The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-04-22
COUNTY AGENT
HOW TO ORGANIZE COUNTIES
FOR THE EXTENSION OF
AGRICULTURE.

Brookings. April %. The follow
ing outline of the proper procedure
in organizing a county for a county
agent under the provisions of a law
passed by the recent legislature and
the Smith-Lever bill of congress is
furnished by Dir. A. N. Hume, profess
sor of agronomy al the State college,
and state leader of extension.
THE conditions under which the
several counties of South Dakota may
organize agricultural extension asso-
Citations are virtually prescribed by
senate bill 25S, which was recently
made into a law. This law. in brief,
provides for the acceptance by the
state of South Dakota through its
state college of agriculture and me-
chanic arts of certain funds appro-
priated to each of the several states
by the United States government un-
der what is known as the Smith
Lever act.
This acceptance by the state OF
federal funds which shall be used in
conjunction with funds appropriated
~ the rtate iteelf provides for what
Is known as the Smith-Lever fund
The state legislature also appropriate
cd an additional amount. which is
available under prescribed conditions
TO the several counties of this state
This latter fund is called the county
organization fund.
~ petition of fifty freeholders,
who shall represent at least one-third
If tho townships in the county. vir-
tuallv forms an organization which
wil bo i'm a position TO proceed to
aleet a board OF directors. These di-
rectors then shall elect from their
own number the usual officers. The
secretary need not, however neces-
sarily. be a member of the board of
directors.
Having formed the organization
by this means of circulating a petit
ton and having duly organized, the
next steps is to incorporate the or
ganization by fling in the office of
the secretary of state articles of in
corporation. stating name of the cor
poration and purpose for which or
ganized and names of the officers and
directors of the corporation, which
officers and directors shall act as
such until the next general meeting
for the election of officers and direc-
tors thereof. Having thus organized
and incorporated, a county Is in a po-
sition to proceed and can legally hire
a county agent and necessary assist
ants through it's board of directors.
For the purpose of paying the
salary and expenses of said county
agent and other expenses, a county is
always at liberty to raise funds from
any private source by subscriptions.
However, funds may be raised with
in the county by means of public tax
alton, providing the county commits
sioners are willing to vote such a tax.
If the county commissioners do not
decide to vote such a tax, they may
be asked by a petition signed by is
per cent of the voters of the county
to submit the question of such an APP
preparation to the voters of the coun-
ty. 1t is possible then for the voters
; to decide to levy a tax upon their
county by direct vote.
Whether funds shall be raised by
subscription or by public taxation, a
: portion of all of such funds may be
: paid into the state treasury upoT
which payment there shall be allotted
4 to the county an amount of the state
supervision fund equal to 60 per CEN
{ of the county funds, so paid in. This
: Joint fund payable to the county viii
a then be available to the association
e to be paid by the state treasurer up
/ on a warrant of the state auditor is
sued upon duly itemized vouchers
d certified by the president and secre
/ tary thereof and the president of thu
/. state college of agriculture and me
e chanic arts and approved by the re
! gents Of education"