Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-21

Is DISCUSSED
C. n PEASE RECALLS STATEMENT or
A. & N. COLLEGE MAN THAT S600
MORE MAY BE AVAILABLE.

10 The Herald:
| have read with interest The letter &c
&. l.. Jc~sup IN last night ianuc of The
Herald, particularly that portion which
describes the Efforts nude a. secure the
employment at u county ~dclnonrtrntor for
Cameron cenntN. In this connection de-
sire Ia quote from n letter received from
tension. College station. which was written
under date Of December !, 1916:
"Thc commissioner court j. permitted
under the law to make mn appropriation
of $1,000 for the purpose Of paying u part
Of the salary Of m agent. am glad to
say 10 YOU that nj this time we would he
able To pay 5000 for this purpose provided
that the business men Of your county will
raise an additional 5000 either by private
subscription or from the commissioners
court, this to be applied on the expenses
Of an agent. This would make a total sum
for the first year Of $500, and | am
confident that we can secure the services
of the light man fo this sum. II
is possible that nj the beginning of the
next fiscal year. which j. July !. 1917,
this department could make q further in
crease in the amount we could allow that
county,
Il would even say this. and authorize
You 10 say 10 your commissioner court if
they will make the appropriation bf 81 900
and your business men will raise an add
tional 5000, that w will pay enough to
secure the right man even though we had
to over-step the allowance Indicated. Thus
far we have been able 20 secure capable
men for the first years work az a salary
not to exceed $500"
While this may not be the sit uation at
present time it would appear that it will
not be a very serious problem off financing
10 make up the small deficiency lhat i re-
quircd 10 supplement the county, apPropri-
alton. While in Austin | had some CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Seth r. Holman. executive
secretary Of the department Of extension
and took occasion to discuss with him our
local agricultural problems and the need
of a first class Demonstration agent. |
attempted to impress him with the fact
that we had peculiar local pr oblem- that
required the service. of not merely a good
technical man. but Il large. alH around man
of resourcefulnesS and capJble Of lead
crship. He assured me that while such
men were scarce. he would sce that Cam
cron county got such 4 man If he could
he found, provided the commissioner
court would make the necessary a%ppropri-
alton and the additional sum be raised IL
meet his salary. lie has since written that
he J. already investigating a man whom
he believes capable of holding this posi-
ton.
II seems to me that with tho present in
%sistent demand for increased food prodnc-
ton, there l. every reason for prompt ac-
ton in securing the services Of y com-
petent county agent. The success Of the
meeting called for the purpose of securing
the cooperation of farmers of the Valley
in food production. indicates a spirit among
our farmers Ia fall in line with wise and
competent leadership for larger things in
this county, has there been 4 greater need
of a county agent. The time j. oppor-
tune and we should overlook no means
vi d-tItN W filItlbNf our d.TltUllHTdl
methods and secure increased efficiency
on the farms. Let Us by all means have
a county agent and have him nj once. The
first step Will be the appropriation by the
commissioners court of the legal limit.
Another step which can be taken concur
rently viii be to raise the 5000. II the
commissioners will make the necessary
appropriation. in order To expedite matters,
! will personally undertake to raise among
the bankers a ndgusincSs men Of the com
~ the required 5000. Let IT. gct busy.
Let those who feel like helping the cause
along, write or talk with their commits
>ioncr and urge him to make the appro-
p~riation III once.
C.. III. PFASE.