DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



55 



of good spring water. We need .people and we are doing everything we 

 can to get them. We want them awfully bad! The fact is, the railroad I 

 represent has an excellent road from here down there, and we would like 

 to have some of you use it and come to Arkansas! 



While we have some of the products that grow up here, I don't be- 

 lieve the interests of • Kansas and Arkansas would conflict. I don't believe 

 there is much competition. We grow lots of cotton and timber to market, 

 and we have lots of fruit. There may be some competition in the fruit 

 line, but we grow fruit in a large commercial way in Arkansas. And we 

 nave considerable to offer to the people who wish to engage in business. 



I don't know whether the Governor would want me to coax any of you 

 people away from Kansas, but you see I have been in the railroad business 

 so long that I can't keep on my side of the fence! I want to get someone 

 over on my side! '1 



I am appreciative of the motive and spirit of this great Congress and 

 Exposition, and Arkansas is glad to be one of you. I thank you. 



President Waters then introduced L. A. Merrill, representing the Gov- 

 ernor of Utah. 



Utah 



MR. MERRILL: 



I seem to be serving as somewhat of a substitute today. This after- 

 noon I had to substitute for Doctor Widtsoe, President of the Utah Agri- 

 cultural College, and this evening I have the honor to represent Governor 

 Spry, who expressed his very sincere regret that he could not be present 

 and pay his respects in person. 



Governor Spry is thoroughly appreciative of the work that is being 

 done by this Congress. Ever sirce it held a meeting at Salt Lake City a 

 few years ago, he has followed with deep interest the achievements of 

 this Congress. He knows of the great many thousands of acres that have 

 been rendered productive by the work of this Congress, and he expresses 

 to you his sincere hope that the work shall continue until all our waste land 

 shall have been reclaimed and rendered productive. 



Many of the people of Kansas are familiar with the fact that when 

 the great body of men and women came to this country in the early days, 

 they encountered in the valleys cf Kansas a desert waste, a land bare and 

 desolate. But through the marvelous efforts of those pioneers, who came 

 here many years ago, who struggled with those stubborn prairies, who fed 

 the Indians and gained their good-will, who have endured the privations 

 and hardships of the pioneer, that land has been converted into green grow- 

 ing fields, has been made to yield and made productive, until man and beast 

 its benefits share. 



The great State of Utah has been working along the line of reclama- 

 tion until the land is settled. They felt that the mountain streams must 

 be controlled and the waters stored in reservoirs for irrigation purposes, 

 and this has been accomplished in a great measure. Much of our land is 



