The Ely miner., 1926-06-04

tator more than many other feats of
iegerdemain requiring much greater
skill. 1t touched his money sense
aud the pocket nerve" has long been
recognized as one of the most sensi-
tive In the human makeup.
Today, however, government experts
hold that the illusion of the magician
has been changed into the fact of ac-
tual accomplishment Dollars are be-
Ing taken from the air. Official inves-
tfgation, in fact, reveals the air as
potential source of wealth for the
farmers of this country to an extent
rivaled only by the productivity of the
soil itself.
This transformation Is being brought
about by the development and exten-
sion of radio facilities and services
to fit the special needs of agriculture.
For 1t is In agriculture that radio
seems certain to find its greatest de-
velopment as utility with direct
dollar and cents value to its users.
Secretary Of Agriculture Jardine
who has given much study to the use
or radio as an aid to agriculture, re-
Gently said:
radio is already a vital factor in
the economic and intellectual life of
the farmer. 1t is easy to foresee mil
lions upon millions of dollars added to
the value Of agriculture through serv-
ices provided the farmer by radio"
Folks on the farms and in the coun-
try towns where general prosperity
depends on the prosperity of agricul-
ture are particularly favored by radio.
To the city man or woman, the use of
radio Is limited to recreation and the
reception Of general information. They
enjoy the concerts, the dance pro-
grams, the lectures and other features
that come to them by day and night
over the air, but their pleasure and
enjoyment is the principal recon-
pense for their investment In radio
equipment.
The same programs that entertain
the city listener are received also by
listeners-in on the farm, where they
are received with equal pleasure and
satisfaction. But in addition to the
programs Of entertainment and gen.
eral information, Of interest alike to
city and country, radio is being used
more and more to carry to the farmer
special information of direct assist
ance to him in the production and
marketing of his crops, the breeding
and care of his live stock and the pre-
vention of loss and damage from
storms, pests and other emergency
conditions.
1t is this service that raises radio,
for the farmer, out Of the class of
mere instrumentality for pleasure and
recreation alone, and makes of 1t
utility as helpful in the business of
farming as the stock ticker and the
telephone are to the broker or busi-
ness man in the city.
The greater emphasis on radio as a
practical dollars-and-cents investment
for the farmer does not come from
radio manufacturers or broadcasters
or from any group primarily inter-
ested In the radio industry. 1t comes,
instead, from the United States De
partment of Agriculture, whose prime
interest is in the progress and pros
perity Of the American farmer.
The department began an expert
mental radio market news service in
December, 1920. A laboratory trans
mitter at the United States bureau of
standards was used to broadcast on
400-meter wave length, by radio tele-
graph from washington, radio mar
ketgram and turn it over to the news
papers In their own towns, or give
copies to the banks or stores to be
posted on bulletin boards.