The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
323 
School Meeting At Rochester 
T HERE will be a meeting of the Monroe County 
Branch of the new State Rural School Improve¬ 
ment Society on February 23. The meeting will be 
called to order at 11 a. m. at the annex of Conven¬ 
tion Hall. Officers of the State society will be pres¬ 
ent, and plans for organizing Western New York 
will be discussed. All are invited. Let all country 
people who can possibly do so attend. This new 
improvement Society is the most promising attempt 
Io give practical assistance to the district school 
system ever started in New York. It will be free, 
fearless and full of fight whenever that is necessary. 
Rome out and help a sincere effort to improve our 
district schools without tearing them apart. 
The State Grange and the School Bill 
AT its recent meeting in Buffalo, the New York 
State Grange passed the following resolution 
unanimously, reported by the Committee on Common 
Schools: 
Inasmuch as the resolutions presented to the commit¬ 
tee show eight resolutions in favor of the bill and 31 
opposed, it is evident to the committee that the Grange 
members of the State are opposed to the provisions of 
the present proposed school bill as drafted, but after 
careful consideration of the resolutions and the public 
hearings on the bill, the committee wishes to report a 
strong sentiment in favor of improvement in the condi¬ 
tion of our rural schools, and that several of the reso- 
lutions which were in many other ways adverse to the 
bill favored a larger unit of taxation and a larger 
amount of State aid for rural schools. 
The committee therefore wishes to make the follow¬ 
ing recommendations: 
hirst. That because of the great differences in valu¬ 
ation of property in our present school districts, due to 
the greater amount of taxable franchises in one district 
than in another, and in order that the tax on these 
public utilities shall benefit other than the immediate 
district in which they happen to be located, we would 
respectively recommend a larger unit of taxation than 
we now have. 
Second. That in order to further equalize the expense 
of maintaining rural schools, we recommend a greater 
amount of State aid based on the valuation of the dis¬ 
tricts and the number of teachers employed. 
Third. That we recommend the repeal of Section 129 
of the present school law, which gives the school super¬ 
intendent the power to consol’date schools without the 
consent of the districts affected, and further recommend 
that no legislation be enacted in tin, 1 future that can 
annul or consolidate in any way any school district ex¬ 
cept on specific vote of a majority of the voters of the 
district affected. milford l. hakes, 
Chairman. 
All of these suggestions were agreed to at the re¬ 
cent meeting at Syracuse. The Granges referred to 
were Pomona or County Granges. The feeling among 
the delegates was in about the same proportion, 31 
to 8, or about SO per cent opposed to the bill. There 
cannot be any further question about the position of 
the Granges. They are all in favor of school im¬ 
provement, but SO per cent are opposed to the Down- 
ing-Porter bill. Mr. S. L. Strivings was elected 
State Master. In a letter to us he says: 
"My task is to obey the resolutions of the State 
Grange, and any personal opinion ichich may be 
mine now mast become subordinated to the expressed 
action of the State Grange.” 
Good words; and the State Grange is now on rec¬ 
ord as opposed to the provisions of the present bill. 
Intrigue in Land Bank 
IIETHER it was wisdom or folly for Congress 
to provide for the organization of joint stock 
land banks in the Federal Farm Loan Act will be in 
a measure tested in the vote of the stockholders of 
the New York and Pennsylvania bank on Feb. 29. 
This bank started off in a really promising way 
as a service to farmers who borrow money on mort¬ 
gages on their farms. The management placed 
about $3,500,000 in farm loans in a little over a year, 
and the future of the bank seemed promising. Its 
bonds sold at the highest premium of any joint stock 
bank in the country, indicating a high degree of 
promise. 
Then purposes were revealed by interests within 
the bank to use it for selfish purposes. A firm of 
Wall Street brokers wanted exclusive sale of the 
bonds on the “heads I win, tails you lose” policy. 
A director wanted to bolster up some weak creditors 
of his own by excessive loans'at the hazard of the 
bank. A disloyal under officer was willing to sacri¬ 
fice the interests of the bank in the vain hope of 
landing higher up. The conscientious management 
had no choice but to oppose these perils to the bank. 
The result has been a line-up of the selfish elements 
in secret meetings and intrigues to change the man¬ 
agement of the bank and turn it over to the mercy 
of Wall Street manipulators. If all the facts 
could be made plain, there is no doubt that the real 
investors would vote to sustain the management that 
built up so promising an institution; but there are 
elements enough to leave the decision in doubt. 
One thing is certain, the farmers of these States 
have no encouragement for the Wall Street game 
of finance, and if the management of the bank should 
be changed on this issue they will shy from it like 
a green colt from his first steam engine. No busi¬ 
ness that flouts both the moral and economic law 
can prosper long on farm patronage. 
Stop the Surplus Milk 
There has been quite a good deal of discussion as 
to who is responsible for the present low price of milk, 
the poolers blaming the non-poolers and the non-pool¬ 
ers hurling back die same accusation against the 
poolers, or against their respective organizations. As a 
matter of fact I think they are both partly right and 
both partly wrong. It seems to be the surplus milk that 
lies at the bottom of the whole trouble. With the pres¬ 
ent high prices of feed, high labor cost, high and still 
higher taxes that are being piled on the farmer, together 
with the low price of milk, it places the dairy farmer 
in a very serious situation indeed. Many are almost 
hopelessly in debt, their farms heavily mortgaged, notes 
at the bank, and accounts on the books of the feed 
dealer which they are unable to pay. The outlook for 
the future is gloomy. 
What is wrong? Is there a remedy? And what is it? 
The answer to these questions is simply this: Stop pro¬ 
ducing the surplus by weeding out from the dairy herd 
every cow that is not a good producer. According to a 
statement I saw recently the average for the American 
cow is less than 4,000 lb. of milk per year, a poor show¬ 
ing. indeed. There are too many poor cows being kept on 
our farms and they are largely responsible for the sur¬ 
plus milk that is keeping the price to the producer 
below cost of production. What is true of dairying is 
also true of other lines of farming; it is the surplus 
that, by keeping down the price is hanging like a mill¬ 
stone around the farmer’s neck. Not only holding him 
down, but in many cases getting him deeper in debt. 
Let us stop producing that surplus; by careful co-opera¬ 
tion it can be done. The result would be not only 
greater prosperity for the farmer but for the whole 
country as well. w. c. logan. 
New York. 
Ending the Misunderstanding 
I investigated the statement made by Mr. Arfman 
and find that he and Mr. Thorne called on Mr. Hooks 
several times and had numerous telephone conversations 
with him on the subject of leasing the Slate Hill plant, 
and that at one time during the discussion Mr. Hooks 
took Mr. Arfman and Mr. Thorne to see Mr. Austin, 
and they discussed the proposition. It seems Mr. Arf¬ 
man subsequently called on Mr. Blum, who finally dis¬ 
posed of the matter by telling him his proposition had 
been turned down. 
Both Mr. Hooks and Mr. Austin confirm the fact 
that Mr. Austin was the man who talked to Mr. Arf¬ 
man and Mr. Thorne, and not I. From these memoran¬ 
dums it is evident that not only is Mr. Arfman mis¬ 
taken as to whom he saw in regard to the Slate Hill 
proposition, but neither Mr. Hooks nor Mr. Austin 
have any recollection of discussing milk prices in Mr. 
Arfman’s presence. It seems ridiculous to suppose they 
would, inasmuch as neither one of them has anything to 
do with the fixing of the prices to the farmers, and they 
are not familiar with the milk purchasing end of this 
business. As I stated in my previous letter, I do not 
know what my opinion is as to what price the farmer 
should receive for his milk. It is, however, ridiculous 
to say that the price of cheese and butter should be the 
limit that the farmer should receive. It is unintelligent 
and childish, and I absolutely deny having made such 
a statement, or having ever had such a thought. 
Our plants in the eastern territory have constantly 
outpaid the League, and our Western plants, where we 
have never had a League, have done so for a period of 
years. At the plants where our price is based on butter, 
we pay all the way from Chicago extra prices up to 5c 
over, plus 40c for the skim-milk, according to the 
market we have for our product. Every month last 
year we paid 5c over. Even when we paid no premium, 
our price was higher than the League returned. 
Nestle’s Food Co. j. f. Montgomery. 
Reports From Consolidated Schools 
IIE proponents of the new school bill tell us 
what ought to follow if their schemes can be 
put into law, but they do not prove their theories by 
facts from actual experience. We have collected a 
mass of statistics from States where such a plan has 
been attempted. Here are two statements from 
Ohio: 
The Experience of an Educator 
I wish to endorse most emphatically your attitude in 
regard to proposed school legislation in New York. We 
have the same tendency in Ohio. Fifteen per cent of 
the rural schools of this county have been closed and 
the pupils transported to towns or villages within the 
past three or four years. You have stated the results so 
accurately that I need not add anything. 
I presume that I would be classed as an “educated 
man,” since I have had both college and university 
training, and have been engaged for 30 years in almost 
every form of educational work—country teacher, prin¬ 
cipal of village school, head teacher in high school of a 
large city, and for 15 years as city superintendent. 
There are many definitions of “education.” The 
Prussian national system defines education as “the 
equal and harmonious evolution of all the human facul¬ 
ties.” This omits much. In my personal experience 
in a city of more than 4.000 pupils, one boy stood at the 
head of his grade, through each of the 12 years, and also 
through the four years of college following. He was 
“educated in books,” but has never been able to earn 
more than $20 a week. He failed in school to get 
something useful in life. Centralization results in the 
lack of home influence, and in most cases the deteriora¬ 
tion of morals and industry. jj. E. miller. 
Ohio. 
A Few School Figures 
It seems that the school question in New York State 
will not down and, of course, it should not until those 
who are most vitally interested are assured a law that 
w “*. £ lve them a hand in conducting their own school 
affairs and that will provide adequate school facilities at 
a cost they can afford. 
The theory of consolidation is fine. We have read 
most of - the arguments for and against consolidation 
and, after all. this seems to the writer a matter that 
sliould be determined by each community for itself. 
And, in deciding for consolidation, the future as well as 
the immediate cost should be considered. A consolidat¬ 
ed school may be a tine thing for a community—if the 
taxpayers can afford it. This question of cost of con¬ 
solidation is such a vital one I am going to quote at 
length from the report of the clerk of the Board of Ed¬ 
ucation of one consolidated school district in Ohio to 
show how consolidation has worked out in one instance 
at least. There are undoubtedly many other similar 
cases that might be reported. The report is, in part, as 
follows: 
“The State Department of Education lias informed 
us there is no State aid available for this district since 
our total tax levy for school purposes is only 7.95 mills 
while the new law.enacted last year now requires that 
the school district must have a total of not less than 9.5 
mills levy for school purposes before it can participate 
in the State aid fund. 
. ' T* 1 ® J ast General Assembly also enacted a law mak- 
mg it illegal for any school board to borrow money for 
operating the schools. So you can readily see that our 
board cannot borrow money, nor expect to get State aid 
until we vote an additional levy for school purposes 
since our county budget commission says they cannot 
possibly give us more funds for the schools at the pres¬ 
ent time. 
"The county and school district arc so heavily in debt 
that a large per cent of the taxes collected arc needed to 
pay the maturing bonds and interest on the maturing 
bonds. By a study of the following figures the readers 
will readily see why we have an annual deficit in our 
school budget: 
Annual Receipts 
From- county auditor, approximately. $20,000 
Other sources, approximately . "V000 
Total receipts .$28,000 
, r . Expenditures 
Maturing bonds . ()()(> 
Interest on bonds, approximately. 10 000 
Teachers’ salaries . 
Iranspoi tation of pupils.-. iV,n ( i 
Janitors, fuel, light, etc.’.!!!! 4 500 
Total expenditures . $40 000 
**., ■ .* is impossible to maintain a school nine 
months in the year when it costs $40,000 to maintain it 
and the total income is only $28,000. There must be 
some way provided to raise the annual deficit of $12 000 
R we are lo continue our school on the.present basis’ 
I he question now is what are we going to do about 
, • ; 1 he funds available for this year will be 
exhausted by the first of March.” 
As stated in the above report, a school costing $40- 
Kghh y u-i can,l,)t be maintained upon an income of 
8_, 000. Why should this school district require $40.- 
000 annually? This community, before the days of <-<m- 
sohdatmn had a $100,000 high school building in a town 
ot 800, and a half dozen suitable district school build 
mgs within a radius of a few miles. Under the old 
Sf?™* combined salaries of the high school and 
district teachers did not exceed the present salaries of 
the consolidated district teachers, $15,000. Janitors 
fuel, light, etc., cost perhaps $3,000, making a total 
cost for maintaining the village high school and the dis¬ 
trict schools of $18,000. There was a saving of $1,500 on 
tlie last item, $4,500 on transportation of pupils, $16,- 
000 on maturing bonds and interest on these bonds, a 
total saving of $22,000. That is, consolidation has 
more than doubled the cost of maintaining the schools 
in this consolidated district. 
W’ith the present levy for school purposes, the schools 
U + nde , r H le old j ,lan would show a surplus of 
$10,000 instead of a deficit of $12,000, and (quoting 
fiom this report), “The question now is, what are we 
going to do about it?” 
Is it possible that those who so vigorously advocated 
consolidation did not really figure out what the cost 
would ultimately be, or were they trying to stampede 
tne public into voting for this proposition that tliev 
might further some selfish end? In such cases, when it 
comes to figuring, let the voter “do it himself.” 
Before the schools of the above “district” were con¬ 
solidated. pupils had the privilege of attending the high 
school, tuition free, as soon as they had completed the 
grade work in the district schools. Quite a number 
attended the high school from the beginning of their 
school days, some driving into town every morning 
others staying with relatives during the school week 
W ith a stable full of idle horses on the farm needing 
exercise, the item of $4,500 for “transportation of 
pupils was saved. It is the opinion of the writer that 
doing some chores hustling around and getting Old 
Dobbin hitched to the buggy, making the trip to town 
putting the horse into the barn and “getting to school” 
by nine o clock was a better training for our future citi¬ 
zens than the present plan. Under the present system 
some ot the pupils must meet the bus quite early and 
cover nearly the whole route as the driver gathers up 
the others. I or the same reason some pupils do not 
reach home in the evening till dad has most of the 
chores done, or mother has supper about ready 
One district close to town (the sehoolhouse is only 
1 V ‘2 miles from the consolidated school building) after 
two years of experience with consolidation is having 
school in the old way. I have known these people all mv 
life and I have no recollection of anyone from this 
district having been sent to the asylum or the poor- 
house. These people seem to feel that if their children 
can get a thorough understanding of a few of the more 
essential “studies” they will be better equipped to take 
their places among the real useful citizens than some 
or their consolidated friends who have had their heads 
crammed full of “a thousand and one” things and 
not enough of any one of these to be of much practical 
good. 
As further evidence that these people are not in need 
ot the sympathy of their more intelligent (?) fellow 
citizens, I wish to state that in this same district school- 
house is the headquarters of the local “Vigilance Com¬ 
mittee” that was organized some 50 years ago and has 
been in active operation (whenever “active operation” 
was needed) ever since. These people organized for 
mutual protection against theft of their property. 
() * uo - J. p. PRICKETT. 
