The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-09-26
The American System OF
Agricultural Education
and Research
by David F. Houston
Secretary Of Agriculture

ny David f. Houston
Secretary Of Agriculture
The United States has in its fed
erai department OF Agriculture and
state Gland grant) colleges Of agri-
culture, a system Of agricultural re-
search and education which was es-
tabllshed more than fifty years ago
and which reaches every part Of the
country and effectively deals with
every phase Of agriculture. It IL
worth noting that the national foun-
dations of these two great agencies
for the betterment Of agriculture
were laid In another period Of kreat
national stress.
The act Of congress creating the
federal department Of agriculture.
vas signed By Abraham Lincoln on
Nay Is, 1853. while the Civil war
was in progress. On July . Of the
same year he approved the so-called
land grant. or Morrill,. act. giving
the proceeds from the sale Of certain
aalotmsnts Of the public land to each
state and territory for the endow-
ment. support and maintenance Of
at least one college where the lead
ing object shall be. without exclud-
ing other scientific and classical
studies and including military tao
tics. 10 teach such branches Of learn
ing ~ are related to agriculture ana
the mechanic arts in Or
der to promote the liberal and prac-
teal education Of the industrial clas-
sss In the several pursuits and pro-
fessions In life."
LDGIsLATl0N FOR A0RICUL-
TURAL EDUCATON i
The national system Of agricul-
tuar lsducation and research thus e.
tablished has BEEN greatly develop
Cd BY subsequent lesialation. notably
the acts providing for agricultural
stations 10 each state and
for cooperative extension work in
agriculture and homo economics.
Many other important and highly
laws for the betterment
of rural life have been placed ON
the statute books within the past
few years. including especially the
cotton futures act the United States
grain standards act. the Federal
warehouse act. and the Federal aid
road act. All these measures are
administered by the Department Of
Agriculture and they are achieving
In marked degree. the purposes con-
tsmplatsd By their trainers. The
Federal reserve act the farm loan
act and the Federal vocational educa-
tion act also constitute IN important
part OF the legislative program for
the Improvement Of rural conditions
and the development Of agriculture.
Thus the nation vas we'll prepared
along agricultural lines Ia, deal
promptly and effectively with the
emergency problems that have arts
en- since the United States entered
the war. II 10 not ex0avagant "a
say that this nation had agencies
working for the betterment Of rural
life and agriculture which. In point
Of personal ana effectiveness. OK.
coed those of any other three ma
lions In the world combined.
The land grant colleges and ex'
pertinent stations are without par
ailel. They are 81 In number. havs
. total valuation Of endowment,
plant and equipment OF $1s5.00 900
an income Of more than $4,000. 900
with $500 teachers; . resident stu
dent body Of over $4,000 and vast
number receiving extension instruc-
ton. Their great ally. the depart
ment OF agriculture. is unQuestion-
ably the greatest practical and scien-
tific agricultural organization in the
world. It has a staff Of more than