comes from. It will be noticed that
Mr.. Lever again calls attention to the
pressing importance Of a state appro-
priation in order that South Carolina
may obtain the fullest benefit Of what
| is known as the Lever Extension Act,
| the object Of which Is to bring infor-
nation as to better methods direct to
the homes Of the farming population.
The letter is worth careful considera-
ton:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Washington, January 4, 1915.
Editor Yorkville Enquirer:
/ am very glad indeed to give you
the information requested in your ia
vor Of the End. instant. Farm demon
stration work in South Carolina was,
until recently, conducted out Of funds
furnished jointly by the General Edu
cation board and the department of
agriculture. The General Education
board supplied about one half of the
funds and the department the other
half, the total amount available being
| $666,000. Several years ago Clemson
tribute and cooperate in this work.
During the last congress an amend
ment was put on to the Agriculture
appropriation bill which prohibited
the Department Of Agriculture from
accepting funds contributed by organ
izations such as the General Educa-
tion board, but making 1t permissible
for the department to accept funds
contributed by state, county and mu-
nicipal agencies associations Of farm
ers, individual farmers, chambers OF
commerce and organizations Of such
character within the state or county
and appropriated sum equal to that
heretofore available from the funds Of
the General Education board and the
regular appropriation for the Depart
ment Of agriculture for this purpose.
We therefore, have available for the
fiscal year ending June Goth, 1915.
| $3.50, 900 of Federal funds, and In addi-
tion to this there Is an appropriation
to the state Of South Carolina Of $40
900 under the terms Of the Lever EX-
tension act, and this is supplemented
by an amount appropriated by Glenn
son college--.just how much ! am not
able to recall. The General Education
board, since July 1st, 1914. has not
been contributing any funds to the
demonstration work in South Carolina.
/ trust this gives you the information
you wish and that it will serve your
purpose.
| am enclosing you herewith a copy
Of the Agricultural Extension act re-
ferred to above, together with copy
Of my report upon the same. You Will
observe that the state will be called
upon by it's legislature to accept the
provisions Of this act and contribute
it's share toward the work. 1t is of the
highest importance, in my judgment,
that the provisions Of this Act should
be accepted promptly and that fund
be created by the state out Of which
to meet it's pro rata share of the In
creasing Federal funds. You will no
tice that there is an unconditional ap-
propriation from the Federal govern
ment which can be had only when the
state has done certain things named
in the act. When this act ripens,
South Carolina will be entitled to over
$1,000 of Federal funds, provided
the state puts up the fund required by
the act. If the state does this we
should finally have permanent fund
Of more than 5000 900 for farm dem
onstratiOn and home economics work
in the state. do not believe there is
a more effective agency or education
I'm the state than can be provided
under the terms Of this act. The truth
is that the demonstration work of the
state, handicapped for Il lack Of funds
and trained men. is working quiet
but positive revolution in the agricul-
ture Of the state. This act proposes to
enlarge the scope Of this work and to
make it permanent. / sincerely trust
that every real friend Of agriculture
will urge upon the legislator" as
strongly as possible the acceptance OF
% Ii; n.t nc
to the state than any other one thing
that I see can be done.
Very truly.
A. F. Lever.