THE DRY FARMING COKGRESS. 



205 



say 'Aye,' and those opposed 'No.' The 'Ayes' have it, and Billings, 

 Montana, has been selected unanimously as the next meeting place of 

 the Congress." 



Montana's Welcome. 



MR. GEORGE, Montana: "I wish to say a word of thanks for this 

 honor. We have certainly appreciated the welcome given us by the 

 governor of your state and the people of your city. 



Dry Land Area. 



"I wish to say that in the State of Montana we have 20,000,000 acres 

 of land capable of cultivation under this dry farming system which will 

 produce 500,000,000 bushels of wheat in one single year, which means 

 $500,000,000.00. We realize that this is the greatest work of the country; 

 that it means more to the people than any other work because it is 

 enduring and everlasting, and I wish to extend to you a welcome to the 

 State of Montana on behalf of the Governor of the state. The members 

 of the Supreme Court and the legislature in our state today have extended 

 to you a welcome, and the entire press of the state is with the movement. 

 Mining men, cattle men, and all classes give you welcome; in fact, 

 Billings people are universal in their welcome. Our city is located in a 

 valley, years ago occupied by buffalo, elk and bear, and today they have 

 left in that valley a force of energy that extends through the people, and 

 we extend to you today with all that force and energy a welcome. When 

 you enter that city you will find, blazing in electric lights, the word, 

 "Welcome." Every door will stand ajar, and each home, with out- 

 stretched hands, will bid you welcome. We have there a half a dozen 

 hotels, two of which are the best equipped in the entire West, the most 

 modern, and we also have every lodging house and home waiting to give 

 you welcome. Three thousand children will be in the streets to sing a 

 welcome to you when you come to Billings. Gentlemen, we want all of 

 you to come. We do not go on words in our city, we go on results. We 

 have a reputation at stake that is known throughout the state of Montana 

 for making good, and I want to state to you, on behalf of the c.tizens 

 of Bllings, that we will make good, if you will only come and see us." 



Stock Men Interested. 



GOVERNOR BROOKS (Presiding) : "We will be there. The stock 

 industry of the West is deeply interested in this dry farming movement, 

 and we will now have the pleasure of listening to that genial, whole- 

 souled character of Wyoming, known in every state of the West as 

 'Colonel' Bell." 



THE DRY FARMER AND STOCK GROWER. 



Address by E. J. Bell, Ranchman, of Lraramie, Wyoming, 



"Our friend, Mr. Burns, only gave me notice of the talk that he 

 wanted me to make last November, and I find there hasn't been sufficient 



