THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



169 



than that the life of himself and family depended on 

 its success. I have never heard that he has offered 

 to reimburse the government for the grass his cattle 

 consumed, or pay for the logs his cabin may have been 

 built of. It is clear, from our present knowledge of 

 him, that he would have been "dead on the fight" had 

 such a preposterous suggestion been made at that time. 



Nine-tenths of the people who are farmers in this 

 state have no considerable number of stock to run on 

 the range. They have possibly a work team and a few 

 milk cows. They cannot afford to lease, could not afford 

 to fence if they did lease, and yet it is just such people 

 as this as will settle up Wyoming. The attempt is made 

 to give some sort of assistance to those living within a 

 distance of 15 miles, by allowing him to run his stock 

 on the present reserves, while the unfortunate one living 

 15V 2 miles away cannot run his cattle there. To date 

 I have yet to hear of a single sensible argument ad- 

 vanced upholding this 15-mile or any other limit. What 

 can be fair about a system that will allow one man 15 

 miles from a reserve line to run his stock there, when 

 his brother, who owns the adjoining ranch, but 15% 

 miles away, cannot do likewise? It is the height of 

 absurdity and is advanced by people who have no direct 

 interest in the reserves or ranges, and who have no sym- 

 pathy with western conditions. That such a view would 

 be sure to find favor among those who happened to 

 live within those prescribed limits is admitted, but even 

 most of those people so situated acknowledge the in- 

 justice of it, though taking advantage of the situation. 

 From the beginning of time, stock has run on the open 

 range of all countries, and no reason, good or bad, can 

 be advanced for making any change at the present time. 



The very fact that leasing gives exclusive control 

 over a certain tract of land is the most telling argu- 

 ment why it should not be leased, but left free so that 

 settlers may have the opportunity of taking such of it 

 as they may want. The range should be free to all par- 

 ties, as all are jointly interested in it. If those who 

 cannot use the range were losing anything by reason of 

 those using it who can, there might be some cause for 

 complaint, but whether one cow or one million run on 

 the range in no way affects the interests of those who 

 cannot use it. 



If the fees proposed to be collected went direct 

 to those who claim to be losers, the idea might have 

 some standing, but they do not. The fees collected will 

 never be more than enough to pay the wages of those 

 who attempt to look after the matter, wages paid for a 

 service absolutely useless and non-beneficial, tending to 

 build up a class of citizens who would produce nothing 

 unless it would be strife and turmoil and a growing 

 disgust for a bureaucratic government, a government 

 that is growing narrow and contracted and egotistic, 

 taking to itself an importance never granted by the 

 constitution nor contemplated by the founders or their 

 successors. 



Government control is wrong. It was conceived 

 in egotism and cannot thrive in the light of publicity. 



I 



MEETING OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. 



Send $2.50 for The Irrigation Age 

 1 year, and the Primer of Irrigation 



On December 27 and 28 last there occurred at 

 Madison, Wis., a meeting of the instructors in farm 

 mechanics and agricultural engineering from the lead- 

 ing agricultural colleges of the United States and 

 Canada. 



The gathering resulted in the formation of a per- 

 manent organization to be known as the American 

 Society of Agricultural Engineers, which will hold 

 annual meetings to hear papers on and discuss such 

 phases of engineering as are vital to the success of the 

 modern farmer. 



Prof. J. B. Davidson, of Iowa, was elected presi- 

 dent; Professors F. B. Crane, of Illinois, and C. A. 

 Ocock, of Wisconsin, vice-presidents ; Prof. L. W. Chase, 

 of Nebraska, secretary; and Prof. W. M. Nye, of 

 Purdue, treasurer. Besides the above officers, there is 

 a counsel of five members, the two vice-presidents and 

 ttree electives, which decides on place and time of 

 meeting, makes proposals for membership and trans- 

 acts the other necessary business of the society. 



There are three classes of members, honorary 

 members, active members and associates. 



The terms of membership are very reasonable and 

 anyone especially interested in forwarding the science 

 of agricultural engineering will find access to the 

 privileges of the society under one of the above classes. 



The program of this meeting had to do largely 

 with the teaching of agricultural engineering in the' 

 colleges of today. As Dean Kussell, of Wisconsin, 

 said in his address of welcome to the convention, "The 

 teaching of agricultural engineering is so new and 

 there is so little data, literature, etc., on the subject 

 suited to class room presentation that many mistakes 

 are made and many needless steps taken in this field 

 of knowledge before it is simmered down in the best 

 possible form for instructional purposes." 



The best of harmony prevailed, the papers and dis- 

 cussions were direct and to the point. The convention 

 will help to systematize, unify and broaden the courses 

 of agricultural engineering offered by the various col- 

 leges represented. 



The following is the program as presented: 



FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. 27. 



Meeting called by Fred E. Crane, of the Univer- 

 sity of Illinois. (Professor Crane selected by the com- 

 mittee.) 



Address of welcome by Dean Eussell, of Wisconsin. 



Eesponse by Professor Crane. 



Temporary organization, appointment of com- 

 mittees. 



Paper, "The Courses in Agricultural Engineering 

 That Should Be Offered," by Howard W. Eiley, Cor- 

 nell University. 



Discussion led by L. A. Moorhouse, Oklahoma 

 Agricultural and Mechanical College. 



Paper, "Need of Eesearch Work in Agricultural 

 Engineering," by H. M. Bainer, Colorado Agricultural 

 College. 



General discussion. 



Address, "Importance of Traction Engineers Hav- 

 ing the Proper Education," by B. B. Clarke, American 

 Thresherman. 



