DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



23 



Boys's and Girls's Clubs, etc., etc., are being organized each year, which ma- 

 terially improve the social conditions in the rural communities. The intel- 

 ligence of the farming population is being raised to a very perceptible de- 

 gree. The peculiar local farming conditions require every farmer to be a 

 student and a specialist, to attain the highest degree of success. The out- 

 look for agricultural progress generally in all lines, is extremely promising. 



With the growing demand for rich lands, both for irrigation and dry- 

 farming purposes, with the prevailing healthful climatic conditions, with 

 progressive schools, and with great possibilities of her mines and timber, 

 it is only logical for thousands of people to turn their eyes toward Arizona 

 for a future home. 



PRESIDENT WATERS: 



There is a slight change in the program, and I know you will be pleased 

 that we have made it. We are honored this afternoon by the presence of 

 one of Kansas's foremost citizens, a man of long experience in the House 

 of Representatives, and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. I want 

 to introduce that man, Charles F. Scott, of Allen County, Kansas, who 

 will speak to us. 



MR. SCOTT: 



I fear it is a bit incongruous, ladies and gentlemen, that a delegate to 

 the Dry-Farming Congress should have been so delayed in reaching its ses- 

 sions by an all-night downpour of rain, that the train could not make its 

 usual time; and I regret exceedingly that an important engagement com- 

 pels me to leave on an early train, but I am very glad and proud indeed 

 to add my word of greeting. Inasmuch as all the other words have come 

 from those in official situations, perhaps a word from a private citizen 

 might not be out of order in addition to those which you have already heard. 



I never have had the privilege of attending a Dry-Farming Congress 

 before, but I have taken note of the work it has done, and I feel the men 

 who are responsible for that work may congratulate themselves on the 

 fruits of their labor. Your president has referred to the years when I was 

 a member of the Committee on Agriculture in the House of Representatives, 

 which suggests to my mind that during the 10 years of my membership 

 on the Committee on Agriculture, dry-farming was officially recognized 

 for the first time, we may say, in the United States. It was during those 

 10 years that the Reclamation Service was established and the most con- 

 structive legislation was put under way. It was in those days that the 

 Forest Service was put on a substantial basis. I remember well that when 

 I first went upon that committee, the annual appropriation for the Forest 

 Service was for $70,000, and the last bill that came in was for 5 millions 

 per year — a splendid demonstration of the growth of this great constructive 

 work in this country. 



And if anything else were lacking to bring congratulations to those 

 who have been responsible for the sessions for this Congress, I think a 

 visit to the Exposition in this city would be sufficient. I am struggling 



