Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-02-07
Final Decision
Made County
Agent Matter
County Commissioners Lis
ten to Several Who REQUEST
Continuance Of Service.
UNANIMOUSLY DECIDE
TO DISCONTINUE WORK

-
en- by the board of county commits
sloners, IN session the first of the
week, to discontinue county agent
work after March /. This was in
Keeping with their formerly an
nounced decision, and was reached
alter hearing number of people pre-
sent their arguments in favor of con-
tinuing the work.
The commissioners reached their
decision after carefully canvassinp
the matter and thereby becoming con-
vlnced that majority of the farm
ers OF the county do not care for the
work County Commissioner Mile
gan stated that ON two occasions at
farmers meetings at Eureka big ma
Jorlty votes We're against continuing
county agent. Commissioner Monio
reports similar attitude at TROY and
Chairman Brink finds the same thinr
TO be true to considerable eY-
tent at Libby. The conviction seems
TO be quite prevalent that the county
mas not got returns commensurate
with the cost.
a number appeared before the
board Monday and argued in favor
OF continuing county work. These
were Il j. Cannon, agricultural devel-
opment agent for the Great North
ern, Fred Bennion, Of Bozeman. Of
The state extension service: Martin
Cellar OF Fortine; Mrs. Dashiel of Eu-
reka. Mrs. A. C. Herbst and Mrs. &.
w. Rouse of Libby.
All argued that assessed valuations
In the county are decreasing. that
agriculture must be developed to take
the place of the disappearing. timber
resources, and that county agent
IS vitality necessary Mr.. Cannon told
how his company has become inter-
ested in helping in the developing
OF the irrigation project at Eureka.
he told Of interesting tine largest
dairy concern in the United States
and said chances for a big develop
ment at Eureka were very promis-
ing. He had also gained consent of
an agricultural credit association tn
enter the field with loans. IF you cut
out this work" said Cannon, "you
are simply tying our hands, for we
cannot go ahead with our plans with
out county agent" He took Wig
orous stand favoring continuation Of
the work.
Mrs. Dashiel said the women Of
her district were anxious to have
the work continued and that it had
accomplished much good. Mrs. Herbst
argued vigorously for its continual
ton, stating that modern, successful
farming needed the help and encour-
agement Of trained county agent.
MIR. Cellar also argued in behalf Of
the work.
County Agent Winslow took occa-
sion to tell of the work that had been
done. He had completed the work OF
getting in cheap powder started by
Mr. Glvan, had gotten in gypsum for
the farmers and had taken part in
its application on test plots, had been
instrumental with the Libby CONNER
cial club in getting number Of farm
ers to use certified seed potatoes with
outstanding results, and recited sew
eral Instances where application of
gypsum and incubation Of seed under
his direction had produced greatly in
creased crops. In reply to the COM
plant sometime heard that he had
not spent much time in this part Of
the county, he cited his office rec
ords to show that he had spent So
days in the Libby district and 159
days in the Eureka section. Consid
ering the pronortion Of agricultural
land in the two districts, he argued
that was a very reasonable division
of his time. He said he had made ar
rangemcnts with T.. Mckay to seed
a demonstration Mot of alfalfa, near
the highway south of Libby, to show
the increased crops proper methods
will produce but such work will neces-
sarily be dropped with the stopping
of county agent work.
Mr. Winslow said he had also CO.
operated effectively with the Libby
Commercial club in getting the
creamery located here.
Chairman Brink said the board did
not want it thought they are ire
sponsive to farm development. eve
are convinced the farmers of the
county are not satisfied with the
results obtained and are opposed to
further county agent employment, and
to some extent we agree with them
as to results obtained for the expense
involved. We do not wish it under
stood, however, that we be-
drudge the money expended, and will
be more than ready to make any rea-
sonable appropriation to aid farm de-
velopment If it can be legally done,
such as assisting in getting carIsed
shipments Of gypsum, aiding in pro-
curing better dairy stock, or doing
anything else that will assist in real
farm development"
Has Luncheon With Commercial Club.
Monday noon the boad of directors
of the Libby Commercial club and
r. w. Smithberger of the agricultur-
al committee had Mr.. Cannon. Mr..
Bennion and Mr.. Cellar as guests at
luncheon at the Hotel Libby Cafe,
II. IL. a