THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



Ill 



tent at least the far-reaching value of agricultural 

 drainage to sections of the country where it had been 

 practiced. Attention was directed at different times 

 during the session to the large areas of swamp land in 

 the country susceptible to drainage and some quite ex- 

 travagant statements made upon a subject concerning 

 which there is but little positive information. 



The conference organized by choosing Mr. G. E. 

 Barstow of Barstow, Tex., chairman, and J. B. Thoburn 

 of Oklahoma City secretary. In a paper presented by 

 the chairman reference was made to the fact that if the 

 one hundred and sixteen billion of our national wealth 

 was estimated for 190G fifty-five billion, is represented 

 by landed interests. Notwithstanding the additions 

 which have been constantly made to our arable terri- 



tory by the arts of drainage and irrigation, lands have 

 constantly risen in value and the faith of our citizens 

 in the stability of these values is stronger than ever 

 before. He regarded the assistance of the federal gov- 

 ernment in bringing the arid lands of the west into 

 production as proper and timely and expressed the 

 opinion that federal aid should be rendered along simi- 

 lar lines in reclaiming wet lands which can be made 

 suitable for agriculture. 



Mr. A. L. Fellows, state engineer of North Da- 

 kota, in a paper "On Drainage Problems," made a 

 strong plea for the execution and control of large 



Another Harvest Scene. 



drainage projects by the federal government. He re- 

 fered to the costly, inefficient and dishonest work not 

 infrequently performed under the provisions of the 

 state drainage laws, and the waste attending the un- 

 guided efforts -of individuals in carrying out important 

 drainage projects. Many of the larger drainage works 

 have more or less do to with streams which are under 

 federal jurisdiction and hence the entire project would 

 be handled more satisfactorily by the national govern- 

 ment. It was argued that the many difficulties attend- 



ing the administration of state drainage laws would be 

 obviated by placing large drainage projects under the 

 direction of the government. It was claimed 'that an 

 appropriation of $10,000,000 per year for ten years, 

 converted into a fund like the reclamation fund, the 

 cost of construction to be reconverted into that fund, 

 would be sufficient to accomplish the drainage of all 

 the wet lands, and in twenty years all the capital ad- 

 vanced would be back in the treasury. Compared with 

 the large sums appropriated for less important objects, 

 this would be an insignificant amount. 



Prof. L. E. Ashbaugh of Ames, Iowa, described 

 the conditions in Iowa and said that large and expen- 

 sive drainage projects were being directed by men of 

 comparatively limited experience. As many as thirty 

 drainage districts were found in one county. The work 

 was proceeding satisfactorily under the present state 

 law, which had been secured after correcting many legal 

 defects. He expressed the view that the continual and 

 aggressive education of landowners on matters relating 

 to drainage practice and the principles of special as- 

 sessments was necessary to the satisfactory operation 

 of the law. 



C. G. Elliott of the office of experiment stations, 

 United States Department of Agriculture, described the 

 plan pursued by the department in promoting the exe- 



Seventy-five Bushels of Oats Per Acre not Uncommon in Arkansas 



Valley. 



cution of drainage projects desired by individuals or 

 communities where such work would prove of public 

 or general interest. Surveys and plans were made and 

 advice given when desired. Instances were given and 

 examples cited where such assistance had been rendered 

 and the relation of the 'department to the state drain- 

 age laws was shown. 



Mr. Thomas L. Cannon addressed the meeting in 

 support of a proposition to amend the national recla- 

 mation act so as to include the reclamation of land by 

 drainage. He argued that the national fund should be 

 available for both objects, and that irrigation and drain- 

 age should be coordinate works and be under the direc- 

 tion of the reclamation service of the Department of the 

 Interior. He affirmed that by right the states needing 

 land drainage were as much entitled to the benefits of 

 the fund arising from the sale of public lands in the 

 thirteen States and territories whose land required irri- 

 gation and they ought to be entitled to it by law. 



The claims of the topographic division of 'the 

 United States Geological Survey for endorsement be- 

 cause of the value of the contour sheets issued by that 

 service were presented by Mr. H- M. Wilson, geographer 

 of the eastern section, and by Mr. H. H. Hodgeson, 



