The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-25
BENEFIT OF THE
RURAL CREDIT BILL
Strongly Set Forth by the Ex-Presi-
dent of Great Railroad
System
Especial to the starr

Washington, Jan. 24.-As an evil
dence of the interest taken in the
subject of rural credits by leading
men all over the country, the fol-
lowing letter from former president,
w. C. Brown, of the New York Cen
tral Lines, is most enlightening.
The letter speakes for itself in
stentorian tones, showing how man
who has been and is Injured to the life
of the farm regards the Fletcher ru-
raj credits measure as an instrument
for the betterment of agricultural con-
ditions.
Mr.. Brown was at the forefront of
the Industrial life of the United States
for great number of years and his
experience and observation has been
such as to commend his judgement on
economic matters to the considera-
ton of all thoughtful men,.
AS will be seen from his letter,
the former president of the New York
Central Lines is now devoting his
time largely to the work of general
agricultural improvement.
Senator Fletcher, the pioneer and
leading advocate of rural credits In
this country, is in receipt of many
letters from prominent persons all ov-
er the United States and Canada urg-
ing the need of rural credits legisla-
ton and approving his bill, now being
considered before the Senate Banking
and Currency Committee.
Chicago, Illinois, Jan. Is, 1915.
Hon. d. U. Fletcher, United States
Senate, Washington, D. c.
Nv dear Senator: I am obliged to
you for sending me copy of Senate
file No. 7184, which has just reach
ed me.
By way of introduction, may | be
sixteen I worked on farm.
permitted to say that up to the age OF
The summer / was sixteen years Of
| age I began to work with shovel OF
section of the railroad, and have
fned practically every intermediate
rosition to that of president of th'
New York Central System of railroad
embracing some twelve Thousand
| Iailes of track.
During the last three years OF m.
railroad work, I devoted much tim
and thought to improved agricultur
in the territory traversed by the New
York Central Lines, and especially Il
New York State, where farms wer
badly run down, land impoverished
and in many cases farms which ha,
been highly cultivated, and profitable
were practically abandoned.
In the prosecution of this work
farm or, agricultural bureau was or
ganized, experts on seed selection
fertilization and cultivation were EN-
ployed. Two run down worn ou
farms were purchased, and a cam
paign of education and helpful &C
operation with the farmers, oranges
farmers Institutes, and the agricu
tural department of the state were il
stituted.
On january 1st, 1914, after almo:
forty-five years of continuous raj
road service, I resigned my position
leaving the agricultural improyemei
work, which was inaugurated ar
carried on by, and at the expense I
the railroad, in the hands of my su
cessor.
Since retiring from active servic
/ have devoted my time largely
the work of general agricultural ii
provement.
I have several farms In the sta
of Iowa in the operation of which
= am trying to avail myself of the mo
modern methods, and in addresses b
fore various meetings, and associ
tions of farmers, / am urging t
adoption of such advanced method
From my own experience and Q
servation, however, I am constrain
to believe we are nearing the limit
practical benefit from preaching bt
l au ter farming, improved methods, a
NJ NJ greater production per acre, unless :
M provide, in some way, the machine
M " by which the money absolutely M
-M essary to make these improved met
-n DDS effective, can be secured on teri
which the average farmer can affc
IN to accept.
M I know beyond the shadow of dot