Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-10-16
SMITH-LEVER ACT
Recent Bulletin of the Department of
Agriculture Tells of the Operation
Of Provisions of the Act.

The Argus-Leader says that a recent
bulletin issued by the department of ag-
riculture tells at length ofthe operations
of the provisions of the Smith Lever act
which has been in force for a little over
year. The results so far show that the
act has developed great interest in
agricultural methods and led to better
cooperation among the farmers and be-
tween the state, county and federal au-
thorities.
Under the law, the sum of $40, 900 is
appropriated for every state in the
union. Besides this, for 19l5-l9l6,
there is sum of S6O0,OOO appropriated
for work under the act. 1t is divided
among the states according TO rural pop
ulation.
So far as South Dakota is concerned,
the total amount for the year was as
follows Appropriations under the act
were $l6,l67 from the federal govern
ment, and S6,l67 from the state; from
demonstration work bureau Of depart
ment of agriculture, Sc, 1853; from other
bureaus of the department, 81 ,35O from
the counties, S32,904; from state college
5000. In all the various appropriations
amounted to $G3344.
South Dakota is mentioned as being
the state in which definite steps were
taken to put the farmers institutes under
the direction of the state college
One of the results of the workings of
the act has been to unity the agricul-
tural work so that for practical purposes
there is really but one unit in the con-
duct of operations destined to improve |
rural conditions.
The county agent has also become an |
important factor in the work contem.
plated by the Smith-Lever act. There
are now one thousand county agents in |
the United States. 1t would be useless
to make a plea here for the county agent |
He has abundanty proved his useful.
ness as a helper of the farmers among |
whom he works.
OF the workings of the act in general
the bulletin says:
THE Smith.Lever act has provided |
the means for permanent system of
popular practical education in agricul-
ture and home economics, so organized |
as to preserve the autonomy of our state
agricultural institutions, TO encourage
and develop local initiative and selfhelp,
and at the same time to bring to the
support Of the state institutions and local
organizations the national department of
agriculture with its broad outlook on
our agricultural problems and it's force
OF scientists and experts who have spec.
ialiSed in various lines or have had wide
opportunities for study and observation
in certain directions. The most encour-
aging thing about the extension devel-
opment in the United States during the
past year has been the formation on
grand scale of a cooperative system in
volviug national, state and local organi-
cations and the general good will and
cordiality which has marked the reIa-
tions of these agencies in the inaugura-
ton of this system. A few of the major
features Of this vast enterprise and some
OF the outstanding administrative prob
lens with which it will have to deal,
have been briefly touched upon in this
article. 1t is obviously impracticable in
so short space to give an adequate
idea of the immense range and great
intricacy of work which will ultimately
touch every phase of the industrial,
home, and community life of our agri-
people"
The finest feature of the act is very
likely the spirit of cooperation which
has become an indispensable factor in
modern enterprises. By extending il to
agricultural work the government has
done much to improve farming condi-
lions and farm life in general.