STATEMENT OF DR. L. N. DUNCAN, PRESIDENT ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, AUBURN, ALA., LAND GRANT COLLEGE Dr. DUNCAN. Gentlemen, we have before your committee this morning a group of leaders in the land-grant college system of education. These gentlemen come representing every great agricultural section and division of the United States. We are going to discuss the three great divisions of this measure, extension, resident teacher, and research, in the order in which they appear in this bill. We will undertake to show you something of the work, the importance, and especially that the fund asked for here is a wise use of public funds. The first person that I want to call is Mr. R. K. Bliss, director of the agricultural extension service of Iowa. He will speak on the Extension Service. (Dr. Duncan submitted the following paper:) SOME IMPORTANT REASONS WHY ADDITIONAL FEDERAL SUPPORT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE LAND GRANT COLLEGE SYSTEM By L. N. Duncan, President Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala. RESIDENT TEACHING 1. Federal appropriations for resident instruction in land-grant colleges and universities reached its peak in 1912 when student enrollment was a minor fraction of what it is today; when living expenses were much lower and faculty members could be employed for much lower salaries; when fewer buildings, less equipment, and less laboratory supplies were needed; when there was little demand for specialization in instruction when fewer courses were needed and offered; and, in fact, when everything entering into the cost of maintaining and operating these colleges and universities cost much less than at present. These increases and gains have been in accordance with needs and requirements for efficient and satisfactory public service in higher education. Instruction in agriculture then included comparatively few courses, because many of the present complicated factors in agriculture and rural life had not presented themselves to the extent of demanding solutions through intelligent instruction. The same is true of engineering. Our records at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn, for example, show that aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, highway engineering, industrial engineering, and textile engineering have been added since 1912. Each was added in response to public need. 2. Modern training of teachers for high schools and colleges has come since 1912. It is a duty of land-grant colleges and universities to train teachers to serve best in the communities where they teach. Unless these institutions train those teachers, the communities where they teach will be penalized. To illustrate the facts stated above, we present figures about the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn, which, we believe, are representative. In the year 1912 student enrollment at this institution was 810 against a total of 1912 students for the 1934-35 session, a gain of 1,102 or 135.8 percent. During the same period the faculty has increased from 46 members to 150 members. Courses offered increased from 261 to 941, or almost quadrupled. 3. History is clear that progress and developments in agriculture and industry had their beginning in land-grant colleges and universities. For example, the hydroelectricity industry in Alabama had its origin in the laboratories and classrooms of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn. An alumnus of this institution sponsored and built the first hydroelectric plant in Alabama. Practically every major improvement in agricultural production in Alabama had its beginning in either a test tube or an experimental plot at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Teachers trained in these institutions are revolutionizing teaching and, thereby, making it more effective and valuable for those taught and for the communities in which they live. In fact these land-grant colleges and universities personify progress and improvements along all lines of human endeavor. History reveals vividly that all worth-while progress has been made, and is being made, through education; and the paramount need of the present is to expand the educational program of the land-grant colleges and universities to meet the present and future needs. 4. The paramount public need of the present is more young men and young women who are competently trained for the leadership demanded in a changing world. In spite of all that has been said to the contrary, it is a fact that there is now a shortage of efficiently trained men and women. Studies of millions of applicants throughout the United States reveal the tragic story that very few have been trained properly for the service needed. The obligation resting upon these institutions for instruction is confined no longer to undergraduate study. The demands are ever growing more insistent for advanced graduate research in order to serve best the needs of the public. Obviously, land-grant institutions must train men and women for both research and extension work. These are highly specialized fields which require highly trained workers. 5. In addition to regular instruction these institutions are now faced with a big obligation to provide short courses for the training of young men and young women not able to remain in college 4 years and older persons wishing special training in colleges and universities to equip them better for the work in which they are engaged. To do this faculties must be enlarged, employing men and women who are trained properly for this type of instruction. 6. We believe that no investment of Government funds has brought greater returns to the public than those invested in the land-grant college. With the growth of the load of these colleges as mentioned above, and the need of further development to meet the changing conditions of living facing us in the immediate future, we are led to ask for additional support. We offer our assurance that additional funds will be used for the public good as effectively and economically as in the past. RESEARCH 1. In the light of present conditions, lowering the cost of production of all farm commodities and improving the quality of such commodities are the two most important general problems that need increased attention. American exports are meeting the keenest kind of competition in world markets by exports from other countries. The American market for such commodities as corn, wheat, livestock products, and cotton has gradually shrunk, and one of the means of recapturing the market for these American farm products is to discover through research means of lowering the cost of production of these commodities. Cotton producers of the South are face to face with competition with increasing cotton production in European, Asiatic, and South American countries. One of the most important problems, therefore, facing the southern cotton farmer is to lower the cost of production as much as possible, so that he may meet this competition and still realize a profit on his operations, 2. Drastic adjustments are necessary in the types of farming found now in the various agricultural regions of America. These types of farming have been developed through many years of farmer experience. It will take many years for these existing types of farming to be changed by the same manner in which they were developed. To change them more rapidly and to relieve farmers of enormous risk during the changing process, there is an urgent need for a very extensive research program dealing with the general problem of farm adjustment in both crops and livestock systems of farming in the various agricultural regions in the country. The enormous size of this problem may be appreciated when it is remembered that in some States there are as many as 15 or 20 different types of farming areas. This one problem alone would call for seventy-five or a hundred thousand dollars a year over a period of a number of years to complete a study of the needed adjustments. 3. It seems necessary now to reduce the acreage devoted to farm crops to a very considerable extent. The best use that farmers may make of these lands that are taken out of production is a very important question and can be answered to the best advantage of all farmers concerned by conducting comprehensive researches dealing with this problem. In addition to the general acreage reduction in certain crops it is apparent also that there are many acres of marginal land that should be permanently retired from agricultural produc tion. This develops a need for another comprehensive type of research work in almost every State in the Union. The whole problem of developing a good forestry program is tied up with the use of such marginal and submarginal lands, and since the development of a sound forestry program must of necessity be a slow process, it is absolutely essential that this type of research program be started as soon as possible. 4. It is probable that much research is needed to determine accurately just what is marginal land and what is not marginal land. Economists have been forced to define marginal land in rather vague terms, due to the lack of a definite background on which to make a clear-cut definition between marginal lands and nonmarginal lands; and since much of the adjustment program now under way deals with marginal lands, the importance of this type of work is obvious. 5. Another problem of universal importance in this country is the development of new uses for farm products and the possibility of using the waste products on the farm. Many thousands of tons of products go to waste on the farms of America each year and must continue to go to waste until uses are found for them. 6. The development of water power makes possible a much larger rural electrification program. There is a need for a comprehensive research program to determine the conditions under which rural electrification is possible and those under which an electrification program is not feasible. Research is needed in this field also to develop economical uses of electricity by farmers and farm women. 7. There is an urgent need for additional research funds to the several States to enable them to conduct research cooperatively with such Federal agencies as the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. It is well known that such Federal agencies as these are in urgent need of the help that State experiment stations might give if they were in position to conduct agricultural researches needed by such agencies. 8. It might be well to explain that during the last several years financial support for agricultural research has been reduced by practically every State in America. This curtailment of the research program came at a time when it actually should have been an expanding program, due to the dire distress of farmers and the urgent need for a more complete knowledge of the farming problem. Relief can come quickest to the several States through the support of the Federal Government to a research program in all of the States. EXTENSION 1. If the plans and the policies of the Government are to be applicable on the farms and in the farm homes throughout the country, it is necessary to have an effective organization with well-trained, experienced men and women leaders to handle all of the fundamental problems involved. The Extension Service staff, including the county men and women agents, was incomplete and inadequate to answer all of the demands of the farm people in normal times with the regular program. It is imperative that this organization be expanded and strengthened to deal with the ever-increasing pressure for help with the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the farm credit work, the rural housing program, the extension of rural electrification lines, and rural rehabilitation work. In addition to the trained staff, ample facilities should be available for travel, for clerical help, for supplies, and for equipment. 2. One of the most important phases of the whole program for the farm people is the one dealing with the farm girls, the farm woman, and the farm homes. The work which the home-demonstration agents are doing with the farm poultry flock, the farm dairy, the farm garden, the farm nutrition and foods program, the renovation of old clothing, the practical uses made of all kinds of left-over and waste materials, the production and systematic marketing of all kinds of home products on the curb markets, and in other ways making the wisest possible use of the family income, is one of the most important and effective contributions to the recovery of agriculture. None of the emergency funds for agriculture are available for the farmhome program. One of the most important reasons, therefore, for making additional funds available for extension work is to complete and strengthen the home-demonstration staff for farm women and farm girls. 3. Since the farmers now are making an earnest effort to deal with the fundamental business and economic side of their industry, it is exceedingly important to have an adequate staff of trained people to advise them upon such questions as reducing costs and growing standard products, as well as such questions as grading, packing, standardizing, and marketing. 4. Due to the depression and the serious financial situation in many States and counties, local funds for the support of the work have been reduced to the point where, in many instances, the organizations are distinctly handicapped. 5. This request for additional funds is not so much for an increase as it is largely for the purpose of substituting a permanent plan to take the place of the present emergency funds. This policy will make for a long-time plan, will stabilize the organization and agencies that are directly and intimately in touch with the farmers, thus making the wisest and best investment of public funds for permanent good. 6. Many of the most important enterprises, with which the Government is endeavoring to help the farm people, stir up opposition in the counties. As a result of this opposition certain local influences either very greatly embarass the county agents or cause the withdrawal of local support, thus paralyzing the efforts of the Government in behalf of the farmers. 7. As the plans unfold for working with the men and women on the farms in an effort to place agriculture on a solid, stable basis, there should be a definite and practical educational program for the boys and girls on the farms, looking specifically to the prevention of a recurrence of the difficult situation in which agriculture finds itself. With this in view there should be provided adequate facilities for a strong, powerful organization to deal with the young people on the farms. 8. In the South there is a vast problem of dealing in a wise, proper, and constructive way with the Negro farmers and the Negro farm-home makers. No more effective plan has been devised of properly reaching this great group of our population, most of whom live on farms, than the Negro Extension Service, including the Negro county men and women agents. STATEMENT OF R. K. BLISS, DIRECTOR AGRICULTURAL Mr. BLISS. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, you have had a very complete and interesting discussion from these actual farmers who have been here testifying in regard to this work. As I see it, Senate bill 2228 is a continuation of the program which the Government started in 1914, and looks toward the completion of that program so as to extend the benefits of the college and the United States Department of Agriculture to a larger number of people. The purpose, of course, is to make the benefits of our colleges and the United States Department of Agriculture available to the men and women, boys and girls who live out on our farms. I might mention just briefly the record of this work. It was started, of course, to extend these benefits, but the Extension Service of our land-grant colleges has been used in emergency programs, first in the war work, then in drouth and flood, insect pests or anything of that kind, and during the past 3 years almost the entire time of the extension services of the country in many of the States, especially in the Central West and South, and to a considerable extent in the Far West, have been utilized in carrying out the emergency programs that Congress has enacted. Just a word in regard to the size of the job. It has been frequently stated here that we have between 6 and 7 million farm homes in America. That is about 32,000,000 people, or approximately so. This $8,000,000 increase, as is indicated in this bill, this item for $8,000,000, represents about 25 cents for each individaul living on a 125699-35- -3 farm, and when you get the $4,000,000 added to that, as provided in the bill for each of 4 additional years, you have an expenditure of 372 cents for each individual; and if you add that on to the $9,000,000 which has already been appropriated for regular extension work, the cost per individual per year is about 66 cents. I merely mention this to call attention to the size and importance of the job, and also to call attention to the fact that if anyhing can be done of material benefit for the farmers through the larger utilization of the colleges of this country through this bill, the expense would not be excessive. Senator MCGILL. $9,000,000 was appropriated? That is the regular appropriation? Mr. BLISS. Yes. Senator MCGILL. How much do you propose to add to that by this bill? Mr. BLISS. That would add $8,000,000 immediately. Senator MCGILL. And finally you add much more than that? Senator SCHWELLENBACH. What portion of the $8,000,000 is to go for extension work? Mr. BLISS. The entire $8,000,000 is to go for extension work. The items for the other part of the bill will be discussed by other members. But that entire $8,000,000 will go for extension work. Senator MCGILL. There will be, in addition to the $9,000,000 now appropriated an additional annual appropriation of $12,000,000? Mr. BLISS. Eventually; making a total of $21,000,000. Senator MCGILL. More than 100-percent increase on the part of the Government. Mr. BLISS. Yes, sir. That is increase in regular appropriations. Senator MCGILL. So the same work that has heretofore been carried on by the agricultural colleges Mr. BLISS (interposing). No; it provides for a tremendous increase in work. Senator MCGILL. An increase in personnel? Senator SCHWELLENBACH. At that point, how much are the States contributing to make up in addition to that $9,000,000? Mr. BLISS. That is last year about $11,000,000. Senator MCGILL. So that it is not as large a percentage of increase as the Senator would seem to think? Mr. BLISS. No; last year $11,000,000. Senator MCGILL. I mean $11,000,000 was contributed by the States. Senator BANKHEAD. A total of about $20,000,000. Senator MCGILL. Is there any proposal to increase the amount that has been heretofore contributed by the States? Mr. BLISS. There has been a sharp decrease in the funds from counties and States, due to the distressing financial conditions in those States. That decrease in the last 3 years has been about $6,000,000. So we have suffered in the last 3 years a decrease of |
