76 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



sumed which was only about half, 

 and not to exceed two-thirds, of an 

 effective water right so far as the 

 productiveness of the land was con- 

 cerned have been benefited to the 

 extent I have indicated by the gov- 

 ernment supplemental supply. The 

 same good thing has happened on 

 some of the projects in the judge's 

 own good state. It is happening over 

 on the North Platte, where they 

 thought they had one of the greatest 

 gravity river-water systems; it is 

 happening now over in Idaho, and in 

 nearly every section where the gov- 

 ernment has sufficient water in its 

 reservoirs for such supplemental sup- 

 ply. 



It strikes me, as I said in the be- 

 ginning, that we have reached the 

 stage when we must determine 

 whether we shall further press the 

 policy of the reclamation of arid and 

 swamp lands by government activity, 

 or "aid," whichever you prefer to 

 term it, or whether we shall cease 

 that method and turn it over to the 

 interest-seeking greed of private en- 

 terprise, where the farmer will not 

 only pay principal and interest, but a 

 healthy bonus as well. 



As I said before, we have 75,000,- 

 000 acres of swamp land and more 

 than 25,000,000 acres of arid land yet 

 to be reclaimed, the arid land being 

 in the West and the swamp land in 

 nearly all states: sufficient if gathered 

 together in one body to make a great 

 state in the Union, or enough to equal 

 five Eastern states that might be 

 named. And what does this mean? 

 It means that we are peacefully con- 

 auering and propose further peace- 

 fully to conquer an immense terri- 

 tory without turmoil or unfair force, 



and without the loss of- life. Why, 

 my friends, with the money expended 

 in three weeks of the European war 

 we could, without the sacrifice of hu- 

 man life, conquer and convert from 

 the deserts and swamps of our coun- 

 try into happy homes, more territory 

 than will ever be subjugated by any 

 of the warring nations now engaged 

 in Europe in the greatest and most 

 useless conflict that history has dared 

 record. [Applause.] 



Then, is it not about time that our 

 friends who have been opposing the 

 government reclamation work, al- 

 though doing so honestly I ques- 

 tion their judgment, not their motives 

 is it not about time that they join 

 hands with us in urging the govern- 

 ment to take steps peacefully to con- 

 quer all the deserts and swamps of 

 our great country? [Applause.] 



When we pause to think of the dif- 

 ference between present conditions 

 under irrigation, and what they were 

 15 or 20 years ago, when we observe 

 upon the glowing canvas of human 

 experience a living picture of the 

 many thousands of happy homes 

 builded where only the jack rabbits, 

 lizards, sage-brush, cacti, and mes- 

 quite thrived before; when we see 

 cities rise Phoenix-like in the burning 

 deserts; when we see this movement 

 still advancing, disturbed in the even 

 tenor of its way only by debates of 

 this type, is it not time, yes, I ask, is 

 it not time that we pause and con- 

 sider what will be accomplished if we 

 will only thoroughly get together and 

 exert ourselves to the utmost toward 

 the government reclamation of all 

 these lands, whether arid or swamp, 

 not alone in the West, but in the 

 South and East in Maine, Minne- 



sota, Florida, Louisiana, as well as in 

 New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Ore- 

 gon, and other good states of our 

 great country? [Applause] 



In this I am reminded of what has 

 been told of Patrick Henry whether 

 I am right in the personage or not is 

 immaterial, for the illustration is 

 equally as effective whether an office 

 boy, an orator, or a statesman, but 

 I think it was Patrick Henry who, 

 before our present great empire west 

 of the Alleghenies was settled to any 

 great extent, while out with a camp- 

 ing party upon a summit of the Alle- 

 ghenies, was seen standing by him- 

 self, meditating, with the apearance 

 of listening, when one of his friends 

 said: "Pat, what are you listening to 

 or thinking about?" to which he re- 

 sponded: "I am listening to the foot- 

 steps of the millions who will within 

 the next half century inhabit the un- 

 settled country west of these moun- 

 tains." 



Now is it not about time, my halt- 

 ing friends, that we "take the wings 

 of morning and the Barcan desert 

 pierce," and that you join hands with 

 us in the reclamation service? Have 

 we not reached a time when we 

 should stand together and "stop, look 

 and listen" to the footsteps of the 

 millions yet to inhabit the to-be re- 

 claimed arid and swamp lands of our 

 nation? Is it not well that we peer 

 into the future and see the many cities 

 and patriotic homes to rise upon the 

 now uninhabited lands, on the more 

 than 100,000,000 acres lying idle and 

 unused in our great country? I think 

 it is, and I feel that you agree with 

 me. Thanks for your patient atten- 

 tion. [Applause.] 



SOLVING THE IRRIGATING PROBLEM 

 WITH A DITCHING MACHINE 



There have been various makeshift methods 

 employed by farmers in the irrigation sections of 

 this country to make and clean laterals and ditches 

 among the number being the shovel, the plow 

 and the Fresno. 



None of these were really effective for the 

 purpose. For instance, in using the Fresno it is 

 necessary to work crosswise of the laterals. This 

 means that a strip anywhere from 10 to 18 feet 

 must be left on each side on which to turn. 



Nothing can be grown on this strip. Still, no 

 better plan of running laterals was to be found 

 until the advent of the V-shaped Ditching Ma- 

 chine, and when this made its appearance the prob- 

 lem of irrigating ditches was solved. 



This machine does its own plowing. Cuts 

 away sod and weeds and throws out its own cut- 

 tings as it goes. 



It is equipped with a rolling coulter which pre- 

 vents clogging in heavy Bermuda grass or alfalfa. 



It opens the way for the cutting blade which 

 follows. 



In the past two years thousands of these ma- 

 chines have been put to work in the irrigated coun- 

 try and each is receiving the enthusiastic endorse- 

 ment of the owners of these big ranches which are 

 scattered all over Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, New 



Mexico, Utah, California and other sections' of this 

 country. 



We suggest that those of our readers who are 

 interested in the subject investigate the merits of 

 the machines advertised in these pages and follow 

 the lead of the men who are using them. 



Considering its cost, a V-shaped Ditcher repre- 

 sents more value than any other machine on the 

 farm, whether it be the big western ranch or the 

 small farm "back East," whose owner is more con- 

 cerned in solving the problem of carrying water off 

 his land than in putting it on. 



The V-shaped Ditcher meets the demands of 

 both with an equal measure of efficiency. 



RANCH FOR SALE 



RANCH FOR SALE 448 or less acre farm and live stock 

 ranch; 200 acres cleared. Located right on side-track at Frisco 

 railway station, 8 miles from Hope, a town of 5,000; 4 railroads, 

 large natural gas line and many factories. Good health and mild 

 climate. We are protected from winter blizzards by mountains 

 above us. Has well, flowing natural 8-inch strong body of fine 

 water, 60 feet high, costing ten thousand dollars. 



I want to sell all or an interest for summer and fall truck 

 growing for local and city or shipping trade after regular crops 

 gathered. Can grow two crops in season here. Am drilling oil 

 and gas well on this farm and will give you free one-fifth interest 

 in all oil and gas and you pay no expense of drilling. No one 

 here experienced in irrigation. It is a fine chance for a man of 

 experience and money. Price only $100 per acre, as I am need- 

 ing money badly and I may cut that some. Come and see. Can 

 grow tons of fish on this farm yearly by making dam and turn on 

 your water. A. P. DYKE, Real Estate Dealer, 



and Owner of This Farm, 



HOPE, ARK. 



