Cooperative Possibilities in the Development of Better Farm Structures

*By Max E. Cook, Mem. A. S. A. E. Farmstead Engineer, California Redwood Association (*Pa,per lrrescnted at Annual Business ond Midwinter Meeting, Pacific Coost Section American Society of Agricultural Engineers, January 27, l93O). Mar E. Cook

It.is becoming more generally apprcciated that successful solution of farm structure problems Jepends on cooperation-not only between ourselves as Agricultural Engineers, but wit6 all agricultural workers and interests as well. We need to cooper-te with agricultural scientists, investigators, research workers, and in fact with every one in any iay .ottcetned, connected with, or engag.ed in agriculture.

Th" .o-p.tent and intelligent farmer.is alrn'ays-seeking counsel and guidance in connection with his brrilding upkeep and its lquipment-in the modernization of old and the'develop-ett of new structures' More and mote he is appealing *;ttt ttit building and remodeling problem.s to his F?m Aivisor, his State College of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineers and various Extension Workers. On the other hand. his lumber dealer, who handles the materials he needs in his structures, is the one he usually consults regarding plans and materials. He is unquestionably influ"enced bv his retail lumberman more than all other agen' cies combined.

Dealers in lumber and building materials in farming communities face a responsibility that challenges their best thought and skill. In the absence of building'ordinances in country districts the retail lumberman must, to a great extent, be relied on to prescribe sound methods of construction and proper use and types of materials as well as assist in the design of the structure into which they are to be incorporated. IIis very success in the retail lumber business is largely based on his ability to give reliable building advice along with dependable materials for the purposes furnished. An appreciation of the farmers' needs and an underStanding of farm building requirements, linked with a knowJedge- of building materials, good planning. and sound construction methods, are invaluable assets to the business of the dealer and farmer alike.

That dealers are alive to the opportunities for real accomplishment in this field is evidenced by the number of highly successful recent Farm Building Conferences and "Llmber Schools" held throughout the country for the purpose of familiarizing lumber dealers, farrn carpenters and mechanics in building trades, with the latest recommended practices in the planning of better farm buildings. These FarmBuilding Conferences, and particularly the round table discussions programmed as a part thereof, have proved valuable, too, in bringing our Agricultural College authorities and Extension Service Workers and lumber dealers closer together in a cooperative effort to solve common problems and better prepare to render building service to the farmer.

California had its first Farm Building Conference for lumbermen here at Davis last September under the auspices of the University of California and the Sacranrento Valley Lumbermen's Club-a one day meeting, most ably organized and conducted by Prof. H. B. Walker. It was a very successful meeting, with some 75 lumbermen, and close to 100 total in attendance. Retail dealers throughout the State have asked for more of these. Typical of their reaction is the following extract from a letter from one of California's most progressive retail lumbermen:

"Afterallis said and done, in the two Central Valleys, the main bulk of the lumber business is with the farmer. Especially the small yard man should be educated in order to advise his customers on their requirements. Anything we could do to get the branch yard managers to such Conferences as you speak of and get them to think of giving their trade quality material would be doing the whole industry a favor."

Whether these Farm Building Conferences be regarded in the light of Short-Courses here at Davis or elsewherewhether they be in the form of small group meetings with district organizations, a personal contact with an individual -an organized f.arm building inspection tour, or merely an occasional trip intoa farming community, we should never waste an opportunity to cultivate and promote cooperation with the retail lumberman who seryes the farmer.

The successful joint efforts of Agricultural Engineers and representatives of tractor, implement, and machinery manufacturers, electrical appliance and power concerns, and others, should encourage those of us interested to work more closely with the farmers' building material headquarters-the retail lumberman. He is potentially one of our strongest allies.

As representative of effective results that may be secured by enlisting such support in our efforts to contribute toward better farm structures and render service to farmers and agricultural interests. I should like to teil you something of the cooperation between retail lumbermen and the California Redwood Association. You are all more or less familiar I believe with our Agricultural Series of Redwood Bulletins and the set-up of our Agricultural Service Department.

(Mr. Cook at this point-having previously distributed to those present an illustrated folder, descriptive of the Service; specimen bulletins, 'terms under which the Service is installed with retail dealers, etc.-briefly reviewed subjects included in the series to date, and announced 6 new bulletins now in process and soon to be issued, covering Feed and Shelter Barn, "Back-Yard" Poultry House, IJ. C. Type Septic Tank, Milking Barn, etc.)

We now have 1250 subscribers to and users of this serv-

Although our efforts have been more or less confined in the past to California and Arizona, the Service has been installed by us with dealer-subscribers in 1O States. Mill members have purchased over 4O0 sets for their field representatives and for complimentary presentation, putting this

(Continued on Page 22)

Sactory Branches

SEATTLB , . TlTDextcrAveouc

BBLLINGHAM l4l7 Statc Sceet

SAN rRANCISCO r8o Twelfth St.

LOS ANGELBS 77O Est Ninth St.

SAN DIEGO l2o8 Markct Sueet

PORTLAND 267 Paciic Street

OAKI-{ND 164o Eert Twelfth St.

TACOMA 5O3 Puyallup Avenue

SPOKANB . . llz6SecondStreet

YAIilMA 116 South Secood Sceet

Distributors

DBNVER, COLORADO; SALT LAI(B CITY, UTAH; CASPBR, VYOMING; SANTA rE. NErW' MBXICO; PUEBLO, COLORADO; Mountain.Truck Corporation.

VANCOIJVER, B. C., FageolMotors

Sales Canada Ltd., 2781 4th Ave. West

\/I CTORI A, B. C., L. H. Campbell, 921 Tfh$f Street

HONOLLLU,T.H.,ChesterR. Clarke, 620.622 Beretania Street

Today a certain man is standing before a busy machine in a Faseol factory.

E"ach hour t6is nan bends forward with concentrated atten' tion. No movement misses his keen eye, and no adjustment escapes the precision ofhis experienced hand.

Ttrt machine before him is almost ap^ttof himself. .. steel sinews responsive to a trained mind...iccurately cutting steel to specificitions so exacting that only the most delicate in' struments can measrue tnem.

Makins a truck part? No! "Buildiog a Motor Truck!"That's what L.II. Bill te-aches his men. ThE part is only a meaos to an end. No matter how good the parf. ..utill itittorh aith tbe othen?,..That's the con-stant que-stion in the Fageolfactory.

And this man, as hundreds of others like him in the Fageol factorv. looks bevood the shaping metal under his hand. He r""s a'big, po*eif,tl Fageol, h:eav'ity loaded, moving along a crowded-highw.ay; its srong pulsing motor transm-itting liv' ing enefgy to thts very Part on wnose success or lallure oepeids thE comfort, cdavenience, and, sometimes, even the Iife of a fellowman.

That which be contributes is much, and that responsibility which every man under L. H. Bill feels is projected into the Faeeol Truck and Safety Coach. Not part-s . .-. but precision! Nit metal nor machinei ...but menlThtse make a Flgeol the choice of commercial drivers over the entire Vest.

Fageot Iiotors Company

OAKI,AND, GALI'ORNIA