The diamond drill., 1921-09-24
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IRON ORE MISINFORMED


IRON ORE MISINFORMED
The Iron county board OF supervis-
ors. at a recent meeting. voted 70
dispense with the services OF their
county agriculturalist, this TO reduce
| expenses but the farmers objected
SO strongly that the board reconsid-
cred its action. and the agent is still
at work. We call this very good sign
that the farmer Is determined to oper-
ate along the best lines and recognizes
the benefits he has received through
| advice from these professional men
Better methods In agriculture are one
OF the important things OF the country,
as the making OF two blades of grass
grow where only one, or none, grew
before is a very big business. Many
farmers have been proceeding as did
their fathers, and not operating along
the best lines. Much has been learned
OF the rotation of crops, seeds. fertil-
izers. better breeds. and general
list OF things directly associated with
agriculture.
The above excerpt of an article
which appeared in last weeks Iron
Ore is so grossly at varience with
the facts that We hasten to set Mr..
Newett right on the matter. He is
generally so well posted on penin-
sula matters that statement which
appears in Iron Ore may usually be
relied upon. In this case Mr.. Newett
has either been misinformed or he has
misunderstood the action taken by
the Iron county board Of supervisors.
No, Bro. Newett. the Iron county
board did not vote TO discontinue the
office OF the county agent. Iron county
was the first county In Michigan to
employ such an official and IL was the
first county in Michigan. We believe,
TO place the agriculturalists office In
close touch with the board OF super
visors and with the farmers whom
the agriculturalist is supposed TO
serve.
What the Iron county board Of sup
ervisors did do well was to call a
mass meeting OF the farmers TO ascer-
tain If the agent was giving to the
farmers as much assistance under the
old arrangement as IL was possible
TO get. The farmers met. They all a
greed that the county agriculturalist
was a very helpful and important OFF,
Ger. Their only complaint was that
the county agent had no directing a
gency in the county excepting the
board and as the attention OF that
body was taken up SO much with other
matters II was hard to interest the
supervisors in suggestions that the
farmers had TO make. They were OF
the opinion that better system OF
suervision could be devised and a
committee was appointed to study the
question and suggest a method where
by the office OF the county agent
could be made more OF an Influence
in the agricultural development OF the
county.
The committee deliberated three
months, held meetings in every sect
ion OF the county farmers attended
and made suggestions. AS a result OF
this investigation the board OF super
visors appointed commission of
the county board which commission
has control OF the county agricultur-
aiist and directs the agricultural pol
icy OF the county. The county agri-
culturalist Dis the secretary OF this
commission, or committee. The CON-
mission made up OF persons outside
OF the membership Of the board OF
supervisors. IL holds meeting each
month at which the work OF tho
county agent during the 30-days pre-
vious Is gone over. his plans for the
next thirty days learned and discuss
ed with the idea OF aiding him In his
work. The commission makes monthly
reports 10 the board OF supervisors.
I'm which the work done by the agent
r. given In detail and the supervis-
ors thus constantly kept In touch with
the agriculturalist's ONCE. The COM
missile res and fires the agent,
passes : n all expenditures OF mon
ey In the agricultural line. their del
Iteration being taken by the board OF
supervisors as authority for ali expen-
ditures OF the kind and any changes
in the personnel Of the agricultural
department.
The commission. during the first
year OF service. has done very much
In assisting the agricultural ievelop-
ment OF the county. At It's first meet
ing the commission decided to contine
the work for year or two TO three