The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, May 11, 1892, Page 9

\ ! i eras TIMES SUPPI. BUTLER, MISSOURI. MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE Missouri State Board of Agriculture, INCLUDING CROP AND LIVE STOCK STATISTICS, REPORT OF STATE VETERINARY SERVICE, AND REPORT OF STATE WEATHER SERVICE, (Co-operating with U. S. Weather Bureau.) FOR MAY, 1892. Cotumpra, Mo., May 7, 1892. SUMMARY OF RETURNS S = Winter Wheat ‘age condition May 1 a ‘ Winter Rye) Avy condition May 1 rer ed Meadows (mow Average condition May 1 w god Spring Pasture oe ion May 1 sy . Cotton I vd crop area already m usually planted by May 1 (in an 4 Proportion of plowing already done May |, Proportion usuaily done by May 1 (in an ‘The excessive rainfall and low temperature for the month of April gives but a slight improvement in the condition of wheat, the percentage | for the northern counties being yet so low as not to justify the assumption of even a fair crop for the State, although from the southeast section ‘a crop equaling that of last year” is hopefully predicted by many cor- respondents. Rye shows little improvement, but meadows look well, and pasture is| good, although short owing to the low temperature. The already limited cotton area will be reduced at least one-third ; legislature, in 1893, will enact a road law that will be practical, as the and only one-sixth of the proposed acreage is yet planted. Farm work is much delayed, plowing for corn hardly commenced and oats “ mudded in” on land plowed last fall. | Owing to unfavorable conditions the oats area will be reduced, and, to; a limited extent, Kaftir-corn and other forage crops be planted. | Millet continues to grow in favor and mowing land to increase, but | the great surplus area, occasioned by the failure to seed to wheat last fall, | acres to be plowed up this spring, the lessened area of oats, the greatly | reduced flax acreage and the acres of new land to be put into cultivation, | will be planted in corn if the conditions are favorable. | The good price and ready sale of corn for the past two years cause | many farmers to consider it ‘the best paying crop any way,” so they are | not depressed by the prospects of the largely increased area. | Fruit prospects continue good. | ROAD IMPROVEMENT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. Levi Chubbuck, Secretary State Board of Agriculture, Drak Str: Permit me to call your attention to the inclosed open letter, and to ask | you to send to me a few words commendatory of a comprehensive exhibit | of improved roads and road machinery in the Columbian Exposition. No} class of the community is more deeply concerned in the matter of good | roads than the farmers, and no class will be more benefited by improved | highways. It is hoped that in your official capacity, and as a public-| spirited citizen, you will assist in the matter. | Very respectfully, {means ; whoop it up. Boston, Mass. ABert A, Pore. Orrice STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, } Co.umBia, Missourt, April 26, 18¢ Albert A, Pope, Exsq., Boston, Massachusetts, Dear Sir: Your communication of the 12th inst., together with copy of an open/the movement in the northwest by the farmers of Buchanan county, who letter, relative to a comprehensive exhibit of means and methods of road construction at the World’s Fair, is before me. Allow me to say that I most heartily indorse your suggesti.n, as one which, if carried out, will | be one of the most valuable features of the Exposition, if this is to be for | the purpose of instructing our people in what our nation is lacking as well | as to tell those of other lands wherein we excel. The people of the United | States are awakening to a sense of our need of good roads, and it seems to| me that the great World’s Fair could be made a means of concentrating | and erystallizing the awakened interest. N o subject is attracting more atten | tion at this time in Missouri than the one of road improvement, and they | would regard with much favor an exhibit such as you propose. The Mis- | souri State Board of Agriculture is alive to the importance of the question, and will do all in its power to advance the cause of good roads. Respectfully, Levit CHUBBUCK, Secretary. ASTATE ROAD IMPROVEMENT CONVENTION, Ata meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, held March 2, 1892, action was taken authorizing the Secretary of the Board to arrange for a State Road Improvement Convention to be held during the coming summer. By request of the Hon, H. C. Ireland, member of the board for the employment.—Chas. A. Kinch, M. D., New York. Second Congressional District, Chillicothe has been selected as the place | for the convention. August 16 will be the opening da days. Besides addresses by noted speakers on, and discu means of improving our county roads, a leading feature of the conven- tion will be an exhibit of road-working machinery and appliances, and the construction of sections of model roads by experts. Road improvement has been so thoroughly discussed in this State, and its importance so generally conceded by all the people, that it now seems desirable to disseminate information as to the best methods of construction, continuing four and it is to this end that the effort will be made to have practical instruc- | tion in road building a leading feature of the convention. Reduced hotel and railroad rates will be secured, and every effort made to make the expenses light and the occasion one of pleasure and profit to all who may attend. Further announcements will be made through the pre As showing the interest that is ‘being taken in road improvement throughout Missouri, and especially the way in which the local press of the | improvement, too ; an effort should be made by the rural district to have? State is helping on the cause, we print herewith, to the extent of available | better schools for the benefit of farmer boys who are not able to go from' graveled road for an object space, clippings $a the subject, gathered from recent issues of papers com-| home to be educated. Raise the standard of country schools. Employ | nearest the town; there it will be used the most. Alw: ing to the office of the Board of Agriculture. | It adds greatly to their personal comfort and at the same time enh ances all | every principal road in Howard county would be rocked in first-class shape. | A |—Kansas City Star. } ion of, ways and | THE VOICE OF THE PRESS. Mud there rock roads. —Fulton 7+ is mud, anc out of it. Build yone way of keeping The roads are impassable for and hence the great wagous gnation in business of all kinds.— Liberty Advance. Sullivan county has nearly 1,200 miles of public read, and. we presume during the late muddy spell it Milan Standard. seemed equal to 12,000 miles. The roads of Missouri are now in the wo condition they have ever been known. One year from date it is to be } condition they have ever been known.— Prin yped they will be mm the best eton Telegraph. The road question is being discussed all over the county. worth Miner wants to call 2 road convention as Tex counties are doing, and disc The Went- , Greene and other the best methods of improving our roads. — Neosho Times. The time will come when the farmers of Osage will exercise good sense and have good roads. There is County Enterprise. A poor man of this city says that he h in prices he has been compelled to pay for wood. A load of wood that brings $1 to $1.50 in good weather brought from $2.50 to $3 this winter. | —Mexico Intelligencer. | | | ie farmers of Daviess county are holding meetings at the various | school houses discussing plans for the improvement of public roads. The) Howard county farmers would do likewise, but they can’t get to the school | houses, — Advertiser. | The newspapers of the State are taking an interest in the improve7| ment of the public roads, and are urging the voters to select competent men for road overseers. The people of Barry county should interest them- | selves in this matter.— Cassville Democrat. | 1e movement throughout the State, to improve the county roads, is aining strength every day, and it is hoped that the next session of the present one is almost a failure.— Hickory Co. Index. | | We had a severe wind storm last Saturday, but it did not help the roads any. Our government ought to have good roads made instead of spending so much money in having the mails delivered to country residents as some are trying to have done.—-Vew Haven Notes. In Ray county the farmers living between Richmond and Millville have taken the sensible step toward having a good road. Thirteen of these public-spirited men of Richmond and vicinity nave subscribed $3,075 for that purpose, and there are hundreds yet to hear from.—Slater Index, The demand for better roads in Missouri is growing steadily. No} more judicious expenditure of the people’s money could be made than the application of a reasonably liberal share to the improvement of our roads, property values. — Liberty Advance. In Pike county people have gravel roads, and consequently business is not tied up by the impassable highways. It 1s true the toll system is in vogue there, but better that with good roads than to endure the average Saline county road under any circumstances. The farmers’ organizations could well afford to urge this question upon the people.—Zechange. Talk up gravel roads. If the present condition of roads is not an argument for better roads, then no argument can be presented. If noth- ing else is done this year the road to Elk Fork should be graveled, by all Nothing can be accomplished by sitting down and complaining. Put up your money if you want better roads.—Paris Appeal. The St. Joseph Herald thinks that the movement for better roads is making gratifying progress in Missouri. Organizations have been formed in many counties with the sole object in view. Impetus has been given to have just perfected an organization which includes subordinate associa- | tions in the townships. * . : . \ Boone county is losing money every year by simply not having good roads, to say nothing of the loss on horse flesh, wagons, harness, etc, on the farms of Boone county yearly because of the bad roads. Otherwise it would be marketed, shipped away and money brought here in return for | it.— Sturgeon Leader. The Glasgow Missourian very timely suggests: If Howard county would | buy two or three rock crushers to be used along the lines of the different, roads to be worked, and allow the citizens to work out their road taxes, by | hauling and distributing the macadam, it would not be many years before , | ' Farmers rejoice at the prospect of a railroad running near or through their farms, and seem to see their property “ bursting up into city lots.” | Such property yields once and is gone. For productive purposes a piece of land two miles from a railway station, on a good turnpike, is more valuable | than town property, and is a source of steady income and continuous | | Speaking of bad roads a Saline county farmer says: ‘‘ On my farm, | only five miles from Marshal, I have cord wood, hay, corn, wheat, eggs | and butter that I would gladly market while prices are so good, and citi- | zens of Marshall calling so lustily for such articles. At $1 for wood, hay | $12 per ton, corn forty cents per bushel, wheat eighty-five cents per bushel, | butter thirty cents a pound and eggs twenty cents per dozen, but, alas! I! cannot pass over the roads. Saline county citizens will lose enough within | a few weeks to pay one year’s assessment to build rock roads.” \ Every man we meet is in favor of macadamized roads, and a movement ‘is now on foot to have a system of improved roads. Clubs are being formed in every county in North Missouri. We spend not less than from $18,000 | to $20,000 every year with our present plan of working the roads, and yet every spring the roads are in about the same condition as they were the year previous. Keep the ball moving and let’s have permanent roads | which will grow better each year they stand. We need educational better teachers.— Louisiana Press. reneral awakening on this subject tak- | pass ing place and will finally result in mach good for the county.— Osage | already lost $25 by bad roads | lash. ,that raised by subscription. |the most remote parts of the county. the names of over 200 izens of Pettis co } inty were p to the county court vote bends for the ceunty to the amount of $100,000, for the purpose of The the election » asking for g 1 election to ng roads. petitions will be were taken under advisement, and it is likely that ordered.— Conway Chief As the mu disappears, f rock roads at eet paving as rap- After all, yin general is much like the old Arkan- sawyer, immotalized in song, whose house did not “leak le only when it ed" and he coul ren. So with our roads and streets, they muddy dt vin and we can’t pave them then, henee, y Democrat. rot much paving, »idea of aman making the race tor governor of Missouri on the >of better roads would probably appear absurd to an eastern man, but if he was to live in the State afew years he would change his mind. ‘Chere s one candidate for governor who says if he is elected he will make it a point to try and that are ps get laws enacted whereby the people may have roads sable at least half the year. g conside Sheldon Democ This man deserves more than ud the farmers especially will remember this.— The increased attention paid by the people of the whole country to the subject of road improvement is one of the most important movements that has been made during the years ‘91 and of 92. The agitation of the subject by the press, the numerous conventions to discuss the question that have been held and the seeming determination on the part of a great number of the people to secure the speedy and permanent improve- ments of our county roads, is one of the best possible things that could happen to the state.—Clinton Republican. Ss The roads in thi ction have been in a terrible condition. connection an exchange truthfully remarks : they make men swear. In this “* Bad roads lead to profanity, Bad reads lead to intemperance ; men think it necessary to fortify the inner man with a few drinks to enable them to stand the long journey through the mud. Bad roads lead to cruelty ; even the kindest-hearted driver often has to stimulate a willing team with the Bad roads lead to poverty ; the wear and tear on wagons, harness and animals knock off a large per cent. of protit.—Savannah Democrat. A subscription has been set afoot in Oran for money to grade and gravel the county road at Oran Hill. This is a step in the right direction and should meet with a hearty response. The county court will be asked to do its part, and the very least it can do is to appropriate a sum equal to We have not many examples of gravel road in this county, but such as we have—Benton Hill for instance—sutliciently demonstrates the benefits they confer, having already repaid the farmers many times their cost in greater ease in transportation.— Bentun Newsboy. S. N. Woods writes us this: ‘ Having attended the Farmers’ Insti- tute at Sturgeon, I was munch impressed with the suggestions of Mr. Erwin on ditching in the middle of the road and tiling. Now I would suggest that you propose through the Leader to the different road overseers in the vicinity of Sturgeon that they select a pic eof road, say fifty or one hundred yards long, and go according to the suggestions of Mr. Erwin and report the result as soon us they ean.” This is a good suggestion and, if the road overseers will do something of this kind, ,it is sure to prove beneficial.—Sturgeon Leader. The road question is receiving the serious attention of the county court, and it has been agreed to make an order at the May term of court that one- half the saloon license tax ( which is set aside by law for the improvement of public roads ) be expanded upon the main-traveled roads in the county,such as the Neosho and Diamond road, Neosho and Seneca, Seneca and Joplin, Neosho, Granby and Newtonia, Neosho and Pineville, etc. This is a move in the right direction, and if all the money levied for road purposes were paid into the county treasury and expended under the direction of the county court, it would not be many ye: — Neosho Times. rs until we would have good roads. I. W. Boulware, the Gladstone of Callaway county, was among the many visitors to Mexico Tuesday. He was full of gravel road talk. ** Why, sir,” said he, ‘‘ when it comes to gravel roads we are in it up to our chins. We have made the most beautiful start in the matter you ever saw. Gravel roads are being talked everywhere, even in Sunday schools in The interest was worked up in this way: The citizens of Fulton propose to raise $600 per mile for the first twelve miles of gravel road built. In the county dis' ricts there are | subscription lists for four different lines and each is working to secure this | Hundreds of dollars, aye, thousands, in value of farm products go to waste ; money. See ?”—Intelligencer. Road overseers are to be elected next Tuesday in each of the twenty- four new road districts. We hope that in the selection of these officers the voters of Macon county will take into consideration the importance of the position, and that the votes will be cast for the men best qualified for the place. By electing the very best men some improvements may be looked for, No matter more vitally concerns the people of this county in their material welfare than this thing of building better roads. To this end all citizens should work together. Wiscourage all efforts that seek to promote private and selfish interests. Hunt for the best men and espe- cially leave severely alone that ¢ of men for road overseer that want the lace only for the money there is in it.—Macon Republican. We know of nothing in which the people of Missouri are more directly or more deeply interested than they should be in the problem of securing good roads. We believe they are convinced of this fact, and there is a general awaking on the subject—the question being now as to how the object can be best attained. The great trouble seems to be the expense that the building of a rock road would require; and yet the absolute fact is, that even if they cost twice what will be necessary they will be worth three times such to the country. We would like to see three or four roads commenced at once, but if this is thought too great an undertaking let us at least begin on one. The papers throughout the State are urging the matter upon the people. —Lebanon Rustic. A farmer purchased a second-hand wagon on the atreeta the other day and yesterday brought in four horses to pull it out home. While on the way the horses pulled the tongue out of the wagon. This item ig published merely to show the wretched condition of the roads. Some one suggests that now is the time to agitate for good roads. Take off your coat, roll up your sleeves and wade in, determined to wake up your neighbors until they, too, will not longer endure the strips of mud that are now called highways. The first step in good road making is to awaken a lively public interest. We must stir up a general appreciation of good roads. Talk, read, give facts. Best of all, get a good stretch of son. The first graveled road should be that s begin at the town and work out.—Mezico Intelligencer.