East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-03-15
NEWS OF FARM AND RANGE
MODERN FARM METHODS
URGED At HELIX UNION
Advantages Of Handling Grain I'm
Bulk and In Employing County
AgrlculuIrlst Pointed Out.

with w. w. Harrah, local farmer
and Lee Fluharty, federal farm ex
pert Of Walla Walla county. as tn,
principal speakers, an open meeting
OF Farmers Union No. II Of Helix
was held In that town Saturday even.
Ing and was attended not only by
quite number OF farmers and
townsDeople but also by rs Pendleton
men who had gone out by auto.
Two very live and important sub
jecis, the handling OF grain in the
bulk and the employment Of a coun-
" agriculturist, were presented, MIR.
Harrah presenting the one and Mr..
Fluharty the other.
Mr.. Harrah, It will be remembered
abandoned the sack method last sum-
mer built concrete bins, remodeled
his combine and thus became the pi-
Oneer OF Umatilla county in handling
grain in the bulk. Even though he
was the only farmer In the county
10 employ this method, he declared
that he had made a saving over the
old system and predicted that in the
near future practically all OF the far
mers OF the county would be using
this system and thereby saving them
selves Of dollars annually.
The saving results not only in the
elimination Of sacks. he said. but in
the greater economy in handling es-
pecially at the docks and terminal
points. For instance, he stated
carload Of bulk grain can be unload
e1 in a few minutes by one man
whereas II takes several men several
hours to unload a car OF sacked
grain, thus increasing the handling
cost, resulting in demurrage charges
and delaying the farmer In getting
cars. Now. he said, II takes a week
or ten days to load a vessel with a
cargo OF sacked grain but two men
can load a vessel with Dulk grain in
six hours, he said. who pays this
extra cost?" he asked "the farmer
OF course. Why in Duluth they make
difference Of three cents bushel
on grain in bulk and sacked grain"
Mr.. Harrah also explained the saw
ing to the farmer in harvesting.
through the employment Of fewer
hands, through less waste. through
fewer landings and through the ell
imination OF much extra work. The
Cmatilla county farmer is modern in
everything else but in the handling
OF his grain" he said. but in this he
is many years behind the times"
During his speech, Mr.. Harrah al
50 touched upon other matters with
which he is very familiar. As one Of
the organizers OF the Tri-state Ter
minal Co.. he told OF the success
which had crowned this venture and
the need It was supplying.
Benefits Of Agriculturist
Mr.. Fluharty explained to the far
mers the benefits to be derived from
a county agriculturist as provided
for under the Smith-Eever law and
he cited many instances OF such bene-
fits which had come TO his personal
knowledge. 1T is the business Of a
county agriculturist TO study the pc
cul,ar problems OF the farmer of his
district and to assist in the solution
OF them. ToTmake the resolutions sue
cessful, II is essential that the agri-
culturist not only make a scientific
study OF social and climatic condi-
lions but that he profit by the knowl-
edge and experience Of the farmers
themselves. In other words he must
be a practical as well as a theoretic-
a! agriculturist. II Is the business,
too. Of an agriculturist to supply the
enthusiasm for new projects and un-
dcrtakings for the increasing Of the
returns from the land"
In conclusion. Mr.. Fluharty urged
that II Umatilla county decides TO
employ a county agriculturist that he
be given a two-year contract. For y
he said. both he and the idea will
be under fire and it would not be JUS
tice TO either TO make a judgment
upon the showing OF the first year.
Carl Engdahl, secretary of the He
lix union, made a short address up
on the accomplishments Of that local.
BY figures from his books, he show
ed that within the past five years the
Helix union had saved the farmers of
that locality about S50,00O in ware
house charges alone. This item
alone. he said, not only justifies the
existence Of the union but proves the
advantages of organization.
c. c. Conner, president of the
union, presided over the meeting and
the speakers. After the
'egular program he called upon
lrmber OF the Pendleton delegates.
A piano solo by Mrs. H. w. Drew
/ vocal number by Mrs. James Hill, a
piano solo by Miss Sadie Young and
vocal duet by Mrs. Mason and Mrs
Drew all ELECTED warm applause.
Local Wheat Market.--A price of
il.SO per bushel for club was made
lere Saturday according to report
rom reliable sources. Today the
market is reported as somewhat under
hat figure.