Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-13
MAINE EXPERIMENT..
ssSsesA = fse=sl,s
STATION AND MR.,
HoovER's OFFICE
Three of That Stations Biolo-
gists Are Called to Washing
ton for the Period of the War,
to Assist in Strengthening
Out the Many Food Problems.

Out the Many ROOD frODleIuS.
orono, Me-. Sept. 1.-THE following
was made public this afternoon from
the Office of Director Charles D. Woods
of the Maine Agricultural experiment
station at Orono:
In common with the other depart
ments Of the University of Maine, the
Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
al the opening Of the war rendered its
staff and facilities to the State and to
the Federal Government. From the
beginning the Director Of the Station
has served on the State Committee on
Food Production and Conservation and
in other minor ways the members Of
the staff have tried to be helpful. 1t
Is a great compliment TO the Station
although it will interfere somewhat
with it's work of investigation, that
three members Of IT'S staff have been
'.reouisitioned" by Mr.. Hoover for the
period OF the war. Although this will
involve a delay in the analyses of &C
cUmulated data and in publishing the
results Of certain studies particularly
the cooperative breeding experiments
that are just coming TO close-we
appreciate. as will the citizens Of the
State for whom we work, that the eX-
iGencies coming out of the war We're
bound to interfere with normal work
O.: a department of investigation. Be
81 al q
public of the State will doubtless be
interested in a brief account of these
temporary changes in the Station Staff,
in the work being undertaken at Wash
ington by three members of the Staff in
the office Of the Federal Food Admins
traitor, and in the way the animal and
plant breeding work Of the Station is
being kept on.
Early in June Mr.. Herbert c. Hoover.
who has since been appointed by Pres
ident Wilson, Food Administrator of
the United States. requested Doctor
Raymond Pearl. who has been for ten
years Biologst of the Maine Agricul-
tural Experiment Station. to come to
Washington to organize the Statistical
Department of the United States Food
Administration. and act as the chief
o. this Department for the duration
of the war. In view of the national
emergency, this request amounted
practically to a command. and after
careful elaboration the authorities of
the University Of Maine and the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station de-
ciced to grant Doctor Pearl leave of alb
stnce. without salary, for the dura ton
Of the war in order that he might
undertake this work for Mr.. Hoover.
Similar arrange nents were made in
regard to Doctor Frank NJ Surface,
Biologist in the Experiment Station,
and Mr.. John Rice Miner, Computor in
the Biological Lahora tory Of the Ex-
pertinent Station. Both Of these men
lad worked with Doctor Pearl in the
Experiment Station for many years,
and he felt il to he necessary to have
their aid in the orGa nzation and de-
velopment of the large statistical prob
lens in connection with the Food Ad-
ministration.
1t is to be understood that the ar
rangements above described do not
mean in any sense that the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station will
permanently lose the services of these
men. They are simply on leave of alb
Sc nee for the duration Of the war. and
will return TO their work in Maine
when the emergency is over In the
meantime, the Experiment Station has
been extremely fortunate in being able
to make arrangements to carry along
the work of the Biological Department,
beth along animal husbandry and plant
breeding lines without undue loss. This
fortunate result comes about from two
the policy which the Elk
pertinent Station has pursued for some
years past OF acting as a department
OF graduate and research study in az
riculture to the University of Maine.
Through this relation a number Of
young men have been given advanced
training in the Biological Department
and then gone out to positions else
where. One Of these men, Doctor John
W. Gowen, who spent year in grad
uate work in the Experiment Station.
and has since taken his doctors degree
IT Columbia University. the Station
was able TO call hack to take charge
o. the animal husbandry investipa-
tions during Doctor Pearls absence.
The second reason that the work is
able to 60 on without being too seri-
ously affected by this emergency dis
location is that great pains have been
taken as matter Of policy to build
ur loyal and efficient corps of as
sistants in the Station. The benefits
% this policy are being reaped at this
tine, when a very serious disturbance
OF the investigational work Of the Sta
ton must otherwise have resulted.
CHAS. D. WOODS.
Director.