The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-12
Governors Recommendation Is
ThOrOIy Rebuked by Body.
|, T, HUSSEY TALKS ON FIRES
Eighty Per Cent of COnflagra-
lions AvOidabIe, He Asserts.
He Urges Teaching Preventive
Methods in Schools.

Board OF AgrIcuiture'
OFFICERS.
7 IT Tredvav. president. La Harpe.
! r. b. Ward, vice president. Beileviile.
/ A. W. Smith, treasurer, Mcpherson
| j. c. MOhIer. secretary, Topeka'
DIRECTORS.
| Arthur CAMPER, governor Eek Officio)
! ]. r. Botkin. secretary state lex Off
! Thompson. Sylvia, Reno county.
| f. r. Burton, Coffeyville ,,.-
] l. L. Diesem, Garden City' FihneS
! O. O. Wolf. Ottawa. Franklin county:
| IT. w. Avery. Wakefield. Clay county.
! Thos. NJ Potter, Peabody, Marion
/ t. A. Hubbard. wellington, Sumner
! f. T.. Barrier, Eureka, Greenwood
II, N. Iaing. Russell. Russell county
y f. FrizelI, Iarned, Pawnee county.
/ Rut one new face will be seen in the
1917 state board of agriculture, that OF
E. r. Burton. of Coff>yville, who will
succeed Charles f. Sutton, of Law
renee. The three officers and the
/ other four members of the board up
for reelection were retained by
unanimous vote.
Tho governors recommendation to
the effect of consolidation of the board
b
ments was politely but firmly rebuked
in the initial resolution passed which
announced that "the board advised no
drastic change in the character of the
organization" which was character
lied later in the resolution as hIghly
efficient. Legislative parsimony was
rebuked and an increased appropr1a-
ton for the board was urged.
In line with the governors recon-
mendation made Thursday night ask
ing that the annual meeting should
have an increased body of delegates
more truly representative of the body
of Kansas farmers, it was resolved
that the 105 county institutes and the
seventy or more breed organizations
be permitted one delegate each. This
swells the annual meeting of the board
to one of the most considerable con-
ventions tic visi: Topeka, bringing
nearly 400 people from out of town.
The railroads side of the argument
was given by u. G. Hopkins, special
representative of the NJ, K. & T. rail
transportation and Agriculture" be-
fore the state board of agriculture.
opening this mornings session.
Hopkins said in part:
THE agricultural industry cannot
develop without adequate transporta-
ton. The primary interest of the
railroad as a business is necessarily
with the producer. for production
means freight. The railroad has no
interest in prices, or the profits of
Others beyond it's natural desire to Sc
cure for the public at large a prosper
ity in which it may participate. In
every effort to increase production
and increase the buying capacity of
/ the average man, railroads are natur-
ally interested. The great transporta-
ton companies. therefore, support
every movement which will tend to in
crease the productive capacity of agri-
culture and to improve the condition
of farmers, and they are in increasing
need of the cooperation, confidence
! and friendly support of the farmer
! IF the agricultural industry is to
continue to grow and thrive it is essen
tial that the public shall enforce con-
/ structive policies with reference to
railroads, which will permit the i'm
provement of transportation facilities
az they are demanded by the industrial
growth of the country Without
earnings in excess of fixed charges,
railroads cannot have the credit neces-
sary 20 extend and improve their lines
so as to keep pace with the country's
progress. They cannot he neglected.
/ They must be cared for and their
vitality must be renewed constantly by
/ the diVersion-t to them of new money!
! hays Experiment Station.
The work of the Fort Hays expert
ment station was explained this morn
ing by Charles E. Weeks sIIperintend-
ent of the station. Of particular in
terest was his announcement of the
discovery of superior winter hardy
Durum wheat, which will be offered
Tor sale next year. Great stress was
laid upon the experiment with live
stock which is expected to prove of
stock raisers. Eve urge the securing
of live Stock he said. "as a protec-
ton against wheat failure"
May we hasten the day when a
man Will be permitted to own only a
few acres on which he does not live. -
was the sentiment of the address of
Cora Wellhouse Billiard, of Tonga
noXle, before last nights session of
the state board of agriculture.
Hussey Talks on Fires.
over $4.O0O,O0O went up in smoke
in Kansas last year" L. T. Hussey in
formed delegates in his address this
morning. The records show that in
/ 1916 there were $500 fires. of this
number 1.46S were dwellings entailing
a loss of $1.064174. Barn fires totals
S95l,12S; grain and hay fires S21,214.
flIty per cent of the dwelling. rs per
cent or the barn fires and all of those
on grain and hay occurred on farms
THE high cost of living is a ire
mendous problem and the elimination
! OF TINS waste would greatly relieve this
problem Practically so per cent of
these fires are avoidable, and it is high
Tune to begin the consideration of WAYS
ana means to prevent fires on the
farm.
Firstly, cleanliness is next to god
illness in fire prevention as in other
matters. Then every farmer should
provide himself with adequate number
OF flre eXtinguishers In consested
farm districts the community owner