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Show 36 The Missionary Herald January upon the oxen for the cultivation of the crops which supply the boys and girls with food. Dipping vs. Spraying "The cost of spraying is about three times that of dipping, and there is some question of its efficiency; so it seems advisable to build a dipping tank and systematically 'dip' the cattle until danger of loss by the disease is past. Dr. Sinclair, the chief veterinary surgeon of the government, recently visited here, and advised that a dipping tank be built as soon as possible. He assured us that all natives on the farm would be compelled to dip their cattle as soon as the tank was ready. " Such a tank will cost $300 or more, complete with shed, yards for stock, dipping solution, etc. The stock on the farm is worth $10,000 at least, and it is important to protect it. "Who is to furnish the money to build the dipping tank? Who is going to give the time necessary to supervise the construction of it and the dipping of all the cattle on the farm after it is built? Is this legitimate missionary work? If 'compulsory dipping' is put in force by government, the Board is responsible for the construction and operation of the tank, because the farm belongs to it by title deed. Dr. Sinclair says that he thinks compulsory dipping will be put into effect in this district. If the money be secured outside the mission funds, is it advisable to ask or urge the natives to join in the expense of building the tank, with the understanding that they shall have their cattle dipped at cost? Can the mission be expected to build the tank and dip all cattle on the farm for the protection of the mission cattle or for the sake of the public good ? These are live questions and will require discussion. A Good Roads Movement "From a material standpoint and as benefiting the public, the new wagon road to the north is the most important item to report. It connects this station with the homestead of Mr. Frank King, thirteen miles distant, and gives us a direct outlet to Chipingi arid the railway. The great need of this road has been recognized for years, and the old road from Mt. Si-linda has been a bugbear in the way of getting in goods by wagon. "The missionaries here, and the natives as well, have had to pay an extra forty-three cents per 100 pounds on all goods which came from Mt. Silinda, above the regular transport rate to that station, and it has often been difficult to secure a wagon when needed. Now, as Mr. W. M. Longden, our retiring magistrate, who inspected the road, says, 'Chikore has better connections with the north than Mt. Silinda,' and we secure the same transport rate from the railway. "If we secure a grant-in-aid from government, as recommended by Mr. Longden, this road will cost the mission nothing to speak of. The location of the new road and the supervision of its construction made considerable extra work for the force here, but it is a satisfactory expenditure of time and strength. Practically every able-bodied man on this farm gave seven days' work on the road, using his own hoe. The schoolboys worked many days, especially in finishing the road and building the bridge across the Nyaundombo River, and considerable labor was paid for at the regular rates. Every man who worked his seven days was given a good 'Kafir' hoe, as an expression of our appreciation of his help. There was little opposition on the part of the natives to doing this work at the request of the mission, as they realized the value of the road to all living here. Christians Show Enterprise "The Christian natives at this station are showing progress and enterprise by buying a donkey team and wagon and undertaking to bring in goods from the railway, by considering the opening of a store, and by |
