THE DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



21 



tion of demonstrating superiority above other countries in the line of 

 your works, open your doors to the foreigner who comes to study your 

 progress. With an altruism and courtesy that I appreciate very much, 

 you show him the results of your patient experiments and all the nec- 

 essary explanation to them. 



"With my best wishes for the most successful results of this Third 

 Trans-Missouri' Dry Farming Congress, I heartily thank you for your 

 courteous welcome." 



ORGANIZATION. 



Mr. Bowman (presiding) : "I am requested to announce that all 

 the delegations must organize during the day and select one member 

 of the resolution committee and one member of the committee on 

 nominations and report the same to the secretary before the opening of 

 the night session. These committees will be named by the chair to- 

 night, and the election of officers will occur tomorrow morning. All 

 delegates who have not done so will please go to the Commercial Club 

 and register and get their badges. The Executive Committee will meet 

 at 1:45 p. m., at room 8 in the Annex building. 



"The secretary has some letters and telegrams from those who 

 were unable to be here, which he will now read:" 



The secretary, Mr. John T. Burns, then read a number of telegrams, 

 as follows: 



"Washington, D. C, Feb. 23, 1909. 



"Hon. Bryant B. Brooks, President Trans-Missouri Dry Farming Con- 

 gress: 



Federal Co-operation. 



"I wish to extend to you greetings and congratulations upon your 

 third annual meeting. I am deeply interested in the progress of your 

 work. Any organization having for its purpose the development of the 

 agricultural resources of the great semi-arid sections of the United States 

 should have the hearty support of all good citizens. I am in full sym- 

 pathy with your efforts and appreciate hardships, privations, and diffi- 

 culties with which the pioneers among the mountains and on the great 

 plains have to contend. Rest assured that so far as lies within my 

 power, ever^^thing that can be done to aid you will be done. The re- 

 clamation of our lands through irrigation, the conservation of our for- 

 ests and other natural resources, and the development of our semi-arid 

 lands by such methods as you are now advocating, all tend to insure the 

 growth and well being of this country. I trust that your meeting will 

 be a great success and will result in action that will command the con- 

 fidence and support of the home-builder, the man for whom we are all 

 working. 



Sincerely yours. 



(Signed) "Theodore Roosevelt." 



