Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-06-22
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
REORGANEES WORK
| \ AGR|CUL LTUREs

WASHINGTON, D. S., June 22.-
With view to making the agricultural
service of Southern Railway Company
and its associated companies more
hclpful to the farmers Of the South.
President Fairfax Harrison has made
a complete reorganization of the SER
vice. to go into effect on July i.
With the extension of the farm dem
cnstration work of the United States
department of agriculture and of the
states and the appointment of demon
stration agents in most Of the counties
traversed by the lines of the compan-
les there is not the broad field for rail-
road agricultural demonstration work
that existed when this service was
inaugurated by Southern Railway
Company in 1910, when there were very
few government agents in the field.
There is now, however, broad field
for helpful work in connection with the
marketing Of products of Southern
farms especially in localities in which
farmers without experience in selling
anything but cotton are going into di-
versified farming and especially In
aiding small producers to consolidate
their products and market co-opera-
lively.
Since January /, 1913, the companies
have maintained market agents at
Washington, Cincinnati, st. Louis and
Atlanta for the purpose of finding mar
kets for Southern products and bring
ing buyers into touch with the pro
ducers. This service is now to be
greatly strengthened. A farm proc.
ucts agency is to be substituted for the
market agency at Atlanta, with Roland
Turner, now agricultural agent at
Birmingham, Ala, as chic farm prod
ucts agent. The present agricultural
field agents of the company, ten IA
number, will be appointed farm prod
ucts agents, reporting to Mr.. Turner.
The market agents at Washington.
Cincinnati and st. Louis will compile
and promulgate information as to mar
kets, including quantities, varieties,
grades and packs desired for different
markets and as to freight rates and
facilities. This information will be
promulgated to producers through the
farm products agency, or direct, as
circumstances may require. The mar
ket agents will also compile and pro-
mulgate to buyers information as to
products for sale. The chief farm prod
ucts agent and the farm products
agents will familiarize themselves
with producers and products in their
territories and forward detailed in
formation to the market agents. They
will advise producers as to the varie-
ties. grades and packs required for diff
ferent markets and will give special
attention to encouraging small pre-
ducers to organize for cooperative
marketing. The market agents and
farm products agents will work in
close cooperation with the bureau Of
markets and rural organization in the
United States department of agricul-
tire and with the state agricultural
authorities.
Mr. T. o. Plunkett will continue as
farm demonstration agent with head
quarters at Atlanta for emergency
work all over the system, especially
In localities where his advice may be
needed to aid farmers in combating
the Mexican cotton boil weevil.
The live stock and dairy develop
ment work of the companies will be
strengthened by the appointment of
agricultural agents, w. M. Brown, at
stlanta, and T. G. Wood, at Washing
ton to be live stock and dairy agents.
Messrs. Brown and Wood and Agricul-
tural Field Agent j. G. Shand, who
viii be appointed assistant industrial
and immigration agent at Mobile, will
also aid in the location Of farm settlers
along the lines Of the companies.