3i8 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



August, 



HON. WII^I^IAM A. REEDER. 



HON. WILIvIAM A. REEDER, of Kansas, is one of the most effective friends 

 of national irrigation. As a member of the House Committee on the Irriga- 

 tion of Arid Lands, he has done much valuable work. Both in committee and 

 among his fellow-members Mr. Reeder did splendid service in helping to bring 

 about the passage of the Irrigation Bill at the recent session. Having a wide 

 l^nowledge of the West and its needs, and himself a practical irrigator, he has been 

 able to approach the question on its broadest and fairest lines. Thoroughly con- 

 vinced of the advisability of Federal aid in the construction of large irrigation 

 works in the West, Mr. Reeder has lo.st no opportunity of pressing the matter in 

 Congress. 



William Augustus Reeder was born August 28, 1849, in Cumberland county, 

 Pa.; when 4 years of age his parents emigrated to Ipava, Fulton county. 111., 

 where, at the age of 14 years, he began teaching in the public schools. This 

 vocation he followed until 30 years of age, the last 10 years of his work being in 

 Kansas, where he was principal of the Beloit public schools. Mr. Reeder in 1871 

 took up a claim in Mitchell county, and has resided continuously since in this 

 Congressional district. On August 18, 1876, he engaged in the banking business 

 in the town of Eogan, Kans., his present home. In 1890, in partnership with 

 A. H. Ellis and J. J. Wiltrout, he purchased an extensive tract of land on the 

 Solomon River and established the largest irrigation farm in the State of Kansas, 

 which is now operated as a cattle and hog ranch. In 1898 he was elected to the 

 Fifty-sixth Congress, and was reelected to the Fifty-seventh Congress. 



