594 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



vation. This has a more direct bearing on the prosperity 

 of the United States. 



We must increase our agricultural production on the 

 land already in use. Our wheat crops should run from 

 30 to 40 bushels per acre, as they would under a general 

 system of irrigation. Not only would crops be larger, but 

 they would be regular with irrigation. A farmer planting 

 100 to 300 acres of grain would then know with reasonable 

 certainty that he was going to have a crop, while at pres- 

 ent the chances are against him. 



These are not the only considerations, however. Sup- 

 pose every farmer in the country got a yield of 14 bushels 

 of wheat to the acre; that does not spell prosperity. That 

 is barely the cost of production. The profits come after 

 that. When the yield is 20 bushels there is some profit 

 on large places, but there ought to be a production of 

 25 to 40 bushels as a regular thing, and then we could be 

 able to boast of profitable farming and national prosperity. 

 The scarcity of land and the growth of population would 

 not trouble us much if we were putting such land as we 

 now have to proper use. 



Value 

 Of the 

 Land 

 Shows. 



It is with more than ordinary satisfac- 

 tion that IRRIGATION AGE observes the 

 growing interest in land shows. These 

 exhibitions are educational in a broad 

 way. and as such appeal to thinking men 

 and women everywhere, who realize the 

 importance of practical instruction in farming matters. 



The great land show to be held in the Coliseum, Chi- 

 cago, from November 19 to December 4 is a victory for 

 IRRIGATION AGE, for it will serve to illustrate principles 

 which this paper has for years been advocating. The 

 same is true of the Pittsburg and Omaha land exhibitions. 

 Irrigation will be the most interesting and important fea- 

 ture of each of these shows. There will be all kinds of 

 machinery to view; all kinds of fruit, vegetables and grain. 

 There will be state and neighborhood exhibits; whatever 

 is new or valuable in farming will be shown, and many 

 communities will be afforded an opportunity to set forth 

 their advantages. Through it all there will be a note of 

 progress, a spirit of endeavor and a sign of achievement. 

 This endeavor, this progress and this achievement will 

 center on the principle of irrigation, which this paper has 

 fought for through evil and good report for nearly a 

 quarter of a century. 



One of the geatest needs of the day is a more intensi- 

 fied and diversified agriculture, in order that the United 

 States may have a sufficiency of produce for the rapidly 

 growing population and a larger surplus for export. The 

 better farming that is so urgently required can only be 

 secured through study. The practical application of scien- 

 tific principles is the great need of agriculture, and this is 

 being gained through education. 



The value of irrigation is appreciated in the far west, 

 but in the Middle West the need of an artificial water sup- 

 ply as an aid to farming is not generally understood or 

 admitted. For three years in succession, however, the 

 great dairy sections surrounding Chicago have suffered so 

 seriously from drouth in mid-summer that the milk sup- 

 ply has been curtailed 50 per cent, and a new question 

 has to be faced. Silos are being put up in great num- 

 bers in order that a supply of green fodder may be had 

 in periods of drouth. Silos are excellent on all farms 

 where cattle are kept, whether for dairy or beef purposes, 



but silos will not cause grass and grain to grow. Irriga- 

 tion is a necessity in the middle states just as much as in 

 the newer sections. Whatever principle of agriculture will 

 add 50 per cent to crop production is a good one to 

 adopt. Irrigation will do this, and even more. A regular 

 water supply is one of the first things demanded by the 

 progressive farmer, and this can only be assured through 

 irrigation. There are strong reasons, therefore, for hold- 

 ing land exhibitions in the central and even the eastern 

 parts of the country. These shows stand for progress in 

 the greatest of our industries. 



Tf the Board of Governors of the Na- 

 Why Pay tional Irrigation Congress is to dominate 



Secretary every condition surrounding the meet- 



Three Thousand ings of that body, then it would be well 

 a Year? to permit the delegates to remain at 



home and signify their desires by letter, 

 addressed to the chairman of that board. This would 

 save expense to the delegates and make it much more 

 easy for the Board of Governors, who could meet in 

 some secluded place and put over such resolutions and 

 suggestions as would suit their fancy. 



Another thought which comes up in connection with 

 this is the matter of permanent secretary of the Board of 

 Governors. This is a new arrangement which was planned 

 by a politician in California who hoped to secure with it 

 its accompanying salary; this schemer was discredited at 

 the Spokane congress, and a local man, Mr. Arthur 

 Hooker, stepped into the place which the Californian 

 had prepared for himself. This position carries a salary, 

 we believe, of $3,000 per year. This is saddled upon the 

 shoulders of the local board of control of the town in 

 which the congress is held. 



It is the first distinctive item in the consideration of 

 expense in preparing for the congress. The money must 

 be raised by the local board of control to carry on the 

 congress. Many men have filled the position of secretary, 

 heretofore, without compensation. Many have paid their 

 own expenses, performed the work willingly for the 

 good of the cause, and this could have been done con- 

 tinuously had it not been for the change in plan. 



It is the impression of IRRIGATION AGE that this salary 

 question as associated with the secretary will be done 

 away with. It is fair enough to pay a secretary of a 

 congress of this character a salary sufficient to cover all 

 actual expenses, which would not exceed, in any event, 

 $1,000. 



Just why there should be a figurehead who looking 

 over the heads of the local board does nothing more 

 than sign official documents is more < than we can under- 

 stand. 



Mr. Hooker, the present incumbent, is a man of high 

 attainments, delightful personality and reasonable ability, 

 but there have been numerous men who have filled the 

 same position in former years of equally as good ability, 

 who were glad to do the work for the good of the cause 

 without compensation. 



There have been congresses in past years where the 

 accredited delegates listed in the neighborhood of 4,000. 

 The congress at Pueblo showed about 800. Perhaps it 

 requires more work to secure 800 delegates than 3,600 or 

 4.0(iO. We doubt it. 



This matter should be taken up at the next meeting 

 of the congress and thoroughly discussed. 



It is rather a delicate subject to handle by the city 





