The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-27
what the Farm Housewife Asks Of
the Department. Ways In Which
the Government Can Help


The replies to the letter addresse,
by the Secretary of Agriculture som
time ago to the housewives of 55 90
crop correspondents of the depart
ment in which he asked them to sug
gest ways in which the department
could render more direct service I,
the farm women of the country. hav,
now been published in four bulletins
The replies cover a wide variety O
subjects, but may be divided into
four general groups dealing respect
lively, with % the social and Labor
needs OF farm women, (2) their do
nestle needs, go Their educational
needs, and (4) their economic needs
In publishing these bulletins the de-
partment has not attempted to edit
the letters nor to express any opinion
upon the views contained In them
The purpose of the inquiry was to af.
ford the women of the country an op-
portunity to express their own opin-
ions and the result is a collection
of information on many different as
poets of rural life.
In all something over 1000 letters
were received and these have been
published in whole or in part. al.
though few which expressed views
practically identical with those in 9th.
er letters have been omitted for this
reason. The letters come from every
state In the Union and were written
by persons Of widely different cir.
cumstances. Practically all, howev.
er, entered into the spirit of the In.
quiry and discussed with sincerity
the problems that confronted them
and the aid which they hoped to OBJ.
tain from the government. The few
exceptions only served to make more
impressive the widespread interest in
and desire for richer and fuller
life.
Since no direct questions were ask. |
ed and no definite replies expected,
1t Is not possible to state that the
women of the country have voted in
favor of the departments undertake
Ing this or that form of work. IL is
however, most evident that the won.
IN do expect the department to fur.
lish them with practical information
which Will tighten and at the same
ime make more effective their daily
asks. This desire for information
md instruction Is perhaps the domi.
liant note in the correspondence.
lany women call attention to the
act that much more has been done
0 introduce modern scientific meth
DIS into agriculture than into the
ONES of the agriculturists. Farms,
Is said, on which the most advanc.
d machinery can be found in sue. ,
essful operation are utterly lacking {
household conveniences and com.
orts. Men who have been taught I
nat 1t is good business to invest in
lbor saving devices for the field and ,
table decline to regard similar de. '
Ices indoors as anything, but {
seless waste of money. Many of I
he writer's, moreover, admit that q
ley themselves are ignorant of the
est ways and means of accomplish. |
lg their desired results. What I
icy ask from the department, there {
IRE, is largely instruction in house. I
old matters similar to that which I
as been furnished in the production I
crops and live stock.
This information, 1t is pointed out, c
lould not be confined entirely to |
le printed page, but there should !
, personal demonstrations, lectures, q
fact, every education.
weapon should be utilized. Many |
the correspondents also express a
Ie earnest wish that this demon. 4
ration work could be amplifed to ;
clude the better organization OF rur. c