The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-10
Washington County Farm
ers viii Have County
Agent
DECISION REACHED
AT BARRE MEETING
Three Candidates Appeared
Decision Reser Il
Till Next WeSa

Washington count : fmers members
of the agricultural ) ociatiou organized
in Barre last yeg : .et in Howland hall
yesterday and Va 4 unanimously to en-
gage a county agricultural agent to be-
gin his duties April or as soon there.
after as possible. Thus it appears that
Washington county is soon to join the
majority of her sister counties in Yer
mont in having paid adviser who shall
devote his whole time TO agricultural
/ problems within his constituency. Three
candidates for the position were exam
ined yesterday and others are to appear
before the farmers at an adjourned meet
ing of the association to be held IN How
land hall Thursday afternoon, March l6,
at ] 80 o'clock.
Although the association on the occa-
sion of its organization in February,
1915, gave its unqualified Endorsement to
the county agent plan and went SO far
as to organize permanently with a chair
man, q secretary and an executive COM
mittee composed of a member from each
town in the county, difficulties we're en-
cOuntered in obtaining the necessary
support from the towns. Now. however.
legislative amendment has eliminated
the necessity for obtaining aid By in
serting a special article in the town
warnings, the amendment making assist
ance mandatory on the basis of pro
rata grand list assessment Where in
the past the county associations had to
go to the several town meetings for the
assistance, act No. l20 of the public acts
of 1915 now eompels the towns to pay
their pro rata assessment annually be-
fore the first of September Moreover,
there is provision whereby the state
tax commissioner shall annually, before
July /, notify the chairman of the &C.
lectmen or the mayor of each town Of
the proportional part of 81 200 due the
association under the act. The assess
ment is obedient only to the provision
that the association shall have in its en-
ploy a county agent.
Yesterdays gathering was very repre-
sentative of the farming population in
county and much enthnsi-
ism was manifested over the prospect of
having an agent by early spring Thorn
Is Bradlee of the extension service of the
state College of Agriculture was present
md after addressing the meeting, aided
,ery materially in getting under way
angible plans for action. Frank G. Ban
roft of Barre Town acted as chairman
nd f. G. Rowland of this city as secre-
ary. Among the towns represented,
the inclemency of the
reather, were the following: Marshfield
Cabot 3, East Montpelier Z, Water
ury l, Barre Town 10, Berlin 4, Plain
cid |, Barre City 3.
For the most part it was an open
orum affair with everyone present priv
eyed to speak his mind as freely as he
hose. Without an exception, the meet
lg went on record as favoring the inn
ledate execution of the plan. One
lrmer said he had belonged to the
range county association for some time
nd even though he had derived much
enefit from his afliliation, he was anx-
us to aid in the support of an agent in
IS own county. Ii developed that the
I'M of $1,000 advanced by the federal
,vernment providing a like sum is pro-
ded by the county, will be available
' July L. The sum of 5000 generously
-omised by the Barre Savings Bank &
rust Co., which was one of the prime
overs in the direction OF employing an
rent, would be available as soon as an
-ent is secured and a sum offered by
e state college will also be available
thin short time.
Three young men who said they would
,e to be considered as candidates for
e position were given each an individ-
] hearing. H. f. johnson of Burling-
n. a 1914 graduate of the State College
Agriculture. was the first to be heard.
r. Johnson told of his connection with
e state college after gradus--on and
tn the extension service. John w.
rtlctt of New Brunswick. n. J., also
1914 graduate of the state college, was
? next to appear. Mr.. Bartlett is
tive of Granville, y. V, and has seen
service in the New Jersey
pertinent station. F. c. Shaw of Man
,ster Center. a 1918 graduate of the
-nell university agricultural school,
: the last To be given hearing. Mr..
iw. since his graduation. has been
nected with the Farming Trade school
Thompson's island. near Boston All
&c were asked TO name the salary
y would expect
iefore adjournment the chairman ami
-etary were instructed TO draft con-
ution to be submitted at the ad-
rned meeting next Thursday. II the
Il meets with the approval Of the as
ation, i win probably be ratified at
{ time.