French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-08
COMMISSIONERS GRANT COUNTY AGENT
IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION FROM THE RIDGE
Request Millsaps to Send Man Here at Once
After Three Months the Commission
prs Decide to Promote Interests of
FarmerS-NOn-Partisan Measure
Praise County Officials.

The vote of the county commission
ors on the question of a farm demon
strator for Henderson county last
Tuesday afternoon stood:
Three, in favor.
None, against.
Thus ends a long and strenuous
campaign for the advancement of the
AGRICULTURAL interests Of the county.
Last fall a movement was put on foot
sgitating the question of securing a
demonstration. In fact the matter has
heen in the minds of a good many
prominent farmers ever since the
county failed year before last to en-
nloy demonstration after having him
for two years.
The first public meeting before the
commissioners was held on the first
Monday in January. At this meeting
a large number of citizens and farm
ers filled the little court room and not
a decenting voice was heard against
the movement. The commissioners
decided that it would be best to post
pone the matter until, the people could
be heard from, either in person or by
petition on the first Tuesday in Feb
ruary.
Those who favored the demonstra-
tor worked hard, in spite of the wealth
er in carrying petitions all over the
county. Nearly $50 citizens signed
petitions in favor of theagent and sew
eral other petitions rave not been
turned in. Something over $50 signed
petitions against the employing Of q
Sn~nRnc&Tofnw TT~Aovn &G1 10
The petition did not say that the sign
ers were against the demonstration
work in general.
1t has been thought for sometime
that the county commissioners would
employ demonstrator. They went on
record at the meeting in February as
being personally in favor of. it and
were simply waiting to hear from the
people Of the county. - -
The question Of how much salary
the county will pay has not been set
tied, but the commissioners were in
favor of getting the best man obtain
able and state agent E. G. Millsaps has
been wired to get Henderson county
the best man he can find.
The farmers are in favor of good
OQC WIN huOWS OuSAACSS anu
will not be a burden on the county.
One of the commissioners stated at
the meeting that he was in favor Of
getting a high price demonstrators
rather than cheap one. 1t is safe to
say that the salary will not be less
than $500 per year and the county
will only have to pay one half of this
amount.
The total taxes of Henderson county
is in the nighborhood of 500, 900 to
100000. The actual cost of demon
Strator would hard be over IS cents for
every $1O0 in taxes. The township OF
Hendersonville pays over 40 per cent
OF the taxes and there is said to be
very little opposition in that township.
1t was agreed by the commissioners
TO begin work at once. Owing to the
TACT that farmers are now Teacy for
spring planting and to get effective re-
suits demonstration should begin
work within the next thirty days. 1t
IS said that Mr.. Millsaps has a man he
ne can locate here within the next few
weeks.
The securing of an agent for Hen
dersOn county is said by some leading
cltlzens Of the county to mean more
reel money to the county than the Sc
curing Of a 100000 cotton mill This
Is putting it pretty strong but it is a
Known fact that while some did MT
tnlhk they had profted by the last
demOnstrator here others were ready
70 swear that he made them lots of
money and they were very much dis
appointed that Mr.. Perkins had to
leaFe. 1t is known fact that Mr..
Perkins is now making one of the
teadlng agents of the state. He has
charge of the work in Burke county.
JustoVer the ridge.
Mnen the announcement was made
ny the commissioners after being in
snort session behind closed doors the
crowd in the room gave a strong de-
Inonstration of their feelings. They
!eallzcd that their work had not been
IN vain and that a new feeling in the
luture of the county of prosperity and
success would be felt.
AS one spokesman stated. the county
was the back bone OF the city and so
Ions as the farmers lag just so long
"ouId the city be a struggler. These
pdtent factors go hand in hand and
"hen the farmers prosper as they have
every reason to feel that they will
IIon now on. then .Hendersonville will
ITo1ate IT the prosperity and good will of
ilenderson county.
:. Ihe board of agriculture will begin
rom now with new impetus and
WIN a membership of fifty farmers
ana citizens at the present there are
5snuications it will grow into the hum
T. There is said to be 1900 farmers.
n'lng on their farms in Henderson
SOunty. 1t would be impossible fo- a
@uemonstrator @ to spend a day with
woa1 Vncn one and the government has