328 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



striking feature of the "back to the land" movement 

 is its universality, the manner in which it has 

 sprung into importance in practically every country 

 in the world. This has been due largely to the 

 world-wide awakened conscience of woman. 



While immense progress has been made in the 

 education of women for agricultural pursuits in such 

 larger countries as the United States, Great Britain 

 and Germany, the institute finds that it is being 

 carried forward on a much more extensive basis in 

 several of the smaller states. 



In Switzerland, for example, there are in every 

 canton agricultural schools for women, all of which 

 have more or less subsidy from the state. Holland 

 already has twenty-one such schools with several 

 others in course of construction. Sweden has five 

 normal schools alone, the sole object of which is the 

 preparation of teachers for agricultural instruction 

 to women. The little duchy of Luxembourg, with 

 a population of only 240,000, has fifteen agricultural 

 schools for women. Italy has ten. 



In Belgium the movement has taken a most 

 general and effective trend. The government has 

 thirty schools and in addition has given great en- 

 couragement to the organization of clubs among 

 women engaged in agricultural pursuits. Of these 

 clubs 183 have been formed with a total member- 

 ship of nearly 22,000. The clubs have had the im- 

 portant effect of keeping thousands of young girls 

 on the farm, and it has been found that where the 

 young women remain the young men will always 

 linger. This is a practical solution of the agricul- 

 tural labor problem. 



After Belgium, the institute gives the greatest 

 credit to France for novel methods of agricultural 

 education for women. Here the most effective 

 work has been done by the "perambulating school." 

 Any community that will meet the expense and 

 guarantee a certain number of girl students over 

 fifteen years of age can have one of these schools. 

 The teachers and all the material necessary are sent 

 to the community by the government. The courses 

 last for several months and when finished the school 

 moves on to the next place where its presence has 

 been requested. 



Within a few years it will be possible to give 

 agricultural education to the entire 900,000 women 

 and girls in France. 



It's Time, 

 Mr. Lane, 

 to Clean 

 House. 



With the Twenty Year bill out 

 of the way, isn't this the op- 

 portune moment for Secretary 

 Lane to clean out the Reclama- 

 tion Service bureaucracy? True, 

 he has neutralized it to a degree, 

 but with the bill as it finally passed Congress, neu- 

 tralization of F. H. Newell and the other cogs of 

 the old bureaucracy is not enough. 



The 'Underwood amendment, if the direful pre- 

 dictions of western senators may be believed to the 

 extent of about one-twentieth of their face value, 

 offers tremendous opportunity for political log- 

 rolling. Washington has never had a better corps 

 of log-rollers than those who created the Reclama- 

 tion Service bureaucracy. As a matter of self-pro- 

 tection, if not in the interests of the settlers, Secre- 

 tary Lane should start cleaning house. 



Newell has proven himself a cold-blooded 

 bureaucrat, with no regard for the interests of the 

 settlers. Under his administration of the Reclama- 

 tion Service tremendous burdens have been heaped 

 upon the settlers. 



It is high time Newell was retired. Secretary 

 Lane should swing his ax without further excuse or 

 parley. 



There is no reason at present why the United 

 States should become involved in the great Euro- 

 pean and Asiatic war. However, if trouble must 

 come, it is better that we settle it in this genera- 

 tion than that we should pass it on as a heritage to 

 our children. 



The big bankers, insurance com- 

 More Money panics and others with money to 

 For Farm lend are turning their eyes to the 

 Loans in West. Since early in April, the 



The West number of farm loans throughout 

 the West, made with eastern money, 

 has steadily increased. The feeling that a farm in 

 the West offers just about as good security as can 

 be found is growing daily in Chicago, New York 

 and other financial centers. 



Several big insurance companies now have rep- 

 resentatives in the West seeking desirable loans. 

 There will be more before the end of the year. This 

 is going to mean cheaper money for the West. The 

 day of eight, ten and twelve per cent money, on 

 which the private bankers of the West have grown 

 rich and waxed fat, are about over. And it is time 

 these days should end. There is nothing that so 

 retards the development of an agricultural country 

 as high-priced money. 



One big insurance company already has $15,- 

 000,000 loaned out in Oklahoma and Kansas and 

 is extending its operations westward, we are told. 

 As the result of the invasion of this eastern money, 

 interest rates in the leading districts of the two 

 states have dropped from an average rate of 6y 2 

 per cent a year ago to 5j4 to 5j4 per cent. 



