Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-10-27
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
PEOPLE OF LINCOLN co.
Eddyville, Or, Oct, 21, 1916


say that he puts up very good argu-
ment, but It really reminds me I.
what heara in one of my recent trips
to the front in Europe. An English
Tommy" was watching a hand-to-
hand struggle between an English and
German force. At its end he turned
to me and said, wow! Wot bloomin'
fighters them bloody blighters w'u'd
be II only they was on the right side!"
And really, / do need county agent
just as bad as he thinks he doesn't,
just as the rest of us do. This talk
about high taxes and studying the
expense, as he calls it, tires me. He
even goes as far as to say that the
agent could not reach many cases In
time to save sick animals. What is a
county agent--a horse doctor? How
ever, he strikes the right note when he
says: ."of course his advice would be
valuable in pi evening a re-occurence."
In fact, Mr.. Dairmyan seems to have
the idea that Mr.. Agent must be on
hand with stomach pump about five
minutes after his favorite COW has COM
mitted suicide by drinking a gallon Of
carbolic acid.
What we need is a man who can
show us how to clear land cheaper,
drain our lowlands to best advantage,
plow.our land the proper depth for var
ious soils and locations, tell us what
to grow to make more money, tell us
about silos and balanced rations and
where to put different crops for best
results and show us how to make bet
ter roads. The mud-wallows we have
at present in winter are positively
disgrace to any community. And yet,
when you stop a man Ia farmer) on
the road and ask about split-log road
drag he looks at you in amazement,
as though you were phenomenal cur.
iosity. just out Of the asylum.
Stop another and ask him about a
certain improvement, such as road
or abridge and he murmurs something
about mot enough development yet"
or something still more preposterous
In a vague manner and hurries on. I
think we need man to spread prac-
tical knowledge. Boost for an agent
at the courthouse. Our officials have
told me that they are waiting for the
people to express themselves. Boost!
When Mr.. Dairyman sneers at me
for calling certain Of our dear citizens
moss-backs pause in amusement. II
II were not for what he says about
roads would call him one. He also
says that we have a bright and intel
ligent class of farmers here as any
where in the U. S. This recalls an
incident at the Eddyville fair:
) Mr.. Thomas Thomson of Harlan
, told me that there were actually some
bright and intelligent (?) farmers In
} his vicinity who used garlic as a cure
. for blnck,leg In calves, solemnly bored
holes In cows horns for hollow-horn,
and split the cows tails and put salt in
for another curious ailmelt, Just rs
their grandpas did In 1892 when Col.
unbus discovered America. II Mr..
Dairymnn is afflicted with the same
! knowledge and intelligence pity his
I stock. Mr.. Thomason is one of our
! most progressive ranchers, using all
the modern methods and ideas In
ranching Would not live-wire agent
who would help us educate some Of
the deluded ranchers in that section
be doing a wonderous work? Would
not the ranchers be benifted? II he
!. can benefit them. can't he benefit us,
! think the benefit would be far great
er than the .l5 to 20 cent raise In
our taxes.
, i admit that we need roads badly
! have boosted for them In these col
i umns. There are many ways OF look
, ing at the road question. Here Is one:
, II the ranchers are successful In rails
ing large crop of potatoes, etc, and
: can't move them they will co-operat,
7 tthe crying need of this county, ant
fight for roads. They will get them
, too, Nowadays the farmers drive {
steer or two to market through mut
and trails. and calmly wait for som,
other fellow to get road for him
Give those same farmers the know
ledge and go-to-itiveness to raise BIZ
I crops and they will get their roads
When they raise more crops they will
get more money to pay their taxes I,
!, mako more roads TO haul more crop
!. over,
r Coos and Tillamook had no bette
q land or'conditions than we have. Ye
a they have forged ahead. Lincoln 1
II awakening. We will get there YET
T. when we earn more money we vii
be able 10 pay more taxes wlthou
feeling II. can't we?
a. Don't stand back and let the othe
fellow talk for you. Go TO the coui
house or write letter and tell you
officials what you want or don't wan