farmers. In 1913 the short course in agriculture, consisting of twenty lectures and twenty-five laboratory or demonstration periods, was given in twenty communities, with an average attendance of seven hundred; and various short courses in home economics were offered in forty-two centers.

In addition to these short courses, Purdue approaches the farmer thru club work, actively assisting societies for the study of home economics, and encouraging agricultural organizations of boys and girls. In 1915 there were eighty of the women's clubs pursuing a regular course outlined at Purdue. Moreover, with the coöperation of the railways, special cars containing exhibits of interest to the farmers are sent about the state in charge of the University experts, who answer questions, explain specimens, and deliver formal lectures. Finally, the University annually furnishes speakers for a large number of county institutes which are valuable in presenting to the farmers the latest conclusions of the scientists, and of their progressive neighbors.

By no means all of the activities of Purdue have been mentioned in this sketch, but enough has been pointed out to demonstrate that in coming in contact with nearly half a million people every year, the University exerts a powerful influence. That the service is appreciated is proven by the fact that men are willing to pay for the privilege of taking short courses, and that the General Assembly stands ready to vote money to support the institution.

Indirectly Purdue plays a large part in one of the latest and most active means of helping the farmer to improve his work. Under the terms of the Vocational Education Law of 1913, if twenty or more residents of a county who are actively interested in agriculture file a petition with the county board of education for the appointment of a County Agricultural Agent, and accompany the petition with a deposit of five hundred dollars, the county board of education in turn petitions the county council which is required to set aside fifteen hundred dollars for the salary and expenses of the agent. Thereupon the Board of Education applies to Purdue University which in turn appoints the agent. The State pays half the agent's salary, but its contribution is limited to one thousand dollars. Within the first year of the operation of this law twenty-seven counties had obtained agents, and one township in Hamilton County had achieved what is probably a unique arrangement in a com

bination of the school trustee, the local Better Farming Association, The United States Department of Agriculture, and Purdue University in the employment of a Township Agent. In 1915 there were thirty other county agents.

Since the work of these agents is not rigidly defined in the law, they are thrown largely upon their own initiative. As their appointment is received from Purdue University they are chosen on grounds of fitness for the task, which includes a wide technical knowledge of the methods and problems of the particular kinds of farming they are likely to encounter, and a huge fund of ingenuity, common sense, and tact. At meetings with their state leaders, Professor G. I. Christie and T. A. Coleman, they exchange views and information, and standardize their work. In a measure they achieve their results thru the children, forming clubs of boys and girls who become enthusiasts in competition for prizes, or in the study of agricultural methods; at times also they talk in the schools or instruct the teachers of agriculture. Thru the children the agent is frequently brought in contact with parents who otherwise could not be reached. Some agents have won their people by notable exploits. One, for example, achieved fame for stopping an invasion of cinch bug, and another earned gratitude and respect by organizing a corn testing week, when the school children tested the fertility of the individual ears held for seed by the farmers. The children gained the experience and the farmers were saved from the risk of planting infertile grains.

The agent tries to work thru the agencies for betterment that he finds in existence and to develop their greatest usefulness. He coöperates with the better farming associations, the farmers' institutes, the Gleaners, the Granges, the alfalfa clubs, and the schools. He seeks to make himself available by keeping at convenient times a regular office hour in the county seat when he is ready to consult and to offer advice. He organizes campaigns to improve specific conditions; to fight hog cholera, to improve the quality of seed corn, to better the roads, to protect the orchards by spraying, or to extirpate certain weeds. One held a "Miners' garden party" to encourage vegetable raising among the Sullivan County coal miners, another operates a very poor farm to show what skilled management can accomplish, while a third gave a short course in agriculture. In

brief, the agent tries to render efficient service to all who come for advice, and to inspire by every possible means the ambition of his clientele for better farming. As yet it is too early to estimate this innovation, but enough has already been accomplished in many counties to more than justify the expenditure. The principle is certainly sound; the employment by the community of an expert who shall help the poor farmer to make up for his lack of technical knowledge, is conducive to efficiency and at the same time democratic.

Summary.

The climate and soil of Indiana, especially north of the southern boundary of the Wisconsin drift, are a splendid basis for a great development of agriculture. Altho there is a steady increase in farm tenancy and in the number of mortgaged farms, the condition of the farmers in Indiana seems to be on the whole better than in many sections of the United States. This may be partly due to the predominance of native American stock in the agricultural population. The chief crops in Indiana are the cereals; foremost among these are corn which is of very good quality, oats, and wheat which makes a high grade flour. There is a large variety of other important crops, some of which are unique. Since a large part of the corn, oats, and grass is fed to stock, Indiana has won a prominent place in the production of first class pork and finished beef. The dairy cows, horses, and poultry also are abundant sources of wealth. The state has devoted a great deal of energy to improving farming, and it is accomplishing much thru the activities of Purdue, and thru the new institution of the county agent. All in all Indiana is a great agricultural commonwealth with the prospect of rapid progress as science advances.

CHAPTER IV.

Manufactures

Some years ago the South Chicago plant of the Illinois Steel Company was so hemmed in by the works of other concerns that the only possibility for expansion lay in creating new land by filling in the lake. Therefore the company poured its slag into the water. After a while, when it had made enough dry ground to warrant construction, the corporation applied for a building permit. Mayor Dunne, however, not only refused to sanction the plans but even commenced suit to recover the land for the city of Chicago, asserting that the alteration of the waterfront without permission was illegal. This situation was one of the most potent reasons for founding what is in many ways the most wonderful of American municipalities.

Gary.

When the Illinois Steel Company chose the site for its new plant, Gary consisted mostly of sand dunes and railroad tracks, for this strip of lake shore lay on the route of the trunk lines between Chicago and the Atlantic seaboard. In order to make room for the plant three of these roads had to be moved, and incidentally their tracks were elevated for miles in order that the citizens of the future metropolis might go about in safety. A subsidiary corporation, the Gary Land Company, which was responsible for planning the town and for disposing of the lots, made the streets broad, and sought to insure the permanency of the pavements by the construction of alleys with conduits to carry such utilities as water, sewers, gas, electricity, and telephone wires. Both comeliness and utility were emphasized. Lots were made large enough that the houses might be set back thirty-five feet from the walks, parks were planned, and a considerable number of dwellings were erected for the employees of the corporation. While paternalism was con