The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-01-01
Thorough Methods Osl News
From Other States.


In more than dozen states. from
one end of America to the other, the
question OF making electric service
available to the American farmer is
being studied. with the aid Of practi-
cal experiments. in painstaking and
encouraging manner. Steady prog
ress is, to be noted, most OF the states
investigating the problem in their own
way. but all seeking to devise a prac-
tical economic program which will
meet the needs of both the farmers
and the power companies.
Iowa's Rural comItAisy
rural community Tor electrical
Development has been established by
Iowa at the town of Garner. This
community Is termed a field labora-
tory by the investigators. Three
Irh.al electric service lines have been
built ont of Garner, running in differ
ent directions These lines cover a
total of 63 miles and serve a total of
s9 customers.
Already a preliminary survey has
been made covering all of the 80
farms, but certain twelve farms
have been picked out for special ex-
periinents with electricity as applied
to various kinds of farm equipment
land farmhouse appliances. A state
rural electric committee is conduct
ing this whole Investigation.
Practical Work In Illinois
Similar activities have been started
in Illinois. where there is also field
laboratory, located near Tolono, and
involving ten farms. Several electri-
cal and agricultural interests in ILL.,
nois are cooperating, with the Col
lege OF Agriculture of the University
Of Illinois as the guiding head.
One OF the Illinois electric light and
power companies has built a service
line seven miles long in Champaign
county. Farms. varying from rs to
600 acres will be served from this
line and will represent every type of
farm enterprise. The practical work
Ing out of this line will be carefully
studied
Oklahoma Starts Study
Oklahoma has taken active steps
TO grapple with the farm-electric
problem, the sentiment of recent
meeting of interested parties being
that general rural electrffcation Is
an immediate progressive necessity"
A special study committee has been
organized to recommend experiment
tai work in Oklahoma.
Sentiment in New York
The organised electric light and
power companies of New York have
Just held conference at which the
prevailing sentiment was that the
utilities of the state have an obliga-
ton to develop electric service for
the farm, because the average New
York state farm is both a home and
an industry"
Although there is no experimental
rural electric line in operation in New
York state, several large electric
utilities are extending lines to serve
the farmer in whatever way it can
probably be done. It was the opipa
ion that electricity should first be IN
troduced to the farm through tho
farm household, followed by the de-
velopment of electric power in farm
work.
Making Survey in Ohio
+ A survey has been started in Ohio.
having for it's object the electrifica-
fion of farms and rural communities
n that state. The Ohio state rural
lHctric committee Is conducting this
IRE iminary investigation. which will
over most of the 100000 farms in the
state At present about $4,000, or IL
lGctricity.
Following the survey now being
made. the committee intends to Sc
.ect an Ohio community having if
teen or twenty farms, and to make an
intensive study of how electricity may
be applied to typical farm processes.
IS operated on those farms These
farms will then be electrified and the
study of farm operations by cleo
tr.c'ty will be made, thus showing the
situation without electricity and with
electricity.
Minnesota Still Enthusiastic
In Minnesota. where the first ex-
an i've farm electric experiments
we're inaugurated at Red Wing, ac-
ivity continues in that community.
great deal of valuable data is being
accumulated as to how the farmer
IAN use electricity, and the farmers
themselves are finding out much
.bout the economic problem of the
,nwcr companies.
Some OF the electrical appliances
ised on the Red Wing farms have
aeen the occasion of community gath
rings. as was the case when the
,lcctric range was demonstrated. A
luge dinner was cooked in the range.
comprising. among other viands. two