m*- w - Clpdigital.org

NEWS BY WIRELESS
FOR FARMERS
By FRANK G. M O O R H E A D
T O D A Y as one drives westward
from the city of Clinton
and approaches the town of
Maquoketa, Iowa, he is surprised,
at a turn in the road,
to see a large sign stretched across the
roadway. It can be read at a glance,
but it conveys such novel information
that most drivers stop and re-read it, in
order to be sure.
"Eat Honey. For sale here. Today's
weather report by wireless on
next curve. Archie Banks."
Two or three rods farther on, the bulletin
board is in evidence, eight feet wide
and five feet high.
"Rain or snow tonight, cold wave
coming, lowest temperature tonight, 5
degrees below zero.
"Corn, No. 2, yellow, 9534 to 96/2c;
No. 4, yellow, 93>4 to 95j4c: No. 4,
white, 84 to 85c.
"Oats, No. 3, white, 54% to 55j4c;
standard, nominal.
76
"Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria
died today.
"Deutschland arrives at New London
with million-dollar cargo on its second
trip."
So run the bulletins (weather forecasts,
market reports, world news) on
the bulletin board by the side of the
road.
That the service is appreciated not
only by the receiver, Mr. Banks himself,
but likewise by all the farmers of his
neighborhood, is evidenced by the fact
that two or three score neighbors, for
miles around, are in the habit of telephoning
Mr. Banks every day to find out
what the weather is to be in the next
twenty-four hours, what the market
quotations are and the latest news of the
war and of the world. They are not
even obliged to drive over and read the
bulletins on the board, by the side of the
road; they are served promptly and
without charge by means of the rural