A. G. "Slim" Slattery 



The purpose of the trip was to l*-on out our problems of the Soil and Water Conserva- 

 tion Districts, including funding, small watersheds, technical assistance, combining agen- 

 cies, standardizing of specifications exchanging data, education, and cooperative effort 

 in agencies. 



Our Montana delegation presented prepared documentary proof at the hearings. Mr. 

 Jackson, our State President, did an excellent Job with this evidence. Each delegate had 

 the same proof, but each one gave his own testimony and was responsible for the particular 

 phase on which he testified and was responsible for that testimony. 



We also met with the Representatives, Arnold Olsen, western district, and James 



Battin, eastern district. Senator Mike Mansfield prepared an office heating for the 



group, at which we were very well received. Each presented his evidence as we had at 

 the other hearings. 



* * * * * 



***** 



GOODYEAR WINNER 



Reed Christensen, outstanding conservation farmer, 

 and Dale Marxer, Chairman of the Cascade Soil and Water 

 Conservation District, are shown as they try on hats 

 during their trip to Goodyear Farms in Arizona last 

 December. 



Dale Marxer reports: "The four days Apent in 

 Arizona's Valley of the sun with the other 52 Soil and^ 

 Water Conservation District officials and the 53 out-^ 

 standing farmers and ranchers, including my fellow 

 traveler. Reed Christensen, will long be remembered as 

 one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. 



The thing that startled Reed and I the most was the 

 water irrigation. They literally use the water until 

 they wear it out. They irrigate down through the fields 

 and at the end of each field the water is ditched or 

 piped to another field until it gets to the lower end 

 of the ranch where it is caught in a huge basin and is 

 pumped back up to the other end, mixed with fresh water 

 and started off all over again. 



The water is pumped from ddep wells which average 882 feet In depth. The water table 

 is dropping at the rate of 10 feet per year. Believe me, those people aren!t talking about 

 'If they can get water from their neighbors to the north', but 'when', and you can easily 

 see why when it costs $40,000 for a well and pump, not to mention the cost of pumping. One 

 well will irrigate 100 acres of cotton and some crops take even more, of course. They were 

 pasturing their 7th crop of alfalfa. The cotton was about all harvested. We saw many 

 different types of implements, some in the experimental stages yet. 



It was rewarding to exchange ideas with the other fellows on the way their Districts 

 operate and raise money to finance some of their various activities. States operate much 

 t>ie same as we do here in Montana, but others seem to have almost unlimited funds for op- 

 eration of districts provided by the state. 



^B 



As I said in the beginning, this was a trip that I will long remember; and I shall ^ 

 never forget the wonderful friends that I exchanged thoughts with. I certainly urge all 

 districts to participate in the Goodyear Program , not only for the trip, but for the 

 improvement of the district and more and better conservation. 



