Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1916 [PAGE 125]

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1914]

PROCEEDINGS OE TPIE BOARD OE TRUSTEES.

125

expenses of such an advisor, and we would pay the other half. I am, therefore, making the recommendation upon this basis, not only because it is more favorable to us financially, but because it will give us more complete control of the situation from the outset. The Department of Agriculture is interested in two other lines of work besides that of the county demonstration agent, namely: what they call farm management demonstration, and what they call boys' and girls' club work. Inasmuch as we have agreed to cooperate with the department in its work it seems but fair that we should accept all we can of the work in which they are interested. So far as the farm management demonstration feature is concerned, it can be made extremely useful because one of our purposes is to make out of the whole county advisor scheme a kind of laboratory in farm economics. This particular line 'of work, therefore, lends itself to the general purpose which we have in mind, and I am recommending that it be accepted as one of our projects. For the same reason I have mentioned before, I think we would better enter into this plan on the "half and half" basis, particularly for the sake of giving us the privilege of naming the man and of more thoroughly controlling the work. I am including the project of boys' and girls' club work, not because I believe the work has yet justified itself or promises to do so, but because it is one of the things in which the department is interested, and because, if we do not enter into cooperation, they will withdraw from the State leaving a rather Ugly situation for us to explain, and perhaps some ill feeling in certain quarters. Because of the shortness. of funds, however, and because this particular line of work does not correspond with any which we are undertaking, I am recommending that we cooperate in this line without incurring expense. That is, that we give the welcome hand to their representative with such courtesies as we are able to extend. The definite measures which I would, therefore, propose for the conduct of the work under the Lever Bill are as follows: First—County demonstration agents located in the various counties of the State, so far as definite local organizations are completed and funds raised, locally, for the support of the demonstration work, and so far as the funds at our disposal will permit. For the present year only enough money could be available to enter into relations with the three counties of the State already organized, but not cooperating with the Department of Agriculture, whereby they might enjoy the franking privileges. Another year, with an additional fund, we should hope to take on additional counties, at $1,200 each. Second—Departmental demonstrators to act as special advisors to county agents and to individuals or associations of farmers, so far as funds will permit and necessities arise. For the current year perhaps $500 to $800 apiece could be devoted to each department for part payment of one of its extension men. Third—Demonstration work in household economics. This being one of the main features of the Lever Bill, it seems only fair to this great subject that a considerable portion of the money should go in this direction. Fourth—Cooperative farm management demonstration work to the extent of one man to be employed jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the University of Illinois, work beginning when a suitable man can be found. Fifth—Boys' and girls' club work to be carried on by the Department of Agriculture under the nonpaying cooperative plan, by which we should put no money into the enterprise. By the provisions of the Lever Bill the following amounts are available, present and prospective. Inasmuch as the assignments are based upon the relative agricultural populations of the states, they may, of course, change somewhat before the 10-year period has been reached. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918.. 1919. $10,000 00 $23,141 12 $36,282 24 $49,423 36 $62,564 48 $75,705 60 1924 and annually 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923. thereafter, $88,846 72 $101,987 84 $115,128 96 $128,260 08 $141,411 20

PROPOSED B U D G E T FOR L E V E R F U N D .

After much discussion, I beg to present the following budget for the nine months of the current fiscal year beginning October 1, 1914. The total net amount available under the Lever Bill for the nine months remaining of the fiscal year is $10,000. I propose the following budget of expenditures and request appropriations accordingly: For demonstration in household economics $3,000 For State Leader, his assistant, office, and traveling expenses 3,500 Department specialists (one each from Agronomy, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Husbandry, and Horticulture) $500-$800 to each department*.-. 3,200 County agents—three counties, $100 each to bring into cooperation and to insure the franking privilegesf 300

STATE LEADER. $10,000

In my formal report I recommended the early election of a Vice. Director to take immediate charge of the work under the Lever Bill. Under our cooperative arrangements with the Department of Agriculture in the county advisory work, however, they will demand that a State Leader be elected to give substantially his whole time to the work. This fact, together with our own enterprises in that * If a suitable man can be found before the,end of the year for farm demonstration work (Project No. 4) our half of his salary would be paid from this item, otherwise the full $800 could go.to each department. t These are the three counties now organized but not in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture.