Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18

sawed into slabs OF proper thickness
High cost of labor in this country and
of railroad as compared with ocean
transportation has also stood in the
way of the domestic industry.
Quarrying of the Bavarian stone.
however. involves the handling Of large
quantities Of waste. and the waste
piles around the Quarries now form
keting of crushed stone and similar
products from the Kentucky quarry
should go far, the experts say. toward
eliminating the cost Of quarrying from
the expense Of preparing photographic
stone: With this advantage 1t may be
possible. 1t Is said, even after the war
is over. to market the Kentucky stone
in competition with the Bavarian stone.
Fields farmed as demonstrations in
agriculture under the supervision of
the office of extern
Demonstration sion work. south. Of
VIZ, the Department of
1aIm A1e1oS. Agriculture, during
the past year, returned as a rule yields
100 per cent in excess of the average
for the section. according to experts
of the department in touch with this
particular line of work. This class of
spread adoption of better methods.
particularly in the preparation Of land.
selection of seed and the cultivation of
crops.
v, lille it Is true that Uncle Sans
agricultural department is for the bene-
ut Of the farmer. yet the great amount
Of good accomplished by most OF its
bureaus is astonishing. For instance.
it is pointed out that in 1915 of the 731
regular county agents, 4O7 were wom-
en-. and 20 special boys club agents
were engaged alone In the extension
work with 10000 adult farmers dur
ing the year. approximately $4,000 boys,
nearly 1000 women, and about $4,000
girls. In 1916 these figures increased
and boys and to $4,000 girls and 10000
women.
During the past year the office per-
fected its organization through the
onstratio work among the negroes.
and at the beginning Of the last fiscal
year had 81 man and woman negro
agents at work in II states.
beginning assisted the negro farmers
and tenants, 1t was found advisable in
some counties where there is a large
negro population to appoint negro
agent to work entirely with the negroes.
There is a close cooperation. 1t is said,
between the negro agents OF the de-
partment and the negro schools. negro
agricultural colleges and other fnstitu-
lions of the state working along the
50 me lines.
In addition to It's regular activities.
the office of extension work carried on
during the past year. 1t Is said, severa!
special campaigns, wherever 1t deemed
advisa BILE. in hog cholera. tick eradtca-
ton and boil weevil control work. The
office is also said to have made prog
ress in its work seeking to make per-
manent the changes Of the past few
years for greater crop dfversif1cation.
Demonstrations of various kinds were
carried on, the experts say covering
nearly a million and a half acres OF
field crops and more than two million
fruit trees. Instruction was given to
approximately $4,000 farmers in the
care Of fertilizer resulting I'm the saw
ing of more than 100000 tons.
The challenge Of the European war
brought to the attention Of Congress
not merely the ne
Tho Irdu.+r;ol cessity for an in
crease in the per-
Mobilization. sonnet Of the regu-
lar army, provision for larger supply
of officers and a better organization OF
the National Guard. but also the fact
that in any great national military
emergency, such as we are now going
through, industrial mobilization was an
indispensable element to success.
LEGISLATION was. therefore, enacted
looking to an Investigation of the
financial. industrial and commercial re-
sources of the nation. and such previ-
sion of them as would enable them to
he speedily modified for the national
defense The most conspicuous step in
this program was the creation of the
council of national defense. consisting
of the Secretaries of War. the Navy. the
Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and
Labor. under whom. and upon whose
nomination. the President was author
lied to appoint an advisory commission
of seven citizens qualified by the pos
session of special knowledge of the in
dustrial and commercial resources of
the country. and to this council of ma
tional defense, advised by the advisory
commission. was committed the task of
co-ordinating the military. Industrial
In connection with it's defense. While
this committee has not had as much
time as was needed. 1t is understood
that 1t has some very complete figures
of vital Importance at this time.
Power was given by Congress to this
council to select a director. who is the
executive officer, and an adequate ap-
preparation was made for the employ
ment Of expert and clerical help. so
that there could be established at
Washington as an agency of the gov
eminent a central body, which would
and has catalogued the resources OF the
nation. and created such relations be-
tween our industrial and commercial
agencies as to equip them to respond
instantly to any call from the govern
ment While this plan may not have
been carried out to the fullest extent,
the larger portion of the plan has al
ready been accomplished.
In this manner 1t was hoped. and 1T
remains to be seen il the hope was cor
rect. If occasion arises. that the prob
lens that some countries had to face
will be anticipated in the United States.
and that the confusion. delay and loss
due to haste in a moment of national
danger might be obviated by rational.
just and timely provisions made in adj
vance of trouble.
The council of national defense was
further authorized by Congress to Gre
ate commissions subordinate to the adj
Vtsory commission, for the study of
special problems Thus. many commit
tees of inquiry of technical and SCI
entific character. casually created here
tofore for the consideration Of special
problems will be able to coordinate
under the general direction of the
council. and duplication of work and
conflict Of jurisdiction be avoided. 1t
much this council has accomplished but
it is understood. on very good author
ity, that considerable work has been
done, which will, doubtless, be invalu-
able at this time to the government.