56 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



to this anticipated tide of settlers. And 

 while the railroads will reap the first profit 

 the land and irrigation companies will not 

 be far behind and the ultimate results will 

 be immeasurably for good in all lines of 

 industry. There are broad grounds for 

 predicting this rush of homeseekers West- 

 ward. The feeling of unrest and appre- 

 hension, which has been uppermost in the 

 minds of the great middle classes during 

 the past years of financial and industrial 

 depression is about to be strongly empha- 

 sized by a wide-spread effort on the part 

 of individuals to secure each for himself, 

 more stable and unchangeable conditions 

 of livelihood. And this naturally turns 

 those who have been amenable to the fit- 

 ful periods of prosperity and depression 

 in the cities toward the irrigated region 

 where a generous living and more can be 

 extracted from Mother Nature's bosom at 

 all times, and while the ingredients of this 

 movement are individuals, each striving 

 for himself, the effect is that of a grand 

 army marching forward to conquest. The 

 South's great misfortune was the only 

 thing needful to deflect into western chan- 

 nels practically all of this broad stream of 

 hopeful homeseekers, and they will not 

 seek in vain, 



Colorado to Never was state in a better 

 the Front. condition for an era of pros- 

 perity than is Colorado today. It needs 

 but the striking of the hour when every 

 material element will contribute its quota 

 to the rising flood of general good fortune. 

 Agriculture and mining, the two most im- 

 portant industries, are standing on the 

 verge of a tremendous advancement. The 

 existant irrigation systems have been 

 tested and their capabilities ascertained. 

 The enterprises having an inherent weak- 

 ness, such as unfavorable location, unpro- 

 ductive soil, or insufficient water are 

 known and frowned upon, while public 

 confidence is strengthened in legitimate 

 enterprises honestly conducted. The 

 heavy fall of snow in the mountains as- 

 sures an ample water supply for the next 

 irrigating season and it also means plenty 



of grass on the open ranges, conferring un- 

 told benefits upon the cattle and sheep 

 men. Mining for the precious metals, 

 coal, iron and other minerals is being pro- 

 secuted with greater vigor than ever before 

 and the opening of spring will witness 

 thousands of men scouring the mountain 

 sides prospecting. Mining excitement is 

 steadily increasing. Several new lines of 

 railroad are projected and work on them 

 will be commenced when the snow disap- 

 pears. Taken altogether the horizon is 

 certainly brightly shining with the prom- 

 ise of a glorious day. 



Co-operative The success of the California 



print riarket- 



ng. system of co-operative fruit 



marketing is being distinctly evidenced 

 with each successive reason. This year the 

 revolt against the domination of the com- 

 mission man is more forcibly enunciated 

 than ever before. The organization of Far- 

 mers Clubs, Citrus Unions, Fruit Exchang- 

 es, Fruit Growers and Shippers Ass'ns goes 

 on unceasingly, and all with the avowed ob- 

 ject of obtaining for the producer his share 

 of the profits. The commission system is 

 the worst of the pests which the fruit 

 grower has to combat and it must be erad- 

 icated before success is possible. The 

 middleman is a parasitic growth obstruct- 

 ing free intercourse between the producer 

 and the consumer and exacting tribute 

 from both. The California Exchange sys- 

 tem, which was carefully reviewed in the 

 pages of this magazine two years ago by 

 Fred L. Alles, of Los Angeles, is co-opera- 

 tive inasmuch as it places in the control 

 of the fruit growers themselves, the pack- 

 ing, shipping and selling of the products 

 of their orchards. The expense is about 

 one-fourth that of the commission system 

 and this saving goes to the bank accounts 

 of the producers. The operation of the 

 California system has been eagerly watched 

 and now that its success has been conclus- 

 ively manifested it is being rapidly adopted 

 in other states. Colorado and Idaho were 

 not slow to perceive the value of this 

 method and now Oregon has fallen into 

 line. Within a few years at the most but 



