DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



59 



you the greetings and best wishes of 3^0111- neighbors and friends who toil 

 amidst the irrigated furrows. (Applause.) 



In this age of diversified farming in the \\'est and of the winter feed- 

 ing of stock, it is no longer possible to draw any sharp line between the 

 farmer and the stockman. The small farmer keeps stock and the large 

 stockman grows alfalfa. For the same reason, no sharp line of demarca- 

 tion exists between the irrigator and the dry farmer. The irrigator has 

 frequentl}' a more or less extensive tract above the canal which he culti- 

 vates without water and the dry farmer derives a great deal of profit and 

 satisfaction from the small tract which he irrigates. This is surely another 

 reason why the dry farmer and irrigator should be on friendly terms. 



This brings me to the subject that I would like to present in the 

 briefest possible manner, namely, The Use of Limited Water Supplies on 

 Dry Farms of this w-estern country. I know some will tell you that 

 artificial suplies of water. are not needed and to prove their statements they 

 will point to the rich valley lands that have been converted into marshes, 

 to the barren stretches rendered valueless by the rise of alkali and to the 

 troubles and controversies which arise 'over the division and use of 

 water. But I want to say that most of these troubles are of our own 

 making. I speak now in behalf of the irrigators. ]\Iost of these troubles 

 are of our own making. This is the penalty we pay, gentlemen, for our 

 mistakes. If less water -was wasted the rise of the ground water and 

 the rise of the alkali would not be such troublesome factors, and if we had 

 started out in this work of reclaiming the desert by irrigation with better 

 laws on our statute books governing the appropriation, diversion and 

 use of water, there would have been fewer legal battles over water rights. 

 The beneficial effects of irrigation should not be lost sight of on account 

 of these -drawbacks. Apart from the disadvantage of irrigation, I trust 

 you gentlemen will be fair-minded enough to appreciate the beneficial ef- 

 fects of irrigation. 



I believe so implicith' in the advantages of irrigation that I have 

 come here to urge the use of more water on the dry farms. I know you 

 have other remedies which have for their object the production of larger 

 and more valuable yields under arid conditions, and I trust that you will 

 test these Yemedies to the fullest extent. Some think that the proper 

 selection and breeding of seeds will do much to overcome arid conditions. 

 I understand that ]Mr. Chilcott. who was 'kind enough to give me a few 

 minutes of his time, is to follow me, and he will speak on that subject. 

 Others pin their faith to suitable cultural methods, another class advocates 

 the rotation of crops, and still others would conserve the soil moisture by 

 summer-fallowing and other means. I have nothing but commendation 

 for all of these remedies, because I believe they are important factors 

 in the solution of this great problem. I wish it distinctly understood, 

 however, that in my humble opinion none of these remedies are deserving 

 of a first place in your deliberations. If the establishment of permanent 

 and prosperous homes is your main purpose, then the utilization of water 

 wherever and however it may be obtained is of first importance. 



