Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-10-20
THAT COUNTY AGENT A-
Harlan, Ore.
Editor Leader

Editor Leader
Dear Sir:
| have with interest let
ter published i'll your issue of
September 20 signed, Web, Of
Eddyville, asking that he may
have county agent.
He seems to be badly in need
of one, so let him have one, but
l think we ought to wait a little
while before We engage one.
There are many Of us farm
ers in Lincoln Co. who would
like to see a county agent in
here, but | think we ought to
study the expense as well as the
receipts before we take the step.
The agents salary is about
$4,000 per year, stenographer,
say $3.50, automobile, typewriter
and Office fixtures, rent, station
cry, etc., will bring up the total
to about 100000 a year, of
which sum the state will furnish
about half.
In return we get the services
of an expert which Of course
would be highly appreciated by
the majority of farmers if they
were so situated that they could
get his advice when it was need
ed most. But how many parts
of Lincoln Co. are within easy
reach of Toledo, q presume
that is where his Office would be)
by auto or even by team dur.
ing the four bad months - the
year when most of the help and
advice is needed especially as
regards stock. In many cases
his help would come too late to
save an animal-of course his
advice would be valuable in pre-
venting a re-occurence.
There is lots of valuable work
he would be able to do from his
Office but many men won't write
a letter If they can possibly help
it, not because they are too ig-
norant as Web thinks but be-
cause they don't like writing or
don't have time, or are too tired,
and even if they did write,
how socn could they get reply,
say from any point on Upper Big
Elk? Not under five or six days,
and a personal visit is a two or
three days trip.
Now I think Web has got a
very poor opinion of his fellow
farmers in Lincoln Co.. He calls
them moss incrusted conserva-
tives and says many Of them are
too ignorant to know how to get
knowledge. He must live quite
a way from Eddyville as | am
personally acquainted with some
very bright and intelligent men
in that part of the county. And
he certainly hasn't been in Big
Elk much. in fact ] think the
farmers Of Lincoln Co. are as
bright and intelligent as can be
found in any part Of the good
old U. s.. except perhaps Mis-
souri, where they have to be
shown.
If they weren't they would
not have made the progress they
have made in spite Of the OBJ
stacles they have had to sur
mount.
/ don't think any man who has
carved a farm and home out OF
these log and stump covered
hills and made a living at the
tsame time shows much lack OF
knowledge or ambition.
Our friend goes on TO say that
the Portland firms urge the ap.
pointment of a county agent
or course they DO. That is part
of their business. And he can
suggest all kinds of improve.
ments which means more mon
ey for the farmer to spend and
they don't have to help pay him
Let them be satisfied with a lit.
tie less profit and give the farm
er a little more for his produce
land they won't need to worry
about business. AS IL they viii
give the average farmer some
money to spend he will spend II
with a free hand.
Now Mr.. Web what 7 think
we ought to have first, is some
good roads over which the
meragensum-
agent can travel winter and
summer whereby he can reach
the remote farms as they and tn,
newcomers, who are not used Il
the climate and conditions, arr
the ones who need his service,
most. And when we get it 81
he can pay a personal visit any
time Of year, we win then re
ceive a double benefit, one o
his personal advice and another
and the more ilifDOrtant one O