The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-11
The Peoples National Bank of Barre

was known last year. An appropriation
OF $4,000 was available for the work
and the state had complete supervision
and control of the service. a mobiliza-
ton camp was established at Winthrop
Center, and nearly 1000 boys were re
cruited from all parts of Maine, sent TO
this training camp, put through both the
school of the soldier and the school OF
( the farmer and. as they became qualified,
were sent out in groups of p to 80,
under supervisors, TO work on farms in
various parts of the state.
The Junior Volunteers.
1 The Maine farm help boys were called
! "iunior volunteers" Boys from Is TO 20
wears of age were accepted, recruiting
campaigns were conducted, quite as for
the army, and often the regular army
recruiting stations were used as junior
volunteer recruiting offices. All this
added to the boys sense of actual war
service-of being in the game" in real
ity. Professors from the Maine college
gave agricultural instruction at the mo-
bilization camp. and drills were under
the direction OF officers OF the National
Guard Every day of their training the
youngsters did practical farm work. The
state furnished uniforms, transportation,
subsistence, medical attention, etc, and
paid the boys fat salary OF 81 per day
for the entire period of their enlistment.
The farmer who employed the boys paid
the supervisor in charge OF that squad or
that district, Supervisors, paid by the
state, were carefully selected. Only
young men Of the highest type We're en-
ployed. and as far as possible they were
y. NJ c. A. or boy scout leaders or teach
ers who had shown especial aptitude mi
handling boys. The boys remained con
stanty under the care of these super
yisors whether at the mobilization camp
or at district camps over the state-from
whence they would go out each morning
in groups to work on the various farms
in that community where they had been
assigned.
This plan might require modification,
In some other states but all in all 1t was
regarded as successful in Maine last
year Reports of inspectors during the
latter part OF the summer, We're that
most of the farmers who had used squads
of Junior volunteers were very well
pleased and indeed, that a majority of
them had asked for more boys.
The Plan in Massachusetts,.
In Massachusetts there were about 20 /
bows camps last year. The movement |
did not include a state mobilization camp |
or state appropriations Funds were pro- |
vided, largely, by private subscriptions, /
and practically all of the management /
and supervision was by volunteer work !
ers. The boys camp plan in this state l
had its inception in the public safety
committee of Massachusetts. special
with the cooperation OF
high schools. Y NJ. c. A. and other agen
,ies. created camp organization, Sc
,ured enlstments of boys too young for
military service vet old enough to work i
On farms, provided for proper super
sision, and succeeded in furnishing con
siderable amount of this help to the
farmers during the summer. The Mas
,achusetts committee in reporting upon
be plan in that state, takes occasion to
Emphasize the value Of preliminary ,
raining as feature of the farm camps.
summing up the general results in the
tate. the Massachusetts committee said
Imong other things, that the experiment
lad demonstrated :
THAT the right type of boys under eff T.,
icient supervision are valuable in food
PRODUCTION; that mutually advantageous !
Working arrangements between boys and |
armers can be brought about. d
The manager of one of the largest {
arms in the vicinity IF Bolton, where q
ne of the Massachusetts, camps was 10 /
ated. Is quoted by the state committee ,
: saving that the Bolton camp accom- :
lished these things; "
1T gave 10 more or less discouraged
roup of farmers new view of their /
wu possibilities aud the possibilities Of d
heir farms. v
BY bringing supply of seasonal la J.
or when needed. il enabled the farmer a
, increase his acreage one.third to one :
alf. and insured the proper cultivation e
/ the crops at an expense he could al b
ord. {
lit has been one Of the most valuable O
arts of the city boys education. in that e
has given him first hand experience G.
production which he could get in no s.
her way" =
In Berkshire county. Massachusetts. Il
here there were two camps of about b N
rvs each. the committee reported that "a
he county agent was very much graft -
"A to have no kicks recorded by the q
,ys he met or by the persons who are 10
nploying the boys" q
Boys Wages Increased.
At Somerville. Mass. high school boys I.
ere placed with farmers under the di- "a
e administration of one If the high
hooi teachers. who visited the farms. -
tervieWed the farmers. and was CON :
need that conditions were Wholesome
n the boys assured ~ rcei treatment
fore BE- placed them. one would as
me these boys gave satisfactory serv-l
:. from a report - this seet ION. made