THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



VOL. X. 



CHICAGO, DECEMBER, 1896. 



NO. 6. 



THE PROGRESS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 



Again the 

 Homeseekers 

 Association. 



The work of The Home- 

 seekers Association has 

 progressed rapidly during 

 the past month and its membership is in- 

 creasing to thousands. It seems to have 

 struck a popular chord and everywhere 

 meets with great encouragement. The 

 large percentage of population which is 

 considering a change of location in the 

 expectation of finding better conditions is 

 almost inconceivable to the average mind. 

 As an illustration of this it may be cited 

 that the simple announcement of a meet- 

 ug invariably caused the headquarters of 

 the Association to be filled full to over- 

 flowing with those seeking information. 

 The most prominent feature of this month's 

 work was the public meetings both in Chi- 

 cago and Minneapolis. At the meetings 

 in Chicago were delivered lectures on the 

 resources of some of the Western and 

 Southern States. The Minneapolis meet- 

 ing was called at the instance of the Board 

 of Trade and Mr. Girling was invited to 

 address it on the Association and its work. 

 The direct result of this meeting was the 

 organization of a branch association. 



On Sunday, January 3. a special Home- 

 seekers service will be held in the Militant 

 church and the pastor, Rev. Dr. John 

 Busk, and Mr Girling will speak on the 

 subject of " Homes for the People. " This 

 service in one of the best known churches 

 in Chicago on the first Sunday in the new 

 year, will mark an era in the development 

 of practical work in behalf of those who 

 are trying to secure homes and become 

 self sustaining and independent. 



Industrial 



Colon ies 



may be 



Organized. 



The great interest that has 

 been aroused has been 

 shown by the large attend- 

 ance at the weekly meet- 



ings, and by the hundreds of letters show- 

 ered upon the secretary from persons 

 scattered over the country from Florida to 

 Washington, and particularly by the 

 numerous requests that the Association 

 shall organize a ' ' model industrial colony.' ' 

 This matter has not been definitely settled 

 although it is under consideration, and 

 the Association may decide that it can 

 best serve those it is seeking to benefit by 

 undertaking as a part of its public work, 

 the supervision and organization of a series 

 of small colonies. These colonies if under- 

 taken will be used to demonstrate the 

 practicability of transplanting the average 

 city resident, professional man, merchant 

 or mechanic, to country homes, and under 

 what conditions he will be most success- 

 ful. The details of the plan have been 

 submitted to people well informed in 

 matters of emigration and have been de- 

 clared perfectly feasible, and in fact in 

 advance of anything thus far presented 

 to the public. These colonies will be con- 

 ducted upon a basis of actual cost with a 

 small allowance for unforeseen contingen- 

 cies. This will be an excellent opportunity 

 for the friends of irrigation and the West 

 to place before the Association their claims 

 to one or more of the colonies. 



The The Fifth National Irrriga- 



Irrigation tion Congress has come and 

 Congress, gone. It entered upon its 

 duties at Phoenix, Arizona, December 15, 

 and adjourned, December 17, 1896. Its 

 principal work was the location of the next 

 congress at Lincoln, Nebraska, where an 

 opportunity will be given of showing what 

 the semi- arid region has been doing in the 

 matter of irrigation. The attendance was 

 as large as could have been expected, and 

 the interest manifested was equal to that 



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