DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



235 



PROF. CHILCOTT: I wish to say that this has grown out of dis- 

 cussions that I have had with various Utah farmers after the talk that 

 was given — the very able talk that was given by Mr. Grace, I believe, one 

 of your farmers here, in which he developed the idea that the ^bsence 

 of water, while he didn't dwell on it particularly, it was shown all through 

 that the absence of water for domestic purposes was the great barrier 

 to home building on these arid lands. It struck me that there was no 

 problem of such vital interest to the home builders of Utah and other arid 

 states as providing some means of getting water. You can't afford to 

 let anything go undone that may provide water for domestic purposes. 

 Now there is no class of men in any state that is so well provided with 

 the requisite knowledge to locate these wells and supervise their con- 

 struction as these men interested along the lines of agricultural experi- 

 mentation, and it is for that reason it seemed to me such a resolution 

 should be introduced here. Therefore it has been worked up and has re- 

 ceived the approval of the committee, and I hope that it may be unani- 

 mously adopted by this Congress. (Applause.) 



The motion was put to a vote and agreed to. 



SECRETARY ROOT: There has come to us since the last announce- 

 ment of the program two papers — one in particular from Prof. Forbes, of 

 the Tuscon, Arizona, University Experiment Station. I think perhaps it 

 is rather long to be read. We are hardly prepared to take care of it 

 now. I will turn it over to the Chair and ask what shall be done with it. 



CHAIRMAN M'CABE: I will leave to the members of the Con- 

 gress their wishes in regard to Prof. Forbes' letter. 



It was moved and seconded that the letter be put in the record, which 

 motion was agreed to. The letter follows: 



Tucson, Arizona, Jan. 19, 1908. 



Dr. L. J. Briggs, Salt Lake City, Utah. 



Dear Doctor Briggs: — Mr. Swingle kindly conveyed your suggestion 

 that I should be present at the Trans-Missouri Dry Farming Congress in 

 order to reiterate certain ideas which we hold down here concerning long- 

 term leases of public lands in order that they may be made use of by 

 stock men, dry farmers, or anyone else, under such conditions of tenure 

 as will lead to their maximum development. • 



I am very sorry that in all probability I shall not be able to come; 

 but would say that the ideas advanced from this station on previous oc- 

 casions, and which are held by a dominant element among our stockmen, 

 are expressed in the printed pages enclosed herewith. If you sympathize 

 with these ideas, or if in the interests of full discussion you know someone 

 who does, you might place them in the proper hands. 



Thanking you for your message, and hoping that the Congress will be 

 of importance and value to all concerned, I am, 



Very truly yours, 



R. H. FORBES, Director. 



