THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



11 



"My friends, I trust that the proceedings of this Congress may prove 

 harmonious and successful, and that your visit to this state and city may 

 pirove iSO profitable and enjoyable that you will visit us frequently. 



"Wyoming with its wealth of undeveloped resources is proud to have 

 you with us, for we appreciate your glorious work." 



ADDRE.SS OF WELCOME. 



By Hon. Peter S. Cook, Mayor of Cheyenne. 



"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of The Third Trans-Missouri Dry 

 Farming Congress, or as I ought to have said. The First Scientific Dry 

 Farming Congress of the World — I bid you welcome. 



"There are, I am told, representatives here from many of the im- 

 portant countries of the world, also from every corner of the United 

 States. In the short space of three years this Congress has grown from 

 a few scientific, or dry farmers, who met together in Denver, to what 

 is now one of the most important gatherings of modern times. And 

 Cheyenne, also our whole state, feels proud that this great gathering a 

 year ago had the confidence to elect our esteemed Governor its chief 

 officer, and to select our city to entertain you at this time. I have no 

 doubt but that this meeting will go down in history as one of the 

 greatest gatherings of scientific farmers the world has ever known. 



"I extend to you the welcome of our citizens and city which, most 

 of you, no doubt, know as the 'Magic City of the Plains,' a name given 

 to Cheyenne in eiarly days. In those days the land where Cheyenne now 

 stands was a part of what was then known as the 'Great American 

 Desert,' where it was supposed nothing could live but the Red Man and 

 wild animals. The name was no doubt very appropriate at that time, 

 but with the zeal and pluck of true western spirit our people have worked 

 and toiled until they have transformed what was once this great desert 

 into a paradise, and you can now see the roses bloom where once the 

 cactus and sage-brush grew. You can look north, south, east and west 

 and all around our city, at proper seasons, and see the yellow tops of 

 grain and green fields of alfalfa produced by the skill of such men as 

 have met here today, to take part in the deliberations of this great 

 assembly. This great transformation has taken place on soil where it was 

 supposed nothing could be grown except, as was said before, cactus and 

 sage-brush, but by the work and toil of such men as are in attendance 

 at this Congress, these prairies are today the garden spots of the West. 



"To you, our guests, I have the honor to say that you will find a 

 latch-string hanging out from every door in Cheyenne, which we expect 

 you to pull and step right in and make yourselves at home. By our 

 carelessness the keys of the city on this occasion have been lost, so 

 that it is impossible for me to present them to you — but the city is 

 yours. Each citizen has been delegated a committee of one to entertain 

 you, so do not be afraid to ask for what you do not see — we will try 

 and find it for you — in fact, Cheyenne is yours and we sincerely hope 



