The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-15

partment If the Y. w. C. A., gave a
talk Thursday night in Representative
hall on 1.-The Country School That
Teaches in Terms Of Country Life. -
The weakest place in the program
for the development of more efficient
country schools is that so few teach
ers choose to be country teachers as
profession. To many teachers the
country school is simply a place where
they must teach long enough to get
experience that wiz quality them to
fill a town or city position. Yet, to-
day, there are college graduates who
are choosing to remain in the country
school work, demonstrating through
their leadership what a great work
it is
Albert T. Reid of the Kansas Far
mer gave an intensely interesting
talk on ''Why Good Roads Pay" 1t
was illustrated with stereopticon and
cartoons.
The County Fair.
The county fair is one of the most
potent factors in stimulating interest
in agriculture according to G. w. Har-
vey of Omaha, who spoke this AFTER
noon before the members of the state
board of agriculture on Some Sugges-
tions on-the Organization and Man
agement of the Agricultural Fair.
Mr.. Harvey. who is with the Twentieth
Century Farmer is an authority on
this subject sss
He said in part:
The educational and financial condi-
tons Of the communities are very
closely linked together In the ordinary
course Of events, what tends to en-
nance and prosper the interests of one,
strengthens and gives vitality to the
growth and development CT the other.
So we find that the agricultural So
ciety has been. from it's earliest his
tory an educational and financial sup
port and strengthened to the commu-
nifty in which it has been located.
The importance of the county fair
is being emphasized by the rapid or
ganization Of these exhibition associ-
atoms, all over the agricultural and live
stock districts of the United States.
Fair a Potent Factor.
The county fair is possibly the most
potent factor in stimulating agricul-
tural aspirations. amongst the agricul-
tural ella sses, of all the available organ
lied influences that can be brought
to the attention of the general public.
The county fair is a good training
school for farmers and stock raisers,
who are genuinely interested in their
business. The person who engages in
any kind of occupation or enterprise
must be interested in the work. in order
to make it success under his man.
agement or direction. The county agri-
cultural fair is, or should be, a slim
ulus to the entire agricultural citizen
ship of the county, in an effort to pro-
duce better stock and to grow better
crops.
There are numerous advantages that
may be received from an agricultural
| fair that cannot be enumerated under
the general head Of agriculture. The
opportunity of becoming acquainted
with those from all parts of the county
who are interested in a similar way
with yourself. in production, is a fea-
| ture of no small value. The social ad-
vantages in general are, or should be,
worth the effort, time and expense OF
attending the fair.
1t is Iamentable fact, however, that
the agricultural fair of today is
weighed down with many forms of vice
which are entirely foreign to the orig
inal idea in the conception of this sys-
tenn of agricultural education.
Farm Credit.
George E. Putnam of Lawren2- read g
comprehensive paper this morning. be-
fore the members of the KansS state
board of agriculture on "Farmztedi II
| Kansas
The paper read in part:
On the theory that better farming. mean
better business the bankers of Kansas
have, for many years, given thGiC active
AL
its object the furtherance of agriculture
production. In the meantime the farmer
has prospered: land values have risen
1 interest rates have fallen and little com
plant has been made in regard to thu
| greed of money lenders More recently
however, the situation has changed.
| few lean years, eliminating in thu
severe drought of 1913, have caused gen
| eral decline in the prosperity OF the rura
classes. Interest rates have advanced
both on longtime and short-time loans
maturing credit obligations have been re
newed at the higher rates: and In soms
sections CT the state 1T has been tmpossi
BILE to secure new loans at any reasonably
price. Under these circumstances the at
tttude OF the farmer toward the banker
has become less amicable. Complaint IL
current and there is some sentiment favor
| ing legislative action.
| comparison of the short-term rate!
accorded to farmers and merchants re
veals a slight advantage in favor of tn.
latter According to the reports of III
| bankers the rates paid by farmers ant
merchants. are approximately the same
i six banks report higher rate for mer
chants. and IS banks higher rate In thu
case of farmers Thus about one-third o.
the banks reporting charge higher rate
on farmers loans, but the difference L
hardly sufficient to support the charg
that bankers wlfully discriminate agains
the farmers Where the farmer pays
4 per cent the merchant IL reported - pay
to- q