WAUPACA COUNTY POST

August 2, 1923

 

MARL HEARING IN THIS CITY AUGUST TENTH

FARMERS SHOULD COME ENMASSE TO URGE THE FREE USE OF MARL ON SANDY SOIL

           

            After the bright picture painted by K.L. Hatch of College of Agriculture at the close of the all day trip through the marl sections of Portage and Waupaca on what application of marl would do in recovering abandoned and worn-out acres in the sand sections of the state, many will learn with regret that Wisconsin Railroad Commission claims the right and duty to determine on what basis and at what price the state is to sell this marl to farmers.

            Wisconsin hires experts to experiment and learn what may be used to neutralize the acidity of worn-out soils.  Conductors of farm institutes hold institutes at a cost of thousands of dollars winter after winter; county agents and their assistants test soils to determine whether or not acidity is the cause for clover and alfalfa failure to live over the first or second year; the legislature at the request of the experts, the institute conductors, the county agents and the impoverished farmers, passes a bill to permit the excavation of marl for application on the worn-out soil in the neighborhood of the marl deposits when Lo and Behold! The Railroad Rate Commission serves notice that a hearing will be held at Waupaca August 10^th and at Wautoma August 11^th on the question of permitting the farmers to accept the invitation of the state through the state’s experts, institute conductors, county agents, etc., etc., to excavate marl and apply to the farms so the farmers ay perchance pay taxes to help defray the expenses of local and state government.

            Every man who has been induced to sign up for marl, whether it be for a small or a large amount, and those farmers who did not sign up because they did not know where to obtain the funds to pay for the marl, should be present at the hearing at Waupaca August 10^th or at Wautoma August 11^th.